I went to my friend's church a while ago and I was listening to his pastor's sermon. He talked about how Christians should spread God's word in many places as possible, and how Christians should not be afraid of people judging them, which I somewhat agreed with. Then he started talking about how he went into a Buddhist temple and started preaching God's word, that's when I thought in my mind "WTF?". I find it disrespectful to go into another religions sanctuary and start preaching something that they don't want to hear. I mean if that pastor waited outside and preached to him I probably wouldn't be as surprised, but he went inside the temple and preached to them. I mean I doubt the pastor would want a Muslim going into his Church and preaching what he believes, so why would he have done that? I found it disrespectful, I think there's a boundrary to were he preaches, what do you guys think?
2007-12-03 12:42:34 · 23 answers · asked by Daniel k 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am a Christian, but I believe in spreading God's word in a simple easy way. By just being nice to people and not judging them. I also found what the pastor did very disrespectful, because I personally would not want that to happen to me.
2007-12-03 12:58:25 · update #1
I agree with you.
2007-12-03 12:47:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hypocrisy is a word easily understood in everyone, except oneself.
Many Christians have only a passing understanding of the very texts to which they swear and promise to uphold. Even a cursory understanding of some of Jesus' messages would make this abundantly clear:
The parable about how a light should be placed prominent so that all should be able to see it (the crux of the 'spread the word' aspect) was metaphorical: good deeds cannot be hidden, for their very goodness will bring them into prominence. The pastor, obviously ignoring the 'good deeds' portion of the parable, tried to compensate for his lack of virtue by the volume and repetition of his words. Words alone do not make a man virtuous, which is why it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, blah blah blah.
The 'good word' is spread by example, the same example that allows Jesus to say "you will know a tree by the fruit it bears." A tree can also be a metaphor for a person's actions. Need anyone say more?
2007-12-03 20:53:31 · answer #2 · answered by Khnopff71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For what it's worth, a lot of Jesus' ideas- or any of the major religious figures' ideas- would not be new to Buddhists. I don't find it 'disrespectful' per se, because he may have sincerely been trying to "save their souls". I suspect he may have done it only for theatrics though, just to make a scene- after all, do you honestly think that approach would work? Also it depends on how he did it- did he just show up and start talking, which is totally disrespectul? The right way to do these things is to invite people into dialogue.
2007-12-03 20:54:09 · answer #3 · answered by Alex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went to a church once where the preacher said that sin is like a puppy. It seems all cute and harmless, but that puppy is really a Demon from Hell! Now, at the time, I had two Yorkshire Terriers in my family, and they were both very adorable. This evil preacher put the image of a demon puppy named Scooter into my mind. Scooter is dead now. The poor thing had cataracts and an eye infection, fell off of my dads bed and broke his back. Scooter is with the Flying Spagetti Monster now. I loved that little demon dog.
Ramen.
2007-12-03 20:49:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Normally I'd agree with you but the sermons and lessons taught by the Buddha are very much in sync with Christ's sermons and lesson, and we Buddhists are very open and tolerant, and we appreciate anyone giving us guidance as giving guidance is an act of loving kindness. We're also really big on equanimity.
There are some wonderful books out there that compare Jesus to the Buddha. I find them in the Eastern Religions section of Barnes and Noble.
2007-12-03 20:48:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I find it unbelievable............as is told. Perhaps the pastor spoke as a guest, during some type of sharing or learning exchange.
I do not think any group of meek and sincere believers would sit quietly and allow their house of worship be overtaken by someone of an entirely different faith, AND then sit there and listen to him.........
Someone is spreading it around pretty darn thick!
2007-12-03 21:11:34 · answer #6 · answered by †LifeOnLoan† 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why do you think it's neccessary to preach god's word.. if god was all knowing and all mighty don't you think he'd do it himself.... if god is what you preach he is.. then he don't need your help... the fact is when the bible says... the devil will deceive many... and the devil will be called god of the earth.. you are the deceived.... you the christians... and HE needs you to preach his message not of peace but of religion... how is it peaceful to threaten or slander people... who are you to claim that we will go to hell... there is no life after death.. of that I am abosoutly certain.. but the devil teaches other wise... he teaches you to ignore nature... that is why it took so long to accept that the world isn't flat .... christians spent a lot of time and energy persecuting those teaching and learning gravity.... just as they persecute those teaching evolution... these are called the laws of nature... that there is no life after death is a part of the laws of nature... why do you fight to delay the truth.... you have to admit the world is round.. you have to admit that gravity exists... you delay understanding of truth for evolution is as much a law of nature as gravity...look into the world and see what christians do, how they protest evolution today is what they did to those teaching gravity a couple of centuries ago...
2007-12-03 21:16:30 · answer #7 · answered by Gyspy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I really don't think he went into the Buddhist temple without being "invited" and without "permission".....Remember Jesus hung out with sinners and tax collectors to bring about conversion.....This pastor was courageous and zealous for his faith!
2007-12-03 21:00:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. Totally disrepectful. Each of the religious leader in each religion should stay away from each other. Let the people decide on which religion to believe in. God bless you.
2007-12-03 20:54:56 · answer #9 · answered by becomeblackbelt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's OK, the Buddhists likely found it a bit amusing. They are tolerant towards the mentally defective.
2007-12-03 20:48:10 · answer #10 · answered by Buke 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It is way, way, WAY disrespectful. And one major reason among many why so many people are turned off to Christianity. Keep it up folks, more backlash is sure to come.
2007-12-03 20:48:01 · answer #11 · answered by An Independent 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋