Top 10 Things That Christians Do That Make Me Nauseous
1. Hang out with Christians all the time. Then, when they do hang out with non-christians, they have a clear agenda.
2. Quote Scripture out of context to promote personal goals. For example, Phil. 4:13. That does NOT mean that you can fly because Christ strengthens you. Try it. Ok, don’t try it. Just throw an egg out of your window and watch gravity win. Oh, and it won’t help you win a football game either.
3. Force discipleship. You cannot artificially put two people together and expect one to disciple the other. Discipleship takes place in the context of relationships and living your life with others.
4. Believe everything they read, because ‘it’s on the Christian best seller list.’ Example: The Left Behind series.
5. Disrespect others. Not once do you see Jesus disrespecting anyone even when he disagreed with them.
6. Migrate to the extremes. No, I don’t have to be a Republican to be a Christian. And yes, truth does exist in other religions. They live in God’s world too, so they can’t escape Truth. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. (I’m not saying other religions are correct, but within each religion there is some sort of truth that we can respect and use as a catalyst for conversation.)
7. Display a lack of authenticity. Everyone can smell this a mile away. Just be yourself. If your hacked off, it’s alright to show your emotion.
8. Hold others to their convictions. There are certain areas that are gray. In these areas, let your conscience hold you accountable, but don’t hold others accountable to your conscience. You then sit in the judgment seat. Beware.
9. Major in the minors and Minor in the majors.
10. Accept things as truth because they are traditions. Is the way we do ‘church’ really how it is supposed to be? What happened to understanding the ‘church’ as God’s covenant people? Going to ‘church’ was a foreign concept in Biblical times. It would be like calling your mother an assembly hall.
These are in no particular order, but I needed to get them off my chest. Do you have any you’d like to add?
1) Is it that big of a deal, we just hang around people we have things in common with, doesn’t everyone do that?
2)I agree, this is bogus, study and quote in context. Folks who do this misrepresent the truth of God’s Word.
3) If you want to learn, it helps to have a teacher, but definetly find someone you connect with.
4)This is one of my greatest pet peeves! Left Behind is fiction!!!! And the last time I checked there was plenty of junk on the shelf at the Christian book store. Selling faith based books is a business, we shouldn’t be so taken by every new story someone is markting to us.
5) Amen. I think respecting one another, is part of loving one another which is the 2nd commandment (of the NT)
6)Extremists are dangerous!
7)Christians are even fake with other Christians. Why do we think we have to put on a happy face, God never promises this life will be easy.
9)AMEN! This is a huge divisive tool of the enemy!
10) Right again. We need to own what we believe and profess, not just swallow and regergitate what we have been spoon fed!
For the record (what record I don’t know) I am a Christian. And I have walked in many of these ways in the past, but thank the Lord I am learning and growing.
I do share many of your sentiments. Unfortunately, Christians are humans. I hope you don’t discount the goodness of God, because of the hypocrisy of so many believers.
3)
funnyfunnygalssis
June 23, 2008
FFG- Thanks for the comment. To answer a few of your questions:
1. Is it a big deal? Yes, I believe it is. We are called to bring the Gospel to those who need it most. I understand the need for fellowship as well, BUT the majority of Christians just hang out with those who share the same worldview. It’s easy and comfortable. In doing so, we tend to overlook the fact that Jesus hung out and befriended those in need of Grace (prostitutes, lepers, etc…)
Lastly, I definitely don’t discount the goodness of God because of the hypocrisy of His people. And, yes, I am a Christian. The sad reality is that I fall into these traps as well. Maybe that’s why they make me so nauseous. Thanks for the insight! ~CT
cogitatetheology
June 24, 2008
The biggest thing that irritates me about Christians are those who refuse to have a civil conversation with you about their faith. I mean the ones who seem to believe only because their parents believed, and they therefore believe everything their pastor screams from the pulpit without giving it any thought themselves, or even consulting the scripture to uncover what they may actually take from what it says.
And the Christians who use their religion as a means to hate. Those Christians who blindly use it to hate Democrats, Muslims, atheists and/or agnostics, homosexuals, and even other denominations of the Christian faith.
I also find it particularly troublesome, the Christians you see around the South, praising Jesus with their rebel flags all decorating their hats, shirts, and trucks.
Is it too much to ask for Christians who are willing to engage in civil conversation about religion without getting defensive? Is it too much to ask for Christians who have actually read their Bible and are willing to entertain questions concerning their faith where the answer simply isn’t “Well that’s what the Bible says and that’s what I believe” without any justification whatsoever?
MM
July 16, 2008