Embarrassed to be a Christian (Jesus Christ, morals, gospel, hell)

[Steve]

Originally Posted by jgallandt

Sometimes I am embarrassed to be a Christian. So many so called Christians come across as they are right and everyone else is wrong. They know what's best for other people. All the time trying to tell others how to live their lives. Does not the Bible teach 'JUDGE NOT AND YE SHALL NOT BE JUDGED? Does it not also teach to be HUMBLE? It's cool to be content with your own religion. But to tell people that if they don't believe exactly what you believe, they will burn in hell. Is that now judging?

Hi jgallandt,
I agree to an extent with what your saying, However the bible does teach that Christ is the only way. If we believe the Bible is true then surly we should want others to be saved aswell. Not only this but we are commanded to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." - Mark 16:15
We are also told how to act in this regard.

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 22-23

I think there would be people on this forum who would regard me as judgemental because i dont believe there is any other way then Christ. However they themselves have therfore made a judgement about me because i believe this. Much of the verses in the bible about judgements are refering to hypocritical judgements. We are told to judge things

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. John 7:24

I am more embarrassed by people who call themselves Christian but then imply that it wasnt necessary for Christ to go through what he did to save us - as if he didnt really know what he was doing or that the atonement he made is just added extra but not really needed.

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Steve

Hi jgallandt,
I agree to an extent with what your saying, However the bible does teach that Christ is the only way. If we believe the Bible is true then surly we should want others to be saved aswell. Not only this but we are commanded to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." - Mark 16:15
We are also told how to act in this regard.

Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear?hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Jude 22-23

I think there would be people on this forum who would regard me as judgemental because i dont believe there is any other way then Christ. However they themselves have therfore made a judgement about me because i believe this. Much of the verses in the bible about judgements are refering to hypocritical judgements...

I hear what you are saying, but by coming across as 'better then you' will have the opposite effect and turn people away. I'm not saying you do that, you don't come across that way.

The Bible can be taken in many ways. I believe the reason for this is to reach more people

[Searcher of Light]

Originally Posted by jgallandt

Sometimes I am embarrassed to be a Christian. So many so called Christians come across as they are right and everyone else is wrong. They know what's best for other people. All the time trying to tell others how to live their lives. Does not the Bible teach 'JUDGE NOT AND YE SHALL NOT BE JUDGED? Does it not also teach to be HUMBLE? It's cool to be content with your own religion. But to tell people that if they don't believe exactly what you believe, they will burn in hell. Is that now judging?

Not everyone who calls themselves Christian are Christian. Oops that is a judgment
Let us look at that oft quoted verse:
Matthew 7:1-3

1Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

The principle of the verses is to careful by what a person judges. Since everyone will be judged by God's moral code, it is safe to judge others' behavior by it. Jesus has a right to judge everyone, but He also is our example. He judged while on earth those of His faith. Also, Christians are commanded to judge an errant Christian:

1 Corinthians 5:11-13

11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

If a person is a fellow Christian we are required to judge them thus the idea: Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. Of course, from other verses this is the last thing a congregation or group should do and only after the person in question refuses to change their sinful behavior.

Now the question is, with all the flavors of Christianity, how far does this concept of judging those "within" and not those "without"? Does it extend to all the flavors? If so a "holy" war of doctrine will wage soon between people. However, if it stays within each relevent belief system, we would not being doing what the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write. At that time, there was only one church of Christ, as there is today.


Quite a dilemma Paul opens to us.

[jeffrey]

Judging over beliefs that differ from your own is wrong. Judging others for things they do different is wrong.

The best example I can give is this. Being gay is wrong for me. But I cannot and will not say that a person will burn in hell for that. Quote all the Bible verses you want. God created ALL people. And I can quote you many a verse of God's rath for questioning his reasons. Hell, most gays I know have a bigger and more loving heart then my so called Christian brothers.

[jeffrey]

Let me add this. My idea of a true Christian is to be humble in every way. Show love to everyone. Telling someone they are committing a sin turns people off. Teach by example. Cherish what you have, no matter how much or little it is and don't covet what you don't have. Don't ever think that you can't learn something from others. Respect other's wishes and beliefs. It is not for us to question how God reaches others. Pray. And above all else, listen...

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by jonny

My mom always said that the church is a hospital for the sick. We should all be working together to help one another become better people. Nobody is going to be perfect, but if we want to make the world a better place we have to start with ourselves. Trying to change other people will just make you go crazy.

I quite agree. You lot sometimes sound quite Orthodox - the hospital metaphor is one that we use extremely frequently to describe the Church. Judging others is wrong. Only God has the right to judge because only He knows the heart of a man. And as He wills that all should be saved who are we to will otherwise?

James

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by JamesThePersian

I quite agree. You lot sometimes sound quite Orthodox - the hospital metaphor is one that we use extremely frequently to describe the Church. Judging others is wrong. Only God has the right to judge because only He knows the heart of a man. And as He wills that all should be saved who are we to will otherwise?

James

Nicely put. From both of you.

[gtrsgrls]

[quote=jgallandt]
Telling someone they are committing a sin turns people off.
QUOTE]The Bible says to tell people when they are committing sin.I'm not sure where you got the idea that we shouldn't.Of course I don't think we should just hound on people for sinning,I think we ought to tell them once and then leave it up to them.We should try not to turn people off but some ideas turn people off regardless of the way you approach it.The idea of hell turns a lot of people away from christianity but does that mean we should ignore the reality of hell?I think not.

[gtrsgrls]

Originally Posted by jgallandt

The best example I can give is this. Being gay is wrong for me. But I cannot and will not say that a person will burn in hell for that. Quote all the Bible verses you want. God created ALL people. And I can quote you many a verse of God's rath for questioning his reasons. Hell, most gays I know have a bigger and more loving heart then my so called Christian brothers.

I'm trying as hard as I can to not sound judgemental here but the Bible says that homosexuals will not have a place in the kingdom of God.Like it or not.I believe being gay is just like any other temptation except only some people are tempted with it.I believe it can be overcome.Again,don't look at me as being judgemental it's just what the Bible says and I believe the Bible.

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by gtrsgrls

I'm trying as hard as I can to not sound judgemental here but the Bible says that homosexuals will not have a place in the kingdom of God.Like it or not.I believe being gay is just like any other temptation except only some people are tempted with it.I believe it can be overcome.Again,don't look at me as being judgemental it's just what the Bible says and I believe the Bible.

The Bible says a lot of things and it advocates all kinds of horrible, disgusting cruelties. Do you believe that families should murder their children if they are suspected of being witches? What about if someone touches the blood or fat of a pig?