Are Christians at War?
By shewolf52002
@shewolf52002 (1214)
United States
March 16, 2008 11:13pm CST
Ever wonder about all the attacks christians suffer? Do you sometimes not even want to admit you are a christian because people will assume all these negative things about you? I am so tired of hearing how bad we are and how we are all hypocrits! Nothing we say or believe is right! I just want to love my God and share his Love with others. I want everyone to live eternally in heaven I though these were good things but you would think we offer the plague? Just a little confused about it all.
4 people like this
10 responses
@tessah (6617)
• United States
17 Mar 08
before i respond to this question i will first divulge the fact that im not a christian. used to be, not anymore. and i could give you a list 50 pages long as to my reasons why, but that is neither here nor there. most "christians" do have the reputation of trying to force their beleifs down anothers throat, screaming hellfire and damnation if you do not beleive the same way that they do. not exactly something people wish to deal with. "sharing his love" shouldnt include overbearing obnoxious behaviors. i have from time to time run across a few of you that arent that way, which surprises and pleases me more than you can imagine, but the majority arent very good examples of what jesus taught. theyre motivated by fear. and that fear can and does at times turn into downright psychotic behavior. i cant tell you how many times my life, or the lives of my children has been threatoned due to the fact of my faith and people wanting to show their LOVE and gods LOVE for us. just a simple example.. our cats were slaughtered by a "good christian woman" as her way of "sharing his love" the way they portray god isnt something loving and forgiving, but that of a cruel and vicious creature hell bent on torturing the masses. just my two cents worth of an explanation of why most people look to you in disgust and disdain.
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
17 Mar 08
I agree here. Every religion has some sort of persecution complex, and Christians by no means have the market cornered on religious persecution. Whether one is Christian, Muslim, Jew, etc, their people have suffered some sort of persecution in the past or present. So if Christians are at war, it's only because they've always been at war. As long as there are other religions, there will be opposing sides. And unfortunately, every religion has extremists and fanatics who will go to sickening lengths to show just how right they are.
I come from a religious (Christian) family and the fear, bigotry and hatred I hear come from their mouths when I go home really concerns me. It seems sometimes that instead of teaching love, acceptance, tolerance and all of the really good things that Christianity should be (but isn't) about, they're so focused on the damnation and hellfire of everybody else's soul unless those people decide to become just like them. They aren't worried about their own souls because they think they're the right ones, so their behavior is justified.
Religion is about assimilation and conforming. 'If you aren't like me, then you're going to go to hell. You should become like me so you will be saved.' I'd love to join a group that says "This is what we think. If you don't think that, that's fine. We love you anyway" without any judgment. Without any "we love you anyway, but are going to pray that God has mercy on your soul because you're probably going to burn in hell for eternity" (And yes, I've heard people say crap like that)
Because honestly, who am I to judge another person? I don't have that right. I wish a lot of Christians took that whole "he without sin casting the first stone" thing more seriously instead of getting all pious and judgmental.
@shewolf52002 (1214)
• United States
18 Mar 08
But what if they were right? Now before you get angry and misunderstand me let me ask a question, please? If at the end of your life you stood before God and he said "depart from me" and you had to go to hell would you be angry with the people who knew the answer but never told you because they did not want to offend you? Please hear a gentle question here not a condemning one! Christians believe in hell and believe there is a way to avoid it and some just want to share that with others... Now I KNOW there are some who scream it and make everyone feel like the lowest of low but that is not what I mean. I think the one thing that worries me about all of us is this: we talk about accepting everyones beliefs even if they contradict, but there is only one truth right? I mean someone has to be right and some have to be wrong dont they? No one would suggest that gravity does not exist or that the sun is really ice? If the absolutes that govern the natural are here wouldnt it stand to reason that the spiritual is an absolute as well?
Please know I am not trying to cram anything these are honest questions that I ask myself.
@edgyk8inmomma (2157)
• United States
12 Oct 08
I rarely confess my riligion for this exact reason. But I have to say, it isn't only Christians being attacked. Christians do they're fair share of attacking as well. All religions are at war with each other. And if you subscribe to the validity of the Bible, than you know this is how it was told it would be. Jesus told his followers that it would be hard for them. That some would die for their faith. That the world would hate those who profess his name. It isn't going to get any better, its only going to get worse. And sadly, there is asolutley nothing we can do about it. The human race is too ignorant and stubborn to put themselves aside for a minute and actually care about each other. The majority of the religious believe that there is only one truth and they hold it. Theredore, it becomes their life mission to spread that truth and condemn anyone and everyone who decides to refute it. Its a shame, yes, but it is merely a fact of life. All we can do is try our hardest to be the best we can be, and to love everyone the same regaurdless of what they believe. If you are a Christian, ou can do your part by reaching your hand out to the nearest pagan or muslim, look them in their eyes and love them for who they are. Don't try to push your beliefs down their throat, cuz that will only create resentment and eventual pain. If you are a pagan, the best thing you could do is reach out to the nearest christian or hindu and follow the same example. If you are hindu, do the same for the neasrest agnostic and atheist....etc......
But even if you do that, the war will still continue.
@GLOBALSHEEN (1005)
• India
11 Oct 08
In India attacking Christians have become so common. The Hindu fanatic groups are attacking christians in a planned way.They are mainly doing it for political gains.But the innocent Hindus are believing their words and getting misled. Otherwise the relationships were good. Christians are mistaken and are being attacked in many places in India. They should know that God is watching every thing and one day His patience might break out. Who can stand against then ? Christians pray to GOD for forgiving them who does not know what they are doing.
@eyewitness (1575)
• Netherlands
17 Mar 08
I'm not a shamed to be a Christian nor would i have been if i had some other religion.
Maybe it seems like Christians are at war,but if i see in my country it's definately the muslims being at war.And the problem is not the religion but the people who don't have a religion or the people who are in the religion itself.
It's really strange why people attack eachother because of religion.It's ok to share your love for God with others.But i do think that some people also should respect others believes and vice versa.
And if one is not agreeing with the other religion and shows it in a not so decent way it will become a fight.
I don't know why people do this.I do not always agree with others but that doesn't give me the right to assult them or to fight them.
Let me say this.Just keep sharing and let others attack.Don't be bothered by that but just pray for them,because like Jesus said on the cross they really don't know better and don't know what they do.
@DESMASTER2007 (1130)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I no what you are saying. See in the word it says that we are going to be persecuted. When you are doing something right or just trying to live for GOD, you will always face obstacles. For one is because of the enemy(devil) and then sometimes GOD allows us to go through things just for his glory. See the devil he wants us to be confused, so do not get confused, just stand on the word of god. The word that is in you is your best weapon. Whatever people say about you that is not in the will of GOD they are the ones that are going to be accountable for what they do. So do not worry because we have all fell short of his glory, but as long as we repent he will give us new mery. So GOD he loves us all, but the thing is he wants us to try our best to live for him, even when we are going through our trials, or even going throught turmoil. So don't let nothing affect you, keep your head up. Because we Christians are peculiar people and we are the Chosen Generation. So be blessed my friend.
@Blackribbon (66)
• United States
18 Mar 08
I don't think anyone feels pressured to not admit or be cautious about speaking their Christian beliefs. Christianity is the majority religion in the world, and the US is no different. I think maybe some Christians are feeling a sort of backlash, in the media mostly and perhaps from people, but it's more of questioning those beliefs and values. Maybe that offends you; but I think, frankly, it's a minor issue. I definitely don't believe Christians suffer, it's just that people are allowed and feel more comfortable in voicing their opinions about the religion. I think it's become such a cliche to voice opposition to the religion or how awful it is. There are a lot of good and honest Christians, but there are also a lot of people who use that religion to manipulate and abuse people. For me, there are some things inappropriate and unethical about Christianity (sexism and homophobia), but I don't think of all Christians in an awful way or treat them different. Everyone has their own views on things and I think people are tired of being told to believe the same old thing.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I don't think Christians should hide, nor should they be afraid to state their faith. For that matter no one should be afraid to do so and no one should have to worry about another trying to change their faith.
You state in your post "I just want to love my God and share his Love with others" but what if someone doesn't want you to share with them? Do you still do so? That is the problem many have had with Christians. That no matter what we say we are having Jesus' love shoved at us. It gets very annoying. If I came up to you and started saying that "you'll end up being burned alive in hellfire for your beliefs and that unless you share in the love of my God and follow the doctrines I follow you are considered evil and that you will die horribly" how would you feel? You wouldn't like it I'm sure and yet many Christians have no problem in doing this and doing it to complete strangers.
I have known many Christians who do not do this. Who can discuss religion and beliefs without trying to force others to their ways. They don't use fear or intimidation to stress that a change is required. They just discuss the different beliefs. That is fine and I enjoy such discussions. sadly though there are many out there who seem to think that they have to convert as many to their faith as they can.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Christians have always been at war right from the beginning.
The early Christians were persecuted and had to meet in secret, knowing that if they were discovered they would be arrested and killed.
Even today Christians are being arrested and charged with hate crimes for speaking out against things they do not believe in.
Students are being told that they cannot talk about their religion and are having microphones shut off during commencement speeches if they mention anything about Jesus... while at the same time 7th graders are being indoctrinated into the Muslim religion in California,being forced to learn about that faith and encouraged to practice Jihad.
The Hate Speech legislation is a threat to all Christians, and would cause the Bible to be viewed as Hate Speech, and would subject ministers to Hate Crimes laws i9f they were caught preaching from the Bible in a manner that certain groups found offensive.
Not only are our 1st Amendment Rights being violated by this legislation, our 14th Amendment Rights of Equal Protection are in jeopardy as well by the Hate Crimes laws.
America was founded by Christians for Christians so that we could worship in the manner that we saw fit, without interference from the government.... and the Bill Of Rights and the Constitution guarantee that right.
Here is a link that helps to show what is going on....
http://www.silencingchristians.com/video4.aspx
If we are not diligent things will get much worse.
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I think the most important thing shewolf is that God knows your heart. What others think or how they categorize you isn't necessarily important as long as you are doing the best you can not to place yourself in the group of people you describe.
If you talk the talk, then you MUST walk the walk, otherwise, you will face that persecution. We will face it (most likely) anyway.....so ...
Stand firm in the faith and know from whence you came, and also, put on the whole armor of God so you can deflect those firey darts from the adversary.
In response to your discussion, , , I'm not going to soften the blow of my Christianity. It's who I am, what I do, how I respond to 99% of life. If someone can't tolerate the fact that I'm a Christian, and if they don't want a Christian based response, then they ought not ask the question......
I always wonder....what makes those kind of people attack our faith (and us), but I don't let it bother me too much. I just consider the source and go on about my business because "I know who I am".....
@Flint275 (60)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I understand you completly. I am such a reigious and god fearing man. Many times have I been attacked by differnt cultures,religions and people. I have a hard time with this issue my self. If you are doing gods will other poeple don't matter. My attude is im sorry that I can't help you understand my beliefe in god, but you don't have to. not wanting to admit being christian should never cross your mind ;however, I have had them from time to time. it's a hard time to be a christian. I will pray for you. Never Let Other People Make YOU Feel That You Are Wrong! you are right god bless
