A sincere apology to all people...
By Beertjie
@Beertjie (976)
South Africa
March 29, 2007 3:46pm CST
As a Christian I want to apologise, on behalf of all Christians of all times, to all people of all nations.
My reason for this apology is...
The word Christian means follower of Christ, and that is what the early Christians did. Then as time moved on, people started to stop following Christ, but started to serve an idea of God. So-called Christians started to argue about things in the Bible and then broke away into different denominations and started fighting among one another. We turned Christianity into a religion.
Jesus gave us the Great Commision to go out and preach the gospel to all nations, but instead of doing that, we started to judge the nations, causing them to hate Christians.
Christianity was never intended to be a religion because religion judge, cause conflict, etc. Christianity was intended to be excactly what the word means, folowers of Christ.
True Christians never judge, never force anything unto any one, never create confusion ( God is not the auther of confusion). A real Christian knows what love is and how to use it and live it.
Religion christians judge others, cause others to hate Christianity, cause people to go to hell, cause rebellion, cause conflict, etc. Many people have done lots of things in the name of Jesus but instead of doing it in love, they did it in duty. These people never had a real personal relationship with Jesus and think that by doing good thing they will go to heaven. They have done more harm than good.
I say again, I apologise on behalf of all Christians to the all the nations.
I hope that you will in future make a distinction between religion christians and Jesus folowers. There are true Christians in this world that only seek the glory of God.
9 people like this
13 responses
@pangeacat (619)
• United States
29 Mar 07
That was beautiful Beertjie! :)
I am not Christian, but I agree with you that many Christians have lost their way and don't really understand the beauty and love in their own faith. All the True Christians I have met have been wonderful, beautiful people who have been more than willing to share their beliefs and their faith with me without preaching or trying to convert me. And, that's what I appreciate. If you try to convert someone, it will never actually happen. If you share the beauty of your faith with someone, without agenda, you have the possibility of reaching that person. It really is a beautiful belief. But, some of the "followers" of that belief make it seem ugly. And, that's a shame. That's a very sad thing. :(
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
29 Mar 07
I agree, I'm not christian either but I've seen first hand what the one's who lose sight of their faith can do.
It does seem to do more harm than good..the whole judging and trying to covnert peoples thing.
I just love finding a real follower of christ, because they seem so rare..and are awesome people, who I truly do admire.
Christianity is actually a very beautiful belief system..but too many make it seem like something it's truly not.
5 people like this
@pangeacat (619)
• United States
29 Mar 07
They are rare, and that is just so sad to me. Judging, condemning, hating ~ none of these things are part of Christianity. Christianity is about love, faith, and tolerance (not tolerance for disrespect, but tolerance for people).
The true believers are wonderful, and that are really just so full of life and love. And, anyone who can love people regardless of what they do is AMAZING in my book. That is a rare and beautiful quality to posess.
3 people like this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
30 Mar 07
"I just love finding a real follower of christ, because they seem so rare..and are awesome people, who I truly do admire."
I agree wholeheartedly! And its such a shame that its a dwindling group ya know....true christians are very rare and seem to be getting more and more rare as the yrs go by...
4 people like this
@complexvanilla (653)
• India
30 Mar 07
You are perfectly right. Many people go to the extent of twisting religion and religious sentiments to their own ends. Politicians have for long twisted things out of context just to get the maximum advantage in the polls. I'm not religious, though I'm spiritual. This is a simple thing that is lost onto so many people. Many people are so busy fighting over whose religion is the better one and whose religion grants the quickest path to heaven while all the others lead straight to hell, that they forget that the very purpose of religion was to spread the message of love and tolerance amongst people. When will they see sense?
3 people like this
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
2 Apr 07
You got that spot on, spread the gospel of love. I have been confronted by some members of a certain denomination who are judging me for not going to church on Saterday (Sabbat). The more I tell them that as Christian I have a relationship with God and that is most important. He leads us and if it is to your conviction to go on Saturday or Sunday, as long as you are honost about it and your relationship with God. Some of these members will say to me I must follow the fourth command and in the same sentence they would break the second command, love your neighbor. It's all about god and love, not relirious rules.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
30 Mar 07
Well said, Beertjie!
It is a pity that almost anyone born into some countries is automatically tagged "Christian" and holds that until such time as he/she takes another tag for themselves. The fact is that there is no such thing as a Christian country. There is no such thing as a Christian religion if we use the word religion as is commonly used today.
People who call themselves Christian cause a lot of harm to Christianity. They do not follow the claims of Christ or live according to His teachings. They think they can make their own rules and follow their own ways, are by doing so are, in essence, being idolatrous.
Christianity is about a relationship with the loving, Creator, Father God, through the Lord Jesus Christ. Christianity is about being "in Christ" and knowing the REALITY of His abiding presence as LORD in the life. Becoming a Christian is a complete CHANGE of lifestyle. It is becoming a new creation, where old things have gone and all things have become new.
I have often being ashamed by statements and actions of so-called Christians, and I would join you in apologising to anyone and everyone who has been hurt by well-meaning but misguided people. Please do not judge the Lord Jesus Christ or true Christians by the actions of misguided people.
3 people like this
@Springlady (3986)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Amen Cloud!
To be a Christian is to be a follower of Jesus Christ and to strive to be like Him. Jesus did not come to start a new "religion", but to give Life. I look at Christianity as a relationship with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...and intimate relationship.
God bless.
2 people like this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
30 Mar 07
Beertjie, I think you have state this quite eloquently. I often find myself apologizing myself. I am indeed embarrassed at our nation as a whole and the "Christians" that run our government. Thank you for bring to light what many of us are thinking. letting our brothers and sisters of other faiths and beliefs know that not all of us are judgmental and critical.
3 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
30 Mar 07
You know, you say exactly what I tell people all the time. I get pressured all the time that I have to do things a certain way or be a certain way in order to be a Christian. That is a total lie. I think people use Christ in order to make themselves feel superior over other people. That makes me very angry.
I think they fastest way to drive people away from Jesus or God is to tell them that they HAVE TO do things a certain way. Some people are way to legalistic like the Pharisees used to be in Jesus's time.
2 people like this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
30 Mar 07
First off +++'s for you Pangeacat! that was a truly wonderful post!
Secondly...I'm no longer a Christian and havent been for MANY yrs now but i too agree that many have lost their way and/or just dont get it (understand) and its a shame...I also think that those same ppl have the BIGGEST mental issues out there BECAUSE they take the words of the bible and the intent of the religion and distort it, abuse it, misuse it in the most disgusting ways at times in order to harm others either mentally, emotionally and sometimes physically or a combo of all three...Why? Because 'Misery Loves Company'....but that is a thread all in itself..
Kudos to you for a terrific post....
2 people like this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
30 Mar 07
Your words seem very harsh, Ravenlady, but I have to reluctantly agree with you. I'm afraid I have to admit that the picture many so-called Christians present to the world is just as you picture: a life of restrictions and misery and doom.
I am pleased that you, and many others here, recognise that there are Christians and christians who shouldn't call themselves Christians, because they are not followers of Christ.
As you know, I am a Christian, but my life is an abundant life of joy and peace. I have a living, vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and feel no restrictions. I CHOOSE not to do a number of things, but it is my choice. Because of my relationship with Christ, I have no desire for such things. I do not talk negatively, but stress the enormous love of God and His desire for a relationship with everyone. I do not judge people who hold other beliefs, but enjoy their company and discussing things with them in a courteous and respectful way. Thank you for your understanding.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85492)
• United States
30 Mar 07
You feel for the times other "Christians" have caused people to stumble on their road to Christ. But you can only be responsible for yourself, and you are a true believer, which is the best way anyone can make up for hypocrites of the past. I wish you nothing but blessings.
2 people like this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I have always thought about the fact that the word Christians entailed acting like Christ. Christ did things totally out of love. The judging other people that Christians do is totally out of character of what Christ did. That gives a wrong impression of what Christians are. True Christians carry the word of God through actions not by words. You are very right when you say that people are turned away by the so called Christians trying to force their belief on you. Christ did not judge people and lead them by love. It was their choice if they accepted him or not. The ones that didn't he was hurt but never judged. I love Jesus and it always has made me sad at the way some Christians do not follow the road that Jesus showed. One of love and not judging. I do not like religions because they push their own beliefs and if you don't follow what they preach they put you down. That is not Christians. That is plain and simple religion.
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
•
29 Mar 07
What a really wonderful outlook you have. I'm really impressed by your post. I am not a Christian but you have such a fantastic outlook. If only more people would live and love so well.
3 people like this
@countrylady28 (153)
• United States
30 Mar 07
It is true that many Christians miss the point of having that personal relationship with Christ, but be careful not to judge them either. They are missing out on that beautiful relationship. God is the true judge and one day we will have to give an account to Him.
Sometimes others don't like what we believe in or what we stand for however the bible is clear that we will face opposition and that we will be persecuted for our beliefs. As sinners, Christians have a very hard time with this and it's so easy to go down a path that causes us to judge, belittle, and display a poor testimony.
My church has been committing this issue to prayer. It's very easy for us to overlook our own sins and point out others, but we must remember that non-Christians wouldn't feel the need to serve God so we are doing nothing but turning them away from our faith when we call them names or belittle them for their disobedience or lack of love for the Lord. It's much better to display and lead by example. I struggle in this area - it's very difficult, please pray for me...
