Hated believers

nobspeople · Post by **nobspeople** » Fri Dec 04, 2020 9:45 am

If you're a Christian, are you or do you feel hated by other people?
Do you think it's right to hate (or strongly dislike if you wish, but hate is real even if it sounds too strong of a word to use) Christians simply because they're Christians, or should it be more based on their actions?

In the USA (and maybe other areas as well?) we hear, from time to time, Christian organizations seemingly rebutting a challenge to their ability to worship as they see fit. Most recently I've come across is a court case involving church service and COVID restrictions but I've also see Christians protesting movie and their releases as well as legally challenging gay marriage, stating that (somehow) gay marriage prevents their "ability to worship". Many times, these groups get push back from the public, from the collective rolling of eyes to legal challenges.

As a Christian, do you feel others see you negatively?
If so, do you think it's legitimate, or is it some kind of grand Satanic conspiracy of some type?

Post by **Tcg** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 4:33 am

JehovahsWitness wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 4:22 am
Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 7:20 pm [Replying to nobspeople in post #1]

It is important to note that Christians are often hated by other Christians.
Jesus was hated by his fellow Jews, indeed religions persecution has often proven to be the most viscious one of all.

The topic of this thread is hatred for Christians, not the religious in general. Christianity can inspire hatred and that hatred at times is turned inward on other Christians.

Tcg

nobspeople · Post by **nobspeople** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:14 am

Overcomer wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 4:56 pm nobspeople wrote:

About conforming, I see Christianity as easily malleable to almost any culture or sphere, to use your words. We see so many different kinds of Christianity around the planet (and throughout time) that it seems quite capable to evolve and continue so long as there are people willing to accept it IMO.
The reality is that Christ is for everyone. He cuts across all cultures. He offers salvation to the whole world. And yes, Christianity can fit into any society and any ethnic group BUT it must do so without changing its core beliefs about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and salvation or watering down the Bible to the point where it is meaningless. Certainly every culture can introduce its food, its music, its language, its traditions, etc. into the Christian experience and make their celebration of Jesus, who he is and what he has done, truly unique to that culture. However, the foundational doctrines of Christianity cannot and should not evolve nor should the orthodox understanding of the identity of Jesus Christ. If they are altered, then what you have is something that is no longer Christianity even if those who practice it use Christian terminology and call themselves Christians.

In theory, I'd agree. But, as I see it, there is a difference between "Jesus" and modern Christianity today IMO.
I'm old enough to remember my grandparents being against interracial marriage citing it sinful from biblical references from their church. Today, those types of churches (their church is long gone) no longer see interracial marriage as sinful. Seems society did indeed evolve Christian belief (at least in those churches) away from interracial marriage as sinful.
From what I understand, today's Christianity isn't much like it was when it started (and to note, Christianity was a violent religion at one point - even today some sects teach hate under the umbrella of Christ) so Christianity indeed has evolved in various ways. Rather or not that was 'right'....? I don't see God striking down those violent tendencies or sects even today. God didn't interfere with interracial marriages on a grand scale enough to show he's against it.
I think most, if not all, beliefs evolve over time.

nobspeople · Post by **nobspeople** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:15 am

Tcg wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 7:20 pm [Replying to nobspeople in post #1]

It is important to note that Christians are often hated by other Christians. The following documents at least in part the reasoning for the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia:

Russian police raid Jehovah's Witnesses' homes

The Russian Orthodox Church welcomed the ban in 2017. A senior Orthodox cleric, Metropolitan Hilarion, called the Jehovah's Witnesses a "totalitarian sect" on Russian TV.

He said: "It's hard to deny that these cultists will remain and continue their activity... but at least they'll stop openly claiming to be a Christian faith, in other words, in the market place of existing Christian confessions this product will no longer be on display.

"And I think that's all for the best. It'll save families, people's lives".

The Jehovah's Witnesses were founded in the US in the late 19th Century and stick to a very literal reading of the Bible, rejecting the interpretations of many Christian scholars and the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55061919
It is not unusual for Christians to claim that other Christians aren't actually Christians and use this reasoning as an excuse for their hatred.

Tcg

True. Simply because one's a Christian doesn't mean they can hate!

JehovahsWitness · Post by **JehovahsWitness** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 7:48 pm

nobspeople wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 8:14 am
I'm old enough to remember my grandparents being against interracial marriage citing it sinful from biblical references from their church.

DOES THE BIBLE CONDEMN INTERACIAL MARRIAGE?

ACTS 17:26

And he made out of one man every nation of men to dwell on the entire surface of the earth ...

The bible teaches that all humans are in fact descendants of the same couple and encourages us to imitate God who has expressed his love for all people irrespective of their nationality or skin colour (compare Acts 10:34, 35). There is no valid basis in scripture to condemn interacial marriage today and certainly no prohibition for Christians to marry someone of a diffrent nationality or with a different skin colour.

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

MARRIAGE and ... DIVORCE and ... RACISM

Post by **Tcg** » Sat Dec 26, 2020 5:05 am

JehovahsWitness wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 7:48 pm

The bible teaches that all humans are in fact descendants of the same couple and encourages us to imitate God who has expressed his love for all people irrespective of their nationality or skin colour (compare Acts 10:34, 35).

This quite clearly isn't accurate:

Leviticus 25:44 "Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. 45 You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. 46 You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

<bolding mine>

Clearly Bible God practices favoritism for "His people", not surprisingly given they invented this God that favors them, and does so to the extent of letting those from other nations be enslaved for life to serve His favorites. Not surprisingly this favoritism has inspired some followers of this God to hate those different from themselves and treat them as something other, something less than themselves.

Tcg

JehovahsWitness · Post by **JehovahsWitness** » Sat Dec 26, 2020 6:10 am

Tcg wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 5:05 am Clearly Bible God practices favoritism for "His people"....

FAVORITISM

the favoring of one person or group over others with equal claims

Favoritism implies a distortion of law and rights. It has been defined as the unfair favouring of one person or group at the expense of another. So bestowing favours, blessings and privileges on one person or group of people is not enough to establish "favoritism" if a distortion justice is not established.

The Bible Encyclopedia Insight on the Scriptures makes the following observations in this regard...

Some persons have held that Jehovah dealt partially by using and favoring Israel as his people of ancient times. However, an honest examination of his dealings with Israel will reveal that such a charge is erroneous. Jehovah chose and dealt with Israel, not because of their greatness and numbers, but because of his love and appreciation for the faith and loyalty of his friend Abraham, their forefather. (Jas 2:23) Also, he was long-suffering toward them because he had placed his name upon them. (De 7:7-11; Eze 36:22; De 29:13; Ps 105:8-10) While obedient, Israel was blessed above the nations not having the Law. When Israel was disobedient, God was patient and merciful, but he punished them, nevertheless. And though their position was a favored one, they were under weightier responsibility before God because of bearing Gods name and because they were under the Law. For the Law carried curses against the one breaking it. It is written: "Cursed is the one who will not put the words of this law in force by doing them." (De 27:26) The Jews, by violating the Law, came under this curse, which was in addition to their condemnation as offspring of sinful Adam. (Ro 5:12) Therefore, to redeem the Jews from this special disability, Christ not only had to die but also had to die on a torture stake, as the apostle Paul argues at Galatians 3:10-13.

Thus, God exercised no partiality toward Israel. God was using Israel with the blessing of all nations in view. (Ga 3:14) By this means God was actually working toward the benefit of people of all nations in his due time. In harmony with this, the apostle remarks: "Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of people of the nations? Yes, of people of the nations also, if truly God is one, who will declare circumcised people righteous as a result of faith and uncircumcised people righteous by means of their faith." (Ro 3:29, 30) Furthermore, in the ancient Jewish commonwealth, men from other nations could come under Gods favor and blessing by worshiping Jehovah the God of Israel and keeping his law, as did the Gibeonites, the Nethinim (meaning "Given Ones"), and many alien residents.Jos 9:3, 27; 1Ki 8:41-43; Ezr 8:20; Nu 9:14.

Although patient and merciful, repeatedly receiving Israel back when they repented, Jehovah finally cast them off as his name people. (Lu 13:35; Ro 11:20-22) The apostles statement applies here: "He will render to each one according to his works: . . . wrath and anger, tribulation and distress, upon the soul of every man who works what is injurious, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For there is no partiality with God."Ro 2:6-11.

So, while a superficial, short-range view of Gods dealings might appear to reveal partiality, the deeper, long-range view brings to light marvelous impartiality and justice beyond anything man could have conceived. How finely he worked out matters so that all mankind would have opportunity to receive his favor and life!Isa 55:8-11; Ro 11:33.

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