Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
"Christians:" Is your attitude toward others truly Christlike?
It seems that there are many who call themselves Christians (I don't care what denomination or how you define Christianity. Self-profession counts here) who spend a great deal of time trying to tear down the religious beliefs of others, and in some cases engage in name-calling, spreading untruths about others' beliefs, etc. What biblical passages would you say justify treating others like this? How do these attitudes fit with the teachings of Christ?
Were we not commanded to love one another as Christ loved us? That would seem to imply (to me, at least) that we are, indeed, expected to treat each other with love and respect.
Also, when I ask this, it is not to say disagreeing with each other doctrinally is bad. I'm specifically curious about people who seek out other religions not with a loving, teaching attitude (as Christ himself did) but with a holier-than-thou, you're all going to hell attitude. It seems like everything Christ commanded us to do deals with loving and serving both our neighbors and our enemies. How does calling a church which professes to believe in Christ achieving His purpose of bringing people to Him? If they already believe they are following him, doesn't that just come off as hateful and bigoted? Where in the Bible are we commanded to hate people who are genuinely trying to follow God's word?
10 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
I don't think it's right to try and force people to go your way, just because you think it's right. We need to follow our own path to God, and let him take care of what is right or wrong, without forcing our beliefs down peoples throats.
That said, it's not just a Christian thing. Every religion believes it is right, and I include atheists. On this site there are many more atheists trying to make Christians look stupid than the other way round.
Some people do try and convince people to share their beliefs out of a sincere desire to 'save' them, but I suspect this is not the case with most people. Anyway, we don't claim to be Christ like, we aim to be but we are only human, we aren't saints or gods!
xxxx
- ?Lv 61 decade ago
When Joseph Smith gave testimony that all other churches are an abomination in God's sight and he was to join none of them (Joseph Smith 2:18-19), he literally was attacking all churches and put them on the defense.
Spreading untruths is not correct of course. I don't think that's intentional by me or other Christians. Jesus himself called a few names when appropriate (Matthew 3:7 for example). We are also to do this:
2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
- ErsaLv 51 decade ago
Is my attitude toward others truly Christlike? Of course not! Do I look perfect to you?
I don't make a habit of name calling and tearing other people's beliefs down. But that's not to say I don't mess up (in that way and in others).
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Jesus and the Pharisees had a lot of disputes, so I wouldn't say that engaging the beliefs of others is improper. Also, Paul didn't hesitate to criticize those who were supposedly "false teachers."
Doctrinal disputes have been a part of Christianity as long as there has been Christianity.
Source(s): Liberal Christian - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- MulereinerLv 71 decade ago
Sugar coating the gospel and loving them to hell isn't my thing sorry.
Jesus showed the lies that were spread about God and also Him. We are to defend the Gospel of Christ, not tolerate others lying about it.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
"Christlike"? I don't know, but these days I try to stay out of peoples way and cause as little harm as possible to myself and others.
Source(s): I don't take any church dictates seriously, unless its to observe the Golden Rule. Otherwise Christian Apologetics can shove it. And of course as Gandhi said ( paraphrased)" I like your Christ. Its the Christians who trouble me."
