Gideon MacLeish Gideon MacLeish

Christianity: A Religion of Hate?

▼

Christianity: A Religion of Hate?

from JoeUser Forums

It doesn't seem like that long ago, but it was half a lifetime. I was at one of the lowest points in my life and was overcome with the guilt of all of the mistakes I had made. I surrendered my life to Christ and committed myself to a new life.

Over the years, I've been in a number of different churches, some of them good, some of them bad, but all Bible believing churches. I've married and raised my children true to my Christian faith.

Having been raised in the LDS church, as a new Christian, I was aware of the word "cult", and used it frequently as I was taught, to describe those churches who didn't measure up to the strict interpretation of the Bible to which I was mentored. I wanted to be sure of my salvation so I studied eagerly in that journey.

But the word "cult" never set well with me for most of these churches. See, I knew people in these churches, and in all of them I knew people with a deep and fervent love of God. Sure, there were the nutcases, the caricatures out there, but those existed even in the "Christian" churches. We just did a better job of keeping them hidden.

Over the years, though, I found out the danger of the so called "evangelical" movement: they eat their own. While they profess to believe we are saved by grace, that "grace" means you damn well better believe as they do or your out the door. In other words, it is a very selective grace, and humans (specifically THEM), not God, do the defining.

There is a certain vein of Christianity that has become a religion of hate in the truest sense of the world. They profess to be evangelicals, but they have no burden for the lost. They actually would prefer the lost STAY lost, as they don't want to see these people's faces in heaven.

I was the Christian of all Christians. I studied the Bible, I worked on street ministry teams, heck, I even worked the phones for three Billy Graham Crusades. But because I dare question not the doctrine, but the manner in which it is delivered, I have been branded a heretic.

Those who know me might observe the new avatar (unless you'rte having the same problems I'm having with JU on some computers where it keeps displaying my old one). You might also note the one letter "X" responses I have left on several threads. The X does not denote "the unknown" as one might suspect, or any other affiliation, but rather the censorship that has been brought about as I've been exiled from mainstream Christianity for my "radical" views.

While I remain faithful to Christ, I refuse to remain faithful to the apostate church (note, please, I am not condemning INDIVIDUALS within those churches, but the churches themselves, who are unfaithful to their calling). My commitment was, and is, to Christ and Him crucified, not to a building or the "esteemed elders" who judge a man's worth by his financial standing. I will have nothing to do with the religion of hate that characterizes so many "Christians"; as my allegiance is with Christ.

religion
5,502 views 37 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top

Their insincerity shows through when they refuse to even try to be more conformed to the image of Christ.


Jesus said, '...I will give you rest.'

It seems your version of Christianity is what make you hate it so.

This thread is your mirror, read it well.

Love,
.A.






Reply #27 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't hate TRUE Christianity, Aeryck, just the apostates like yourself that claim it.
Object Desktop - Get all of our enhancement utilities in one suite
Reply #28 from JoeUser Forums Top
James gives the perfect definition of religion in James 1:27.


St.James rocks! Notice his perjorative meaning of "world".

True religion is God's means of contact with us. The day-in, day-out practice of true religion becomes a discipline which establishes the great commandment of love between God and man and then through that same great love between man and man.

Happiness is not about man and his relationship to the things of this world. True happiness is attained with, through and in the great love relationship between God and man from which flows love of one's neighbor. We see so often that men waiver between one extreme and another. Some seek only material good, yet Christ has great contempt for the world and what the world seeks. Others appear who claim to apply literally various precepts of the Master taken in isolaton. That is a recipe for failure becasue no man is an island. These extremes must be brought back to the path of reason by replacing the complete doctrine of love. That's where the Christian balance is. Its standpoint is we must be concerned with the world, but is concerned with it for God and His Will.

AERYCK POSTS:
I keep this one foremost in my mind when I meet folks that promote the old works doctrine.....(thanks Paul)

'And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.'

.A.


I'd say what constitutes the practice of true religion, Christianity, is of course, not its purely human works, but only works through the love of God among men. A work or deed which has not as its aim, directly or indirectly, the love of God for His own sake, can have no special appeal to Christians. And if works of this nature tend to encourage men in the belief that there can be happiness without GOd, they become harmful.

Bottom line: the Christian must bring all his strength for good works that, while they relieve the body, magnify God and His love.

In Christ's peace, one and all,

I must get to more fall cleaning and preparing for Turkey Day! Yum, Yum!
Reply #29 from JoeUser Forums Top
I just get torn sometimes. If I try to do good, is it my own efforts? If I don't do good, then I'm not doing good, and that can't be from God, right? Is it just an attitude thing?
Reply #30 from JoeUser Forums Top

From what I've seen in my short life so far, it's *FAITH* that's important, not the religion.

Religion and Churches are things made by Man.  Man is fallible, corruptable, easily swayed and very ready to twist things if it gives them an advantage.  I can be religious about a lot of things; golf, computers, dungeons & dragons, tree worship etc.  But being religious isn't the same as being faithful.

The people who protest "But I go to Church!" as a way of proving they're better aren't in it for the faith, they're in it to feel superior.  Anyone who would look down on another human being and discard them as "lost" or sit there and act all superior to them because they don't follow a specific belief are not Christians.  At least not in terms of what Christianity is supposed to be at its core.  They are followers of a Church.  Not of a faith.

Christ accepted all.  Prostitutes, money lenders, the worst elements of society were welcome at His table.  He didn't sit there and act morally superior, he didn't force his teachings down their throats.  He helped.  He spoke when people would listen.  He spread the word through actions.  I've always found people are much more open when you wait for them to come to you.  When your actions speak your faith and not your words.

But that's the "hard" way to do it.  Why?  Because it requires that you practice what you preach, and most people preach a much more strict sermon than they could follow-through on themselves.

Reply #31 from JoeUser Forums Top

Aeryck

When Gid said 'please don't patronize this thread' he meant that you should NOT respond here.  You've ignored that request.  I don't know if it's because Gid used long words like 'patronize' and 'don't' or because you're a total nutjob, but my money's on the nutjob theory.  You do realize that your behaviour does absolutely nothing to draw people to your christ, right?  People look at your delusional rantings and think 'wow. what a nutbag, lets stay as far away from him as possible in case he's contagious.' not 'wow. What a close relationship that man has with jesus.  Lets get ourselves into a church post haste so we can get some of what he's getting!'. 

*sigh*

You need some serious mental health help. 

Reply #32 from JoeUser Forums Top
Christ accepted all. Prostitutes, money lenders, the worst elements of society were welcome at His table.


Yes, He died for all and associated with sinners...but with conditions...that we must cooperate with His saving act. Man though, has the power of resisting His saving grace.

Remember in the case of the prostitute, He forgave her and then told her what to do thereafter....saying, Go, and sin no more.

The money lenders He threw them out of the Temple, the lesson being they were behaving irrevently in the house of God.
Reply #33 from JoeUser Forums Top
Well, that's terribly sweet of you, Gideon. Except that any and all religions that have a defined group of the 'saved' and a defined group of the 'lost' are equally religions of 'hate', just as they are equally religions of 'love'. Define hate as antagonism toward the Other; then all religions that are antagonistic toward the Other (the 'lost', 'infidels', whatever) necessarily become religions of hate.

As long as you define yourself by what you are not - as Christians of every type and stamp do - you are exactly what you claim to have left behind.
Reply #34 from JoeUser Forums Top
Define hate as antagonism toward the Other


No, it's not just antagonism towards the other, emp. What I have seen in many churches is an outright bloodlust even towards members of their own faith.

I can't say I don't see your larger point, though...which is why I try not to define myself too tightly.

I've seen people with an attitude like Aeryck's. I see them every day, in fact. And just to give an example of what I am talking about:

TW's family are the truest, purest Christians I've met in this area. Not only that, but everyone who goes to the church of their denomination in our little community has proven themselves to be loving, caring people. Yet to the church most ideologically aligned with Aeryck's theology, they are regarded as a borderline cult. Now, mind you, the church that labels them in that manner is full of hateful, backbiting, nasty individuals (with a few notable exceptions). But if you ask any one of them, they will tell you THEY are the "true Christians" in that community.

But yes, your last sentence was spot on. Thanks for the input.
Reply #35 from JoeUser Forums Top
I do not attack the people who go to a church,what I attack is their churches affiliation with Rome not Jerusalem,see Israel not christianity/mithra is the chosen children,see the church system has huge congregations that the majority follow the speaker not the scriptures.

The Bible our Messiah and his Apostles used is good enough for me to understand the true meaning of the Good News that the wall has been broken down allowing us to come into the promise of Israel,thats Paul writing that one in Ephesians 2,where does the promise of the roman mithra system being the chosen of the covenant? Nowhere thats where,for all the prophets talked about the coming restoration of torah upon Israel and Judah,nothing about the roman catholic church mentioned anywhere by Yahoshua and the prophets and the apostles.

What I follow is not one of exclusion but inclusion,no longer being outside of the law but followers and doers of the law,so many feel we are not to do works of any sort and thats why the poverished are ill taken care of and abused.

Been told many a time by a christian that I have no hope and no belief for my family lives on the edge of going under every week,and they have abundance of faith because they are worldly rewarded and well off,but the question I pose back is this,the god of the world is paving the way to your destruction because of your indifference to the Almighty of Israel,so are you sure you are being rewarded by the right god?
I have alot say yes,they will be highly rewarded for teaching outside of the covenant given to Israel,who do you think Israel the firstborn is? See he gave this mantle for a time to Jacob and then Israel passed the mantle to Ephraim.

But if you actually read the Bible its not a grecian roman book but a book to the called out ones to come home and quit their whoring among the nations.

So if you feel attacked by me then you need to go find out why you feel attacked,just maybe you will find your church teaches and practices a gospel ofrome not of Israel.
Pastor Terry
Reply #36 from JoeUser Forums Top

TW's family are the truest, purest Christians I've met in this area. Not only that, but everyone who goes to the church of their denomination in our little community has proven themselves to be loving, caring people. Yet to the church most ideologically aligned with Aeryck's theology, they are regarded as a borderline cult.


Gideon,

The logic behind this is that it does not matter what people believe as long as they are loving. This philosophy though apparently Christian is not Christian at all, but rather 'the ends justify the means'. (Quite a popular trend these days, introducing the business ideology of 'success is measured by outcome.') It fails because it is not based on sound biblical doctrine and those who are persuaded by it have been deceived.

Aeryck.



Reply #37 from JoeUser Forums Top

The logic behind this is that it does not matter what people believe as long as they are loving.


Aeryck,

Please. Get the fuck. Off my thread. You don't know jack.