Protestantism

» paper_turtle - What do you want Christians to do?

What do you want Christians to do?
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Do you want us to abandon our beliefs? Do you want us to apologize for our beliefs?
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I expect from evangelical/conservative Christians what I expect from myself--respect and understanding. I expect to be treated after the model of Jesus, who did NOT lecture *lay* people about how wrong they were. Instead, he loved them into goodness. When people approached Jesus for healing, he did NOT place any conditions upon them, nor did he ask anything beyond "what do you want?" or "do you believe ...?" I expect not to be brow-beaten, or lectured, or insulted. I expect not to be told I am a miserable sinner simply because I don't believe what they believe.
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Do you want us to apologize for and/or explain all those who have professed to be or claimed to be Christian, but who have done offensive or objectionable things? Must I, as a Christian pastor, take responsibility for everyone in the world who claims to be a Christian - in that I must bear the guilt and/or shame of any wrong deed done by a self-professed Christian?
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What I would *like* to see is Christians of all denominations looking at the issues. That is, when a preson who professes himself a Christian does something "offensive or objectionable" I would like Christians to look at what it is about Christianity which might possibly have been a contributing factor. For example, just how could belief in a concrete devil lead some unbalanced person to kill another because he/she believed this other person was a personification of the devil?
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Do you believe Christians should keep all their views and opinions to themselves? That they should not have free access to the public square along with people of other faith and/or people of no faith? And if they do step into the public square, should Christians wear bold insignia that 'marks' them for suspicion and/or careful treatment? (I think Hitler did this with the Jews before he put them in concentration camps).
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Its not the statement of beliefs which offwnds me; its the way in which it is done--as if anyone who does not see things exactly as they do is not worthy of taking up space in the universe (or at least is to be regarded as a fool).
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I think an open, honest, and ***impartial*** consideration of faith/ethics/morals has an extremely important place in the public forum. What bothers me is when someone says he wants everyone to believe/speak/act as he does, or that his particular beliefs should be the law of the land.
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But you know, many Christians I know hardly ever feel the need to label their words or actions as Christian. They take seriously what Jesus said: "They will know us by our love." They make no secret of their beliefs. They openly attend church and talk about prayer, or reading their Bibles, or teaching Sunday School, but they don't shove their faith in anyone's faith.
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Now, YOU don't behave like that, but all too many Christians do, and it gives all of Christianity a bad name.
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle