Posted on 10/12/2007 2:59:51 AM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
Majorities of young people in America describe modern-day Christianity as judgmental, hypocritical and anti-gay. What's more, many Christians don't even want to call themselves "Christian" because of the baggage that accompanies the label.
more at link...
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Luke 14:23
And the Lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that thy house may be filled.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm!
Wesley’s view: “Compel them to come in — With all the violence of love, and the force of God’s word. Such compulsion, and such only, in matters of religion, was used by Christ and his apostles.”
Calvin’s view: Luke 14:23. Compel them to come in. This expression means, that the master of the house would give orders to make use, as it were, of violence for compelling the attendance of the poor, and to leave out none of the lowest dregs of the people. By these words Christ declares that he would rake together all the offscourings of the world, rather than he would ever admit such ungrateful persons to his table. The allusion appears to be to the manner in which the Gospel invites us; for the grace of God is not merely offered to us, but doctrine is accompanied by exhortations fitted to arouse our minds. This is a display of the astonishing goodness of God, who, after freely inviting us, and perceiving that we give ourselves up to sleep, addresses our slothfulness by earnest entreaties, and not only arouses us by exhortations, but even compels us by threatenings to draw near to him. At the same time, I do not disapprove of the use which Augustine frequently made of this passage against the Donatists, to prove that godly princes may lawfully issue edicts, for compelling obstinate and rebellious persons to worship the true God, and to maintain the unity of the faith; for, though faith is voluntary, yet we see that such methods are useful for subduing the obstinacy of those who will not yield until they are compelled.
Headlines correct. God agrees.
Doesn’t this just prove Calvinists talk too much?
Judgmental Christians have cost the movement thousands of members; myself included. I will not set foot in a church structure of any kind. I do not want to be associated with the judgmental behavior that goes on there. I will not even get into the hypocritical behavior.
My church is the great outdoors that God gave me. I can talk to him one on one there and no preacher gets in the way.
The Romans in the 1st and 2nd centuries thought we were cannibals. Misinformation and slander are part of the game folks. Live for Christ and embrace your cross!
“I’d be embarrassed to discuss many of the intimate details they have no problem sharing in mixed company.”
“Shame” as a deterrent to certain behavior in public barely exists anymore.
But, I have no plans to run for the presidency on the republican ticket either. I wouldn’t be nearly as cute as fruity Rootie ;0)
I hear that over and over. “You are being judgemental” whenever I opine on the right or wrong of an action. I hear it from kids, young adults, and people over 50. Our society has become inundated with that philosophy.
Also, most folks do not have any idea what being a hypocrite really means. Most believe that if you’ve ever done a specific wrong, you can not criticize another currently doing that specific wrong or you are a hypocrite.
If people realized that those buildings we call public schools are really public churches of secular humanism and then realized that young people are the ones going there, it would all make sense.
Youths, then lack judgment.
You should make it a point to try to explain the difference between judgment and judgmental. Cigarette smoking a good comparison to homosexuality. Pretty much nobody can deny that cigarettes are a bad thing. They don't "work for some people" any more than anal sex does. Saying that cigarettes are bad is using your judgment. Saying that people who smoke are bad people is being judgmental. Smokers are just good people doing a bad thing. Explaining this difference is probably the single most important thing you can do.
Wesley’s view is more attractive to me, but I have a modern sensibility as do you. Augustine and Calvin both shared a view of grace such that it is the work of God . . . and so any action leading to grace is the work of God . . . Is it wrong for a Catholic School to require attendance at Mass, or a Presbyterian or Protestant school to compel attendance of the students at chapel? We accept compulsion there as natural and normal because of the nature of the students and the school administrators. I think in the era, at least of Calvin, princes and subjects had a very different relationship than the citizen in freedom has today with his government as well . . . so the perspective politically is different. I don’t know about Calvinists talking too much, but my impression is that Calvin commented on everything he read and expressed everything he thought, very prolific, and there is chaff with the wheat possibly.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
In my judgement, regardless of your out of context scripture, you are as full of crap as a Christmas Goose!
Not having read the comments yet, I’m guessing we’ll see a lot of folks denying the statistics for one reason or another. Now to go and check my assumptions....
My, aren't they a bunch of judgmental hypocrites?
Indeed. But acting like a jerk isn't going to convince folks that you're offering them a way to avoid HELL. More likely, it's a serious incentive for them to avoid YOU, and anybody like you -- which is precisely the mechanism that's highlighted by this poll.
The article is correct about the reputation of Christianity. It is oftentimes undeserved. But I've met enough pharisaical Christians to know exactly where the kids who responded to this survey are coming from.
It's true, you know: an awful lot of folks who Want To Make Sure You Know About Christ are not pleasant folks to be around - they'll sniffily dismiss anything, be it jokes, books, movies, or activities, that doesn't accord with a very narrow view of what "Christians" should do.
That's a problem -- the "Christian" stereotype is fed by those whose behavior matches what is already presented by the hostile media.
If you want to know what does work with younger kids .... it's much gentler than what your fire and brimstone approach would suggest. As St. Paul put it, "I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it." (1 Cor. 3:2)
That’s a really excellent comment. I might just use it.
The poll results are pretty well in line with what I've observed among the yutes with whom I'm acquainted ... which is quite a few, BTW.
I know a lot of very nice, devout, and wonderful Christian kids -- the sort of kids who you want to present to the world as the face of Christianity.
And I also know a few very priggish and judgmental Christian kids.
And you'll never guess which ones define for others what "Christians are like." Nope, it's not the dear ones. It's the jerks. And they chase kids away from church: I've seen it happen.
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