Well yes, it is problematic if you are a Christian. Who is to blame for this hatred of Christianity. The answer is simple. CHRISTIANS. The most vilified and detested Christians in America are fundamentalists and evangelicals.
I am evangelical. I go to church on Sunday and here sermon after semon about how we need to get out of our “comfort zones” and become more active. What the pastor means is active in the church.
Attend Bible study if you do not presently attend. We need people to clean up around the church and we need to make more Christians. (I have pointed out that we do not make Christians. We invite people to service. We try to live lives that do not damage others and are worth emulating, etc.). The Holy Spirit makes Christians.
The pastor is talking about growing the church. At the same time he is adamant about not getting involved in politics. We are all involved in politics whether we like it or not. Apparently it has never occured to anyone that it was politics when Jesus threwthe moneychangers from the Temple. He was crucified for being a political threat. Following the “no politics” advice has resulted in us being the only group of people in America or the world who can be openly insulted and vilified publically with impunity.
Blacks, homosexuals, women, whatever. Insult them and you bring down the fire. Christians? Spit on them. The only problem there is trying to express more contempt for them than anyone else. What is the Christian response? What do the pastors say? Let us not jeopordize the holy 501C(3). Lets fill those seats and fill those collection plates.
We all know that early Christians were persecuted don’t we? Perhaps we need to see how well we stand up to persecution, so lets just take what they give us. And oh yes. Let’s not snivel about it. After all, if we wanted to stop this we could. But we won’t.
Preach it, brother! ;~) I agree with you 100%. Welcome to FR, by the way!
You can add orthodox Catholics to that list, even within the ranks of our own faith. The concept of divide and conquer comes to mind when it comes to the various factions of Catholicism and the weakening of the moral voice. There are people out there who claim the affiliation for whatever reason then do not follow the tenets of the faith. We who do are considered to be "not with it" and "out of step." And to claim to really love and admire the current pope - well, that's a sure way to marginalize yourself. Seriously.
We're all under attack.