I just can't stand the politicization and materialization of the Christian faith by these so-called "Christians" that spend more of their time worrying about what everyone else is doing and don't really give a damn about their own life and the example that they are setting for others.
Well, take it from me. I do not wish to legislate morality or attempt to outlaw any acts that don’t do harm to others. BUT, if you force me to choose whether or not to place my stamp of approval on something, then you have to meet my standards, otherwise, don’t ask for my approval. Deal?
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No, I don't think anyone was preaching hatred when they said the only way into heaven was through Jesus. That is a clear tenant of the Christian faith.
Agreed.
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What I think breeds hatred are all these people who claim that gays should be allowed to be discriminated against because the personal prejudices of a few historical people/cultures wrote it down in the Bible.
1) Some of us believe that the Bible is NOT the opinion of the culture of that day, rather it is the word of God judging the culture of that day and replacing it with the kind of culture approved by God.
2) Again, I am not attempting to discriminate against anyone. BUT, if you force me to choose whether or not to place my stamp of approval on something, then you have to meet my standards, otherwise, don’t ask for my approval. I have no problem with gays marrying, it is totally none of my business, just don’t make me a party to it because I want NOTHING to do with it.
I really don't like the "us vs. them" culture surrounding evangelical churches.. and their willingness to just up and leave a church the minute the pastor says something they don't like and their reactionary way of looking at everything
Pastors should preach the Word. If someone leaves because they disagree with something taught in the bible, then so be it, let them leave.
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and their contempt for the poor is probably the most unchristian thing you can have.
Check the facts: Conservative evangelicals give far more to charity than any other group.
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Or how they always seem to think that God is providing everything for them and that he will save them and that he chooses where hurricanes go based on "sinnage" of different regions. No, this is just a bunch of rich slobs trying to capitalize on the weak-mindedness of others.
God provided you with life, an earth to live on, all the free prayer you can handle, and a path to salvation through his son. He didn't provide that meal on the table. Whoever worked to earn the money to buy it did. He didn't steer the hurricane away from Florida, prevailing winds and the jetstream did.
He didn't tell you to just rely on him for all your needs. That is why Jesus was so adament about helping the poor and fostering a sense of community... so you could help each other out... because God can't just conjur up a windstorm of mana every time you're down on your luck.
Agreed. That’s probably why I go to church that has a pastor who spends a good portion of his sermons preaching against the version of fell-good Christianity spread by most TV evangelicals.
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So, yes.. I understand the tenants of the Evangelical Christian faith, because I was a member of such a church for a few years. I didn't get sick of the pastor or the faith, I got sick of all the uber-judgmental people that come into the church with their pre-conceived prejudices in search of a Bible verse that will back it up that were constantly judging you and talking about you behind your back and automatically placing a step below t hem because you didn't read the King James Version of the Bible and went to a public school (gasp!!!)...
So, you picked a misguided church to attend and are now using your experience to justify your labeling of all of Evangelical Christianity as misguided, even though the vast majority of Evangelical churches are independent of each other and share only the commonality of understanding of the need to spread the Gospel to the lost.
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And it's the people that make a church. So I think I'll settle for the nice old ladies that go to the Lutheran church and work every Thursday night to provide food to the poor in the community
Well, if you like rubbing elbows in churches made of people who give to the poor, may I ask you what percentage of your time and income goes to support the poor?
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.. it's more than slimy Pat Robertson ever did.
I have never been a defender of Pat Robertson, but may I ask how is it that YOU have knowledge of how much Pat Robertson gifts to the poor?