People say that religion is for the weak. Honestly, I am honored but also scared of the calling that God has given me. A Christian being a "sheep among wolves" can't possibly be weak. I honestly think that being a true follower of Jesus Christ is the hardest thing someone can choose to do. People of faith aren't weak. If anything, they're taking the harder path by choosing faith and also by taking responsibility for their lives. Those that choose to deny God just can't face up to having a faith.
216210
What I've learned is that many people  expect Christians to BE JESUS,  who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we wouldn't have to. I agree that Christians are perceived as weak.  Even at my church,  people try to push me around, bully me,  snap at me,  gossip about me,  etc.   I'm expected to "turn the other cheek" for another slap.  When I stand up for myself,  they are shocked.  When I defend someone who I see is not being treated with compassion, I am criticized.  That's where the strength comes in - continuing to do what is right under adverse circumstances.  What Christians need to do is show the strength through actions,  no matter what the consequence.  \n\nDo you mean that they perceive Christian faith as a weakness in itself,  that living worldly makes a person stronger?  If so,  walking the Christian path is ridden with battles between us and non-believers.  It's part of the chosen path and can be very frustrating. Our peace comes when we know we've done the right thing under trying circumstances. What others' think is hurtful at times.  Yes,  they try to wear us down to believe as they do.  What's most important and that GOD sees our strength (through our actions) that we receive through HIM.  \n\nAs strong as we are as "sheep among wolves",  we are not superior to the wolves.  God loves them as much as He does the sheep.  We must continue to be as understanding and compassionate of them as possible without allowing ourselves to be abused.  This is also part of the path we chose - to love as God loves (to the best of our human ability) - very challenging,  at times.
386401
When it comes to religion, a lot of people are unable to accept anything aside from what they were raised to believe or have come to believe.  They believe that their way is the right way, and everything else is just bunk.
222521
To Answer Your Question...The Problem Is Either Lack Of Knowledge In God's Word Or Fear!..  (Cowards)....90% Of This Website Is Made Up Of God Hating Heathen's & Atheist!...It's True, We As Christians Who Walk In Love ..But Also, We Are To Stand Up For What's Right As Jesus Did In (John 8:44)....It's Not A Double Standard!....Heathen's & Atheists Log Into This Website To Preach To Religious/Spiritual Folks With Their Fantasies & Man Man Theories To Stir Up "Strife" Judge, & Condemn And It Is Not Fair To The Religious/Spiritual People Who Wants To Share & Receive Blessings From Each Other!...All Of Jesus Prophesies Has Come True. Jesus said That Those Who Serve Him Would Be "HATED" Of All Men For His Name Sake, But He That Endureth To The End  Shall Be Save".(Matt. 10:22)....Christian's Need To Understand That They Are Not "Pushovers" And To Stand Up & Speak Up For The God That They Serve And Not Allow "satan" To Defeat Them Or Intimidate Them As They Walk In Love!
224538
"Just remember that if compassion, love, and unity is not in your belief, than you are a bad person no matter what your belief is." <=== That right there says it all. Christians have lost touch with that because they are so wrapped up in their image...so anything out of place to them is automactically fought against and you can't be like that--rude, uncompassionate, and un-loving. God wouldn't want that so why should you treat others indifferently because of what they believe or what they want to try. \n\nI love you for bringing that up. I'm a christian and I'm not like that at all. So it gets annoying when others are.
579856
I think that many people who claim some form of Christianity as their chosen religion are not terribly interested in living a truly christian life. I mean, religion is for many people an excuse, or a comfort blanky, or something to that effect, but is not a way of life, as it should be. People shouldn't only be Christains on sunday, or saturday, or whenever. It should be a part of the way you think, the decisions you make, and the goals we have in life. So in answer to your question, yes, I think that many of us as Christians have forgotten who we are and why we're here. That's probably one of the reasons that the world is in such bad shape.
650360
unforunatly many people who claim to be "christrians" really dont have the love of God in their heart, and it puts a bad wrap on the rest of the christians. so thats why so many people dislike them.
342214
People have the free will to chose for him or herself.  Those who can be "helped to convert" are spiritually weak to begin with.
659936
Don't worry my dear, very soon I shall be sending something your way that will test your faith, and only the strong of faith and mind will survive. I have great confidence that you will survive, but many of those of whom you speak... I should say no more, I have already said too much. People who are not strong in their own faith will always try to find others to make them stronger. But it does not work that way, as I am sure you know. They would even send Me, the center of their cult, (which, by the way, I am fairly certain I warned against iodizing in My 10 Commandments. In fact, if I am not much mistaken, it was the First, and the most important.) threatening Instant Messages, telling Me to have respect for Myself. They would try to save their own Lord and God.
70281
Consider it a blessing. it's easy to have faith and believe in something when no one disagrees with you or makes it uncomfortable to do so. now you can say you have faced adversity and STILL went to church and still upheld your belief. it's not the same as risking being fed to the lions, but hopefully you get the point, sometimes you have to stand up for your beliefs with more than words. have courage.
322827
I seen  this problem myself. They, in their own misguided way believe that they can actually change those of us that they pertain to be "lost". They are told by their religious leaders that it is their duty to go out and find all those who are not practicing the christian faith and 'save' them by forcing their religious beliefs upon them.  Now one must keep in mind that the only reason those poor sheep are actually practicing christians themselves is that they must be led, they don't have the self esteem that they need to actually make a decision for themselves therefore they join a religious cult where their God tells them how to behave, how to live, and even in some cases what to eat and what not to eat. Sad but true. They are so brainwashed in some cases that they will even go door to door by orders of their leaders and try to convert others. They  live in fear of their God, and are proud to call themselve GOD FEARING CHRISTIANS!  It all comes down to the sad fact that they simply don't have the self esteem to know who they are or what they want and its easier for them to be led then to do the hard work of thinking for themselves. I personally prefer a Deity that I don't have to fear and who loves me for who I am despite all my faults and human frailities. I fear few things in this life, my deity should not be one of them. So don't be angry with our poor Christian brothers and sisters who invade our chats and groups, instead pity them. For they know not what they do.
90325
In the realm of Christianity it is called freewill.  All people must be given the freewill to either walk the path that is easy or to walk the path that is hard.    He gave us freewill so that we could come to Him on our own, otherwise we all would be puppets on strings and this defeats the purpose, as it requires no faith no individuality to be a puppet.  The world is the way it is because of sin, not God.
254274
I can't tell you exactly why that is. I am a Christian, and when I say Christian I mean I am a born again believer in Christ, and I see it in my church a lot. I don't think i do it tho. Most of us are taught to deffend our religion. I guess some of us just take it too far. Others just don't know how to handle it. If you want to ask some questions I would like to answer them. I don't get deffensive real easily like a lot of others do. I have a lot of friends that have different beliefs than me so I'm used to being around different religions and lifestyles. But like I said if you have questions and want answers I can't promise u that I would know all of them but I could answer as many as possible from a biblical standpoint.
258647
I believe it is human nature to assume that someone who defies what you believe in, doesn't know what they're talking about. That doesn't make this assumption true however. I am a Christian and I know there are many people out there that are well versed in Christianity, even if they do not share the belief. Some of them probably even know more about it than I do. I know about other religions as well. I think it is important to know about and the different faiths and non-faiths of the world.
65778
Yikes!  Oh, yes, the bible thumpers are SUCH a peaceful bunch, aren't they?  I think they forgot about the Holy Crusades.  Anyone who adheres to an organized religion must automatically surrender brain cells at the door, otherwise they would realize that killing someone is not going to save them from hell or anything else.  Problem is, most of these people were born and raised in their faith and will never consider that any other way to live is possible.  They were brainwashed from such an early age that they become enraged when their 'faith' is challenged.
227132
They are not picking and choosing, they  are just saying that if the person is doing wrong and knowing full well that this goes against Christ, they are not truly Christians. A true Christian will fight against wrong. Unfortunatly we are all human and will go the wrong way. And just because someone says they worship Jesus does not mean they are Chrsitians for who can truly read someones heart.
160119
I love how sensitive the Christians are about this question, when it makes no mention of Christianity.\n\nThere's no shortage of folks who consider themselves to be "soldiers of god".  Christians, Muslims and Jewish folks seem fairly prone to these concepts.  No religion is immune to zealotry.\n\nHow do they justify their cruelty?  Well the ones dishing out the cruelty think of themselves as "soldiers of god", while the ones not dishing it out can easily slide the blame aside and say, "The Inquisition? Burning Witches? Well, they weren't real Christians" or "Suicide Bombing? That's not what Islam about".\n\nEasy as pie.
83168
People push it on you because they believe strongly, that they have found the only path to heaven. They are just trying to bring you into the faith because they care about you and want you to go to heaven too. The unfortunate thing is most people don't know how to go about "selling" their faith to others, and sadly, end up offending more than they convert. It is not intentional, it is an unfortunate by product of their good intentions. I am sorry that this friend has made you feel like your faith is a lie, or rather that he is calling it that. Thank you however, for keeping an open mind about the whole thing. Christianity can be a bit messed up at times. Most Christian faiths think that any other Christian faith that isn't theirs is going to hell too, so don't feel too bad. The way I look at it, if you are right with God, that is all that really matters.