Jesus called people to be like "sheep among wolves" and how is it that people still think Christians are weak?
476225
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.
368994
boya, i like the way you think.  i wish more people in this world, christian or no, were so open-minded.\n\nthe answer to your question, as far as i can reckon, comes down to basic nature of humanity.  it's not that most christians are simple-minded, it's because humans in general are sad, insecure, paranoid, greedy, lying, mistrusting, and pathetic little creatures!\n\nand, of course, it's the worst of these that tend to be the loudest...
887996
It is very sad indeed that these statements hold so much truth. Just because someone says they are Christian does not mean they are Christ like although that is what the bible teaches us to be. All through out the Word of God we are taught love. I believe because of a few who are ready to condemn or judge others they are defeating the purpose of true Christianity. We are not suppose to turn any away and still there are those that do. Then again the bible says that many will knock but few will enter. I personally apologize to all who have been hurt by someone claiming to have done so for religions sake. The God I serve is a God of love and He loves each and every one of us no matter what our flaws. I'm sure that when He sees someone turning away from Him because of something said or done He is truly heartbroken and disappointed.
492346
I know how you feel. It's disheartening, and doesn't seem fair. Some of the attacks seem completely groundless, once you really look at the claims of Jesus.\n\nSome people have had bad experiences with Christians, so everything is filtered through that. They've never been exposed to people really living out of faith and loving others, they've just gotten the negative hypocritical behavior.\n\nSome listen to Christians: There are many CHristians who approach their faith negatively. ("Do not touch! Do not taste! Do not speak!" says Paul, I think, right before he says this is ridiculous, for restrictions do not have the power to save.) We treat the world as an enemy and attack it for what we believe it does wrong -- then get surprised when it views us negatively. Christians are very negative sometimes, so Christianity is attacked as such.\n\nThe other big reason is simply because they really don't want to understand your viewpoint. It's more convenient for them to attack Christianity because they won't actually have to think through their own lives and compare, maybe even make a change. Everyone is like this: It's easier to talk over someone than to listen, easier to attack than taking wounds, easier to blame someone else besides ourselves.\n\nChristians sometimes get a raw deal because people don't want to take the risk of truly thinking through the claims of the faith and comparing their own philosophy to it, then perhaps being forced to make decisions they don't want to make. Pride and self-comfort is an issue.\n\nHang in there. You're on the right track -- Jesus didn't just atone for sin, he was a very tangible representation of how much God truly loved us -- and you're willing to speak up in a kind way about it. That's good stuff.
770870
The sad thing is that many people are just as the words above describe them.\n\nJesus loves all people and thankfully judges our hearts, but on behalf of the children of the Living God, Jesus Christ, I apologise for those who give our Lord a bad name and represent Him falsely.  \n\nJesus is amazing and being His child is awesome.  Some people who claim to be His children, do not really know Him.  Please remember that.\n\nBlessings upon you.
820584
He never bashed anyone.  However he did question hypocritical teachings.  People that are supposed to be spreading the word should be held in higher standard so when they use their power selfishly Jesus found it dissapointing.  Kinda like some of todays religious leaders, they should be held more accountable if they use their power innappropiately.  Unlike what most people do when they categorize and generalize all religious leaders they fail to realize that there are certainly good ones out there.  People always look for the negative aspect of any belief if they disagree with it...they never take an objective view and see the good that some do.  Hypocritical if you ask me.
180301
Blindly following something because you are told to and never checking it out drives me up a wall!  More and more I keep running into people like this and it makes me NUTS!  When I can tell you more about what you are believing in after a couple hours of reading than what you have learned about it your whole life there is something wrong!  I call it sheepism and it seems to be of plague proportions now days!  Question things!  If someone doesn't want you too that usually means there is something wrong!
456430
Jesus says:\n\n"I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep."\n\nHe loves you, always has, and came for this purpose. Do you believe his words? He has already answered you.\n\nDon't listen to all these donatists (or would-be pharisees) telling you you are going to hell. You are the branch of his vine. Just as much as any of your donatist accusers - maybe moreso, given the humility with which you approach Him. And you will be with him, in that great hour when every tear is wiped away.\n\nAnd in parting, I quote Chris Rice's great song, "Take your candle, and go light your world."
996333
I agree, people worship Jesus and Pastors/Ministers/Bishops/Popes/. Per God's word in the "original" Bible false Idols are Blasphemous. That has never sat well with me. As the "original" Bible stated "God is within you". Making everyone God. Meaning you have the power. I am not religious, religion is such a crock! I have studied many religions and all seem to have been basically enacted to stop humans from animalistic behavior by scaring them. All religion was created for was to keep order, stating that if you acted un-Godly you would end up in an Eternal Hell. The only problem with this is that nature still exists. In nature animals kill, rape, are homosexual, and live un-Godly. Yet most say all of God's creaturs end up in Heaven. HUH? Just live by the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you). Not for God's sake, but it really does make life easier. If you yell at someone they will yell back, if you reason with someone they will reason with you.
675200
It's pretty lame. I hope some of them just don't realize they're doing it. If they think it's okay, they need an attitude check.\n\nSome of the Church has been changing, but for a long time, that mentality seemed entrenched in the culture -- "Good people," they thought, "do this, and dress like this, and go to church on Sundays rather than work for money," and so on. If you didn't conform to their standard, you were someone who was either looked down on or considered to not be "quite as good" or "religious" as them.\n\nWhat's funny is that Jesus habitually hung with tax collectors (who were basically Jewish turncoats, helping the Romans collect tax so they could skim money off their own countrymen), and prostitutes, and people normally considered "unclean" by the Jews (skin diseases, etc.) -- so much so that he was put down by his own people for doing it. He was associating with people they thought were "bad."\n\nThe thing is, Jesus actually seemed to enjoy hanging out with these so-called "non-religious folk" and wasn't doing it just out of lip service. He actually seemed to get a kick out of it and love being with them, despite the fact they might not have been living the way he thought they should live. He actually loved them and enjoyed them as people.\n\nThat's the big lesson much of the Church is still trying to learn.\n\nSorry that my brothers and sisters are acting in such a way that leaves you all feeling left out in the cold...
157286
I'm a Christian, and I totally agree with you. When Christians treat people rudely, they are not being like Christ. Christ said to love others as we love ourselves. I'm sorry that you have been treated poorly by Christians.
776967
Maybe what you are seeing is people who just "think" they are Christians. There is an epidemic of this going around. People claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but yet they seem to live a life like a "lost" person. What can be wrong? I think that most Christians are really not Christians. They believe in something, but it does not change their lives. Look around-its in every church and denomination.\nI saw a poll about 12 years ago that attempted to gage if a person was a Christian or not from a question survey. How accurate it was-who knows? But it said that Southern Baptist thought that about 25%-30% of the Baptist church was actually born again. Then Billy Graham's association thought that about 15% of the Church was born again. The Independent Baptist thought that only about 5% of the church was born again.\nThose are not good numbers. This may not be exactly right, but it is a real good indicator that the church is weak at best. I think we need to do some repenting, and pray for revival-soon.
800094
remember: the christians are the sheep. \n\nid rather be the stubborn a*s than the gullable sheep.
515603
Because some Christians are judgemental and hypocritical and condemning and try to discount people who claim they are Christians in an effort to make themselves look better when all they are really doing is making Christians look like nut jobs.
883628
They think they are not winning our souls over to Jesus fast enough
491552
"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.
858921
You tell um Tammy.\n\nThese people are about as far from the teachings of Jesus as they can get.  Its amazing that they actually think of themselves as Christians.\n\nLove and blessings \n\nDon