True Christianity is faith - extremely different to religion - where works is the rule. And when humans “work” to earn their salvation, this is where hypocrisy is born.

In regards to the unbelieving world putting down Jesus, this is where a bit of respect can come in by the unbelievers. If they don’t believe the way Christians do, why can’t they just leave them alone? Why do they have to resort mocking Jesus to the point of Him being shit in a toilet bowl?

I know your response would be, “yeah but what about all the bogus Christians out there telling me to give money, or go to hell.” Like I said, this is religion - works. Very different to faith.

You make a number of assumptions in your comments - especially the money thing and the “become a Christian or you go to hell” line. Again these are religious lines of thinking - and ones I am not interested in.

Christianity isn’t a religion?

And finally I don’t assume unbelievers think that Jesus dies for them. Where you pulled that one from is beyond me.

From this sentence:

Makes me want to seriously punch something at how the unbelieving world wants to put down the One who died for it.

You seem to be saying that believers are putting down the person who died for them. If unbelievers thought that Jesus died for them, they wouldn’t put him down. While it might make you angry to the point of violence that they put him down, to them it’s like putting down Santa Claus or the President: They don’t see it as a big deal.

You make a number of assumptions in your comments - especially the money thing and the “become a Christian or you go to hell” line. Again these are religious lines of thinking - and ones I am not interested in.

And finally I don’t assume unbelievers think that Jesus dies for them. Where you pulled that one from is beyond me.

People will always have one of 3 reactions to the Gospel. Loath it, accept it now or accept it later. So that’s all good.

There’s that sanctimony again…

Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your comment and what you are trying to say. I agree with you from where you are coming from. People will always have one of 3 reactions to the Gospel. Loath it, accept it now or accept it later. So that’s all good.

And I hear where you are coming from in regards to Christ’s humble reactions while He was incarnate on earth - this providing an example of how we should live. And I agree with you about putting up with persecution.

But what I can’t stand is the ridicule of Jesus by a pack of twits looking for a laugh. And what gives them the material for their mockery are so called “Christians” practicing their faith in bizarre ways.

Instead of letting the simplicity of the cross shine through and doing good works so that people thank God for their actions, these people become fanatics because their faith is worshiping so called “signs” and apparitions and a whole manner of bizarre things.

First of all, thanks for stopping by and commenting. Having said that, I disagree with what you say. First of all, I don’t “persecute” Catholics - I just point out that a lot of what they do is not scriptural and borders on idolatry. I don’t mock them the way the Chasers mock Jesus.

The scripture I used is exactly the point I was trying to make - the fact that mans depravity turns much of what was once “Godly” into an idol. So I don’t know where you are coming from.

I honestly don’t care if I’m persecuted for my beliefs. But when a pack of idiots make fun of Jesus as “a piece of shit in a toilet bowl”, that makes me mad. I’m surprised that you as a teacher don’t feel the same way.

But then again, checking out your blog tells me that you are OK with homosexuality and use “spin” to justify it. You deliberately forget to mention the Romans 1 passage and therefore endorse the practice making you a candidate for Romans 1:32.

But that’s just my opinion.

I too can take any belief system — distort it’s reality, ’spin’ scripture (none of the scripture that you’ve cited has ANYTHING to do with the point that you were trying to make), and then ostracize that belief system.

You’ve done EXACTLY what those who ‘make fun’ of Christianity do.

The worse kind of sin is when it’s done in the name of Jesus.

First you need to put your weakness aside (we will always be persecuted) and secondly you need to look in the mirror and ask for God’s forgiveness.

You will be in my prayers, brother.

Peace.

I think you’ve waded into a good issue here, but I disagree with your conclusions. Mainly, because I think that the gospel itself will always attract a reaction (often negative) even if it’s well presented (or perfectly presented, in Jesus’ case). And gladly standing up under unjust punishment or criticism is inherent in the nature of the gospel - the cross of Christ separates Christianity from any other religion, and should separate the way a Christian responds to criticism.

If a Moslem responds aggressively to mockery, that’s probably not unexpected. But please consider this passage from 1 Peter 2:

But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

In 1 Peter 2 and 3, Peter uses that truth (the way the Jesus went to the cross) as the central reason why Christians should honour earthly authorities, slaves should respect masters (even evil ones), wives should respect husbands (even evil ones), husbands should love wives, etc.

I’m just somewhat concerned that this doesn’t seem to flow out of any of your comments?

I also agree with you that we, as Believers, have brought some of this on ourselves. Not just Catholics either; all the extremists doing things like bombing abortion clinics because we believe life is sacred and killing is wrong. Of course all Christians know that bombing is wrong and these are just nut cases who call themselves Christians, but the world lumps us all together. Then there’s the ultra judgmental among us who make non Christians assume Christianity if horrible and who would want to be one.

I also believe there is a spiritual thing going on here. People make Christians a target while other religions or beliefs and lifestyles are all respected because the enemy has blinded them. People are even ok with god talk, it’s just when we start talking about Jesus that everyone gets all upset! But as you and I both know, Jesus is the whole crux of the issue. Jesus is God’s way to Him; no wonder satan wants to make people see Jesus in the wrong way.

Then I come across the following video by The Chasers War on Everything - an Aussie production totally irrelevant to everything and anyone:

People saying “God will bless you if you send money” and faith healers deserve nothing but our indignation. They’re exemplary of the worst kind of con artist. Non-Christians see them and think “If that’s a Christian, I don’t want to be one.”

But what difference is it to attend a Iron Maiden concert and mosh away while holding up your arm and doing the devil sign?

Iron Maiden is good music? Not that I like Iron Maiden per se, but it’s a lot better than any of the contemporary Christian I’ve heard. Even the only Christian ska band, The O.C. Supertones, are pitiful compare with some of the heavy hitters of the ska/punk genre.

So are we soft targets? Probably. But only cause we represent peace…

You might represent peace, but quite a few Christians resort to death threats when they don’t get their way, as in the Dover School Board trial. Don’t go painting with such a broad brush; plenty of Christians are violent.

…and actually challenge people to question their lives in a way that most people would avoid in that it exposes their depravity in profound ways. But, because of all the depravity in organised religion, we provide ample ammunition for their attacks.

I think you’re right, but not for the reason you think. Just look at this passage:

Makes me want to seriously punch something at how the unbelieving world wants to put down the One who died for it. They don’t trash Mohammed or Buddha. They trash Jesus - and do so in ignorance not knowing that one day, their proud knee will bow before Him in terror.

First, you “represent peace” by expressing a desire for violence. Then, you make the assumption that the “unbelievers” think Jesus died for the world. Considering all the pain and suffering that’s still around, it doesn’t seem that sacrifice did much good, if it even happened at all. Then you pull out the sanctimonious “They’ll be sorry!” card. Neither of these things make people amenable to Christianity.

But let’s go back to “pointing out the depravity” thing. Most people simply want to live their lives. They want to have a bit of fun, maybe enjoy a drink or a smoke or a roll in the hay from time to time, but are, at the core, decent people. Most of them actually do believe in god.

Then along comes a Christian who says “You shouldn’t be enjoying that! It’s sacrilegious! It’s depraved! You’re going to hell!” And you wonder why people are turned off to Christianity? You wonder why people are attacking you?

If Christians dropped the whole “You’re going to hell! You’ll be sorry when Jesus comes back! Send money!” mantra and instead talked about how everyone should be kind to one another for a change, which is what most people think is the real message Jesus sent, they’d see a lot less abuse.