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I know in today's world, there are lukewarm Christians out there who have caused once believers to turn agnostic or even atheist because they had been treated so badly. For some, all it took was one person who called themselves "Christian" to turn somebody around into a non-believer. For others, it was an entire church.

At times, I have wondered myself, "It seems like the term 'Christian' has been tainted because I have seen so many people call themselves 'Christian' and have an intention of hurting others and causing chaos in their lives all because they feel insecure about themselves." I have often thought if there would be a term for Christians that was something else other than Christian, because sadly, when one person says, "I'm a Christian," the majority of agnostics and atheists out there believe that all Christians are the same, when in fact we aren't.

How do you cope with this? What is your view on Christians in this world and how we are seen by the world?

The sad thing is, is sometimes when people find out you are a Christian - it's like they've gotta start a whole war about it. I know at times in my life, I've gotten to know people and then they find out I am a Christian and they feel like they must distance themselves.

Although, we are told we will be hated, which I suppose is important to remember. It is a saddening thing, though, when people treat us like we're all the same, as if we are clones or robots or something. Maybe zombie could even be the term since we're dead to the world and alive in Christ razz . Anyway, I tend to forget this often, but remember it at times when I definitely should:

John 15:18 NIV:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

Well, it stings a bit when other Christians judge you, or call themselves, "Christians" and then don't act that way at all, or want to use God as their "excuse" for doing what they do - they think they can do what they want and then say, "God will forgive me," so they keep on doing what they want instead of what God wants. It's quite sickening to be around lukewarm Christians like that, and doesn't feel good to even be around those types of people. It's hard to be around them, too, because they try to act like they are good people when they aren't. However, there's always a fake no matter what group of people or religions you are looking at. Each group will have it's true believers and it's first class fakes.

Ha ha, Jesus zombies razz me and some friends had this ongoing thing that we're zombies because we're dead to the world (and alive in Christ!). It's kind of funny in a sense razz

Oh yeah, Jesus did have it way worse than we did. It makes me feel terrible sometimes if I forget that verse because I will be ranting and complaining about things and nothing compares to Jesus carrying the sins of the world - nothing. Sometimes if I want to stop whining about things I just tell myself, "Well, would you rather carry the burden of your own sins or the sins of the entire world?" and it gets me thinking.

I know exactly what you mean. It seems to me that most people use the word Christian if they only believe God exists or they go to Church. Just acknowledging that God is there doesn't make you a Christian unless you also follow him. There are so many people who say they're Christians, and there are so many stereotypes about Christians too. I prefer to just say that I follow God. I still use the term Christian sometimes because I hate to just abandon it, but in today's age it seems like calling yourself a Christian doesn't have the meaning that it should.

I totally agree. I've been hurt by plenty of people who claim to be Christian, but inside they are lukewarm. They judge, they treat others as less, they don't practice what they preach, etc. it bothers me so much at times. A lot of the time I end up calling myself a "believer of God" or a "follower of God" is a good way to phrase it as well. It's a bit sad these days that the term "Christian" has been tainted so bad =/

I used to be easy to anger as well, and it was because my foundation wasn't there - it was always sinking because there was nothing to lay that foundation down. I always blamed myself, but it wasn't me - it was the church and what they were teaching that caused me to fall so far. Luckily, I was pulled out of the sinking sand and my best friend helped me build that rock solid foundation. It's not quite a tower, or even a house right now - but I am still learning and am glad that most of the foundation is laid down.

Being hurt by other churches is rough because they are supposed to be the people you can trust, tell things to, but in this day in age it's sad how rare it is to come by a church that is non-judgemental.

We are only made perfect through Christ, and what matters is that we follow God and Christ - and we continue to carry that cross through all the struggles we go through. Our struggles will make us better in the end if we can learn from them.

I suppose in my view point - the word "religion" and "religious" is applicable because it's defined as a belief system that affects our every day judgement. It's just that the word "religion" today has also been messed with. "Religion" to some is "man made religion" - making their own religion by bringing in society norms to make it more "acceptable" or "better", when in fact it is making it worse because they are afraid to be different from the world.

Indeed, this world will call people who are different than them "rude" or "intoerant". It is because we believe differently, and don't wish to change their ways. They want to be able to do what the want to do and go with the "living it up" lifestyle. Other people don't understand, or don't want to understand and when they say their beliefs, and we say ours - they say that we are "shoving our beliefs down their throats", when in fact they are doing the same. We are told in The Holy Bible that we will be persecuted for believing in God, but better to be persecuted for being a believer and doing what's right than not doing what's right.

I suppose I don't agree with the statement, "we'd be the most evil people in the world to let someone waltz into Hell without saying anything." because it isn't us who saves people - we are only the ones who plant the seed. Only from there can God make that plant grow. Although God doesn't make people love Him and we can't make people love God - it's a free choice in the end. From not saying something, I suppose we can hinder someone from starting to accept God if we were supposed to say something - in that case, God would be unhappy with us if we were the one sent to help plant that seed. We should always be sowing seeds into people's hearts.

Honestly, if there is a Christian selling adult merchandise - it doesn't bother me. God invented sex, but He also invented sex to be between a married man and woman. There are people that take adult merchandise and use it for sinful pleasures, but as a cashier - a person wouldn't know that. They would be there as customer service to help people find what they are looking for, but they do not dictate what people do with that object once they leave the store with it. It's almost like saying people shouldn't work in a pharmacy because they prescribe birth control, or a person shouldn't work at Wal*Mart because they sell contraceptives. That's my personal opinion on the matter, though.

I think people hold Christians in contempt more for the reason of a person who isn't saved perhaps goes to a church and the members of that church treat them such as an outsider by gossiping, backstabbing, making fun of them, or doing something else to hurt them badly. There have been cases of even Christians going to a church and having other people there treat them badly because of the decisions they have made by making fun or backstabbing them instead of praying for them and helping them with their walk with God. Some churches out there treat church days as more of a social event of, "Let's listen about how great God is - then we'll not talk about the sermon and go hang out and talk about how our week has been and what we're going to do for lunch." Some places are like that, they'll listen to a sermon, and then won't speak of it after a service, which doesn't exactly help people grow. There are some 'Christians' that bash other denominations openly - some preachers have even done so during their sermons. They tend to bash because their foundation just isn't built and they feel that they must make fun of others to cover up their insecurities and make themselves look more superior. I'm sure most of us have stories of how a lukewarm Christian has hurt us in the past. Some of us will fall into being agnostic or atheist, but some of us keep on going strong - realizing that stuff is around us.

Exactly, people would expect a Christian to be nice, forgiving, joyful, etc. but sometimes they get one that judges others harshly, or have hate in their heart. Other people notice that and say, "If that is what a Christian is...that is what I don't want to be." Lukewarm Christians tend to drive people away from God by guilting others, resenting others, and judging others harshly. It's saddening because you're definitely right that we are to witness through our actions. Although, there is a time for everything (ecclesiastes 3) and Christianity isn't a passive religion - there are times when God's truth hurts and feels like it stabs you through your soul. Truth is something people don't like, but need to hear.