August 31, 2008
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The Difference of Christianity
I was reading EilisAngelos’ site and she was talking about Christians she had met that were cursing and also getting drunk. She felt that some of the Christians were taken advantage of God’s grace and were not living noticeably different lives.
Now I don’t want to turn this into a session of bagging on Christians but I am curious as to what you think.
Do you think Christians as a whole live a noticeable different life than people who are not Christians?
Comments (135)
Hm
Wow… I feel like I’ve been featured or something.
I think that some Christians do. Obviously, as is evidenced by my latest post, I don’t think that all of them do.
I grew up around ones that really seemed to live it, so being around so many people who seem to be living a lie (or half-truth) right now is confusing and frustrating.
I think Christians live a more noticable hypocritical life than most.
Oh. Was that wrong????
Not really. But there are a lot of non-Christians who lead lives that are just as good or better than their Christian counterparts…
not most of them, but i love the few who do
@mileyfan08 - bravo!! good comment!
For the most part, yes.
@mileyfan08 - I agree whole-heartedly
@TomasekBride - I was just about to agree with yours, too.
Sadly, no. What attraction does Christ have when those who supposedly follow Him are living lives just like those who have no hope?
Do you think Christians as a whole live a noticeable different life than people who are not Christians?
They should. If they are real Christian’s I think they will. The bible says that by their fruits you will know them.
Jesus also says if you love me keep my commandments.
So a christian should if they are really a follower of Christ.
Some do, some sadly don’t. And some are just plain odd, we run the whole spectrum
Yea, they have suburban homes, 4 cars, and feel great about it.
@TomasekBride - spot on.
@Kristenmomof3 - SHOULD, but many don’t. I think you hit the nail on the head here. Many may “claim the name” so to speak, but very few “live the life”. Sorry about the Christianese statements there, they seemed to fit the best.
That is a loaded question with a lot of qulifiers. Since I don’t know every Chiristian alive currently and their hearts I couldn’t really tell you. However, I have to say that personally I feel that many Christians are taking the Freedom in Grace for granted and abusing it to certian degree.
I think this is due to a backlash of fundamentalism and unfortunately a feeling of a right to do what they want to a certian degree in their Christian freedom even if this makes another brother or sister stumble. There is no easy answer on this, but I think the simple scripture that calls us to esteem others higher than ourselves (especially brothers and siters in Christ) means we should think twice about doing or saying many of the things we do or say. That goes for myself as well.
Honestly, things like cursing and drinking are small time concerns. They are ways that a Christian can show they’re different than the world, but there are other more important, more meaningful ways Christians can truly make a difference.
By the way, every time Paul calls somthing rubbish in his books, he is using a curse word in Greek.
@EilisAngelos - exactly
@vangelicmonk - Very well-spoken. One person who I’m acquainted with came from a VERY strict background with his old church and school. He’s spoken often about the freedom he feels in coming to our church now. I can certainly appreciate that freedom, but I think he’s beginning to swing the pendulum to the other side.
Everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial.
hmmm, you got a point.
Heck no!
No i don’t think so…
A lot don’t but should…
Yes, I do.
I think the term Christian has been loosely used and mistreated. In the wider sense I am a Christian as opposed to a Buddist for example, but I don’t consider myself a Christian as far as believing in the Bible word for word. I do think Christ walked the earth and was a great teacher….but there are those who don’t live the example…such as love your neighbor as yourself, and love God with all your heart…
Those Christians who believe that their way is the only way are off base, as far as I am concerned….and I can hardly tolerate the Bible thumping and condeming that I have had to deal with from some of my so called “Christian” friends. Also just because a person goes to church once a week does not him a Christian make.
there is an entire book about this (unchristian)
I don’t think so. I think a lot of Christians use their religion as a kind of “fire insurance,” but don’t take it too seriously besides that. I know a lot of Christians who live differently, but more that live just like everyone else. It’s sad, really.
to be honest, i feel like those who are “taking advantage of God’s grace” are not actually saved. i cannot see into anyone’s hearts, but according to the word, faith without works is dead. so essentially, if you have faith, but bear no fruit, than you have a dead faith. but at the same time, if you have works, but no faith, then it doesn’t matter how many community service hours you serve, you still stand condemned. as for those “hypocrites”, if they had faith, they would strive to live for Christ whether they’re in the spotlight or not. these so-called “Christians” do not truly “live” for Christ but for the praise of man.
May I also point out that the term Christian is very loosely used. It has always bothered me that on MySpace, when you can put in your religion it is listed as “Christian-Other.” Because Christianity isn’t a definite thing anymore. A lot of people say they are Christians, but that really just means that they go to a Christian church or that they aren’t any other religion. By definition, a Christian is someone who exemplifies the teachings of Christ in his/her life. So, can you really call yourself a Christian if you’re not being Christ-like? Not truthfully…
There is a difference between a religious person and someone who has religion.
@EilisAngelos - Deitrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “We should not regard people in light of what they do or omit to do but in light of what they suffer.” I think that’s actually a great way to look at it and it challenges me daily to do the greatest commandment: loving your neighbor. I think that’s really the key to Christian living, so while your friend might encourage you to get drunk from time to time, are they there in a pinch when you need them?
Just the really loony zealous ones. Like, the ones who live on compounds and that.
Considering a lot of people in this country consider themselves Christian, I would say no.
I’m an atheist and act better than some Christians I know.
people who walk in the spirit, you know them when you see them. saying they’re not for real because they might sometimes drink or swear IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO DISMISS.
up yours, pious bastards.
@point_of_no_R3turn - I agree.
I know of some really good pious Christians and I definitley put them in a different…catergory than those who just go to church every Sunday but every Saturday they are out getting drunk. I still see them as Christians but just like with every religion, you have the pious and non pious.
If I can’t tell you’re a Christian, you’re obviously not living like one.
Absolutely not in the least. There are some exactly like me. And a lot like you. Except faith.
Can’t say for sure, but some studies suggest that the majority of people who call themselves Christians do not live lives significantly different from those who do not call themselves Christians.
To those who have actually committed their lives to Christ, it does make a difference. To the many, many people who only go to church because they think they should, it doesn’t.
i believe real christians do yes, just today i went to a baptism and the people are incredibly different than they were before they got saved…like this one guy who was in jail for like 8 years and then came to our church,became a christian and is totally changed. or the guy who was into drugs, then became a christian and gave them up right away and had no desire to use anymore.
but yes there are obviously people who call themselves christians that are not and its unfortnate that they do that because they give false impressions to non believers
There’s a huge difference between a sincere disciple of Jesus and a typical American church goer. Anyone truly dedicated to becoming like Jesus will be much, much different from people with other priorities.
I just listened to a sermon by a guy who was discussing this and other issues regarding how Christians are viewed. Here is a link, it is the one from 8/21/08. It was really good, somewhat surprising to Christians I think.
We should, but some think it’s just stage pass for forgiveness to do anything.
i think non christians use the mistakes of christians to feel better about the things they do…
I think Christians have a certain behavioral expectation of themselves and each other. And I also think that non-Christians have an expectation of Christians that is becoming more hostile. I often feel like people are searching for the sin, hypocrisy, and mistakes, which are undoubtedly going to be there. We’re not even close to being perfect.
I’ve been blessed in that I’ve been able to get along very well with all types of non-Christians. But sometimes the hostility toward my brothers and sisters brings me to tears.
no. only god knows who is living as he would like, there is no way for us mere humans to determine that for others, only ourselves. we can follow the guide lines but reading them for ourselves is important.
besides, drinking is not anti-christian but it is opposed by many groups within the protestant umbrella. cursing is a sin, but swearing and cursing are two different things. people are unlikely to delve into semantics and definitions and that is perhaps what the problem is.
If Christians lived noticeably different lives, those lives would be reflected in statistical data.
They aren’t.
Christians appear in prisons at about the same percentage they appear in the larger population (~75%).
As a whole, they are just about as likely to divorce as anyone else (~25%)
They win/lose at casinos and lotteries at the same rate as everyone else.
They survive/die from cancer, heart disease, and all other diseases and accidents at the same rate as everyone else.
Their absence in a society (such as present-day England) does not guarantee a country’s failure, nor does their overwhelming presence (Mexico, 99%) guarantee or correlate with success. Religion doesn’t seem to make much of a difference in a countries’ statistics on crime rates, income levels, etc…
Therefore I must conclude that any idea of the Christian life being better or worse than the average life is subjective at best. It may be more or less fulfilling to that person — in other words, they may FEEL they are living differently than others. But the statistics don’t lie — we’re all pretty much in the same boat.
Some random interesting facts:
Atheists are the least likely to divorce (21%), and Evangelical Christians the most (34%).
Christians are much more likely to volunteer their time helping poor people in this country and others, and are also more likely to give to charity by volume (i.e. a higher percentage of Christians give than percentage of atheists or agnostics). However, the non-believers that do donate tend to outspend the Christians by a large amount. (One notable atheist — Bill Gates — skews all the figures by donating many millions each year).
Christians believe that their faith makes them some one special. Special with God. Special because they are saved, and non-Christians are lost. Special because they are going to heaven and others are going to hell. The attitude that I am someone special is one which Christians share with criminals and narcissists.
I lived differently before I made a commitment. I got born again at 13 years of age, but I didn’t fully COMMIT until my twenties. And it changed the way I acted, spoke, and wrote. It’s very possible that too many people haven’t really… you know. Become that new creation. I am not perfect, I am a work in progress… but I try.
I’ve seen the “New Age” people or the agnostics and atheists act way better than people who call themselves Christians. Sometimes I go to church and the people just kinda stare… probably because I’m not the clean-shaven short-haired man clone. It’s not very related, that second sentence, but all the judging is annoying, as much as I love having lucious warrior’s hair.
As far as I am concerned, the Bible has been twisted and moulded by the so called “Holy Catholic Church,” especially in the realm of what Jesus was said to have taught. If you take out all the fear-mongering things, essentially you have Taoism. It’s very interesting to note these things. Either Lao-Tzu and Jesus were onto the absoloute truth, they thought similarly, or the creators of Jesus used translations of the Tao Te Ching which was written 600 years before Jesus was said to have been born. The last conclusion seems very logical to me, although it may not have happened.
The Pope is a bag of Babylonian-god worshipping poo. You can tell him I said that, too.
I talked about myself too much in that last comment. It’s just I can’t speak for anyone else’s life when it comes to something like this.
I think I meant luscious…
I hate the “hypocrite” argument simply because EVERY Christian is a hypocrite if the standard is perfection. (And the standard IS perfection.)
On the other hand … I am definitely guilty of not being “set apart” from the world, all too often, while professing to be a Christian.
Not really. We’re all human after all and depending, have around the
same struggles.
If you believe in the Bible, then you believe that God wants us to be more and more like Him, and as effect, you will begin to see the over all happiness you feel having a relationship with Him. It’s a shame that our society is pulled so easily out of reach of God’s word. I struggle with this myself. A lot. As Christians, we should all be trying to live a different lifestyle. An alternative to this world…
I think most try, but fall short. Humans are not as strong as we’d like to be.
True Christians yes, fake Christians no
I am all for the team spirit and living by the Word. But there is something wrong with people who believe that being Christian makes them different (morally or even spiritually) from those who are not. I know many Wicans who act more Christianly than anyone else I know.
And to answer your question, I have luckily only met four people in my life who live their Christianity outloud so much that anyone could point them out of the crowd and say, “Now there is a christian”. They also happened to be the most absurd Bible thumpers to grace this planet.
We should, but the truth is, we are still human beings. To be cliche for a moment…. Not perfect, just forgiven.
Christians are douchebags. Except the ones I am friends with.
American Christians, I believe, are increasingly becoming secularized, but this is not the case for Christians everywhere. On the whole, I’ve noticed that the more a group of Christians are persecuted the more they rely more heavily upon their faith and live distinctly holier lives (not in the holier than thou sense but in the sense that they truly want to avoid sin in their life because they’re closer in their walk with the Lord). I’m not inviting persecution upon us- indeed, it’s coming all on its own as secular media and politics and culture here are becoming increasingly antagonistic and intolerant of Christians. South America, Asia, and Africa have seen massive growths in Christianity in the last century and the Middle East is blossoming slowly but surely- but they’re also under the most intense persecution so it’s hard to get a true conversion rate. Most interesting regarding these areas experiencing growth is that they are also the areas that have seen the most drastic modernization in the last century- which flies in the face of humanistic theories that religion would die out as the world modernized.
I think America and Europe and in need of another sweeping revival like the Great Awakenings which drastically influenced the shaping of the mindset of the west’s culture and influence in all spheres
The Bible doesn’t say the world will know us by our lack of drinking or our lack of sin in and of itself (not that we shouldn’t try to rid ourselves of sin). The Bible says the world will know us by one thing and one thing only–our love.
And, for the record, those who are genuine in their faith are always marked by their love for God being made manifest in their love for ALL people.
well, yes, but not in a good way.
@redjolie - That’s because alot of times Christians use God to claim they are perfect and when they make mistakes sluff off the responsibility by saying it was God’s plan or something.
Non-Christians often don’t have that claim or sluff-goat.
No, and more often than not those who do live a different life lead one at odds with the teachings of the Bible and in doing so turn people off of the idea of God.
This issue is more complex than it seems.
Some Christian traditions are more strict than others. Baptists may be against drinking, but what about Methodists? To think that all Christianity is the same is a flawed premise. The Likemindedness of Christ is something that varies from Church to Church, denomination to denomination and time to time.
A true Christian is humble, thus militant evangelism wouldn’t come near him/her. A true witness is from their behavior. Faith without works is dead, right? More important than imposing morality on each other is carrying out the Gospel. How do we prevent divorce in the church? Addressing alcoholism ruining a marriage, yes…. slamming the couple for having a beer in the fridge….. no. What about the poor in the church’s community? What about helping out with healthcare bills of those in the Congregation who can’t afford it? What about the single moms who need help with their kids? The church guilts them out of getting an abortion, so it should reach out to single mothers to prove their arguement about how precious the baby’s life is (and the life of the mom).
If a Chistian is more concerned with carrying out the Gospel, rather than enforcing the Gospel on others, that will be a greater Christian. To carry out the gospel involves personal risk. To enforce it on others creates a barrier between yourself and the person you are supposably helping.
All that might be off topic though. For the most part yes. The white ones I know are all Republican and they think everybody else are foolish. This includes the bulk of my family.
Our subconscious or our drunken personalities reveal our true selves.
Hardly.
I can think of several “good Christian men” having kinky affairs right now.
Barking morals at people doesn’t actually lead to their unquestioned allegiance.
Do you think Christians as a whole live a noticeable different life than people who are not Christians?
It’s God’s will that they do. As for the people you described: Romans 6:1 – “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Unfortunately, no. That’s why I try to avoid straight-out proclaiming that I’m a “Christian” – because people have twisted that word. I usually use “servant of Christ,” or something like that.
Yeah, there’s freedom of religion in America and we can openly worship Christ without being persecuted, but that also makes it less “real,” for lack of better word. There were much fewer fake or hypocritical Christians when you were horribly crucified if you proclaimed Christ.
Funny, I’ve been thinking about this lately. I think I’ll write a post about it . . . Actually it’d be more like a rant. Oh well.
@BebstersBlog2 - Mine was most definitely a rant. I’m around people in my church who get super-defensive if you ask them why they’re treating people poorly, etc. Forget accountability, as far as they’re concerned.
*sigh* I guess I’m just really frustrated.
@LSP1 - Great reference! Thanks for that. ^_^
No. Some people lead good if not great lives and serve as wonderful examples to us all. Others lead lives that are, um, less good. I’ve yet to see any significant correlation between the former and those who are christians.
@captain_jaq - that doesn’t even make sense but if you’ve had that experience i’m sorry…
@EilisAngelos - You’re welcome.
Not really. As a non-denominational, non-chruch going Christian, I pray and try to be kind to others and follow the 10 Commandments. But if I get mad a curse word or two…or five may slip and I like to have a drink every now and again. My belief is (regardless of religion) the important thing is to live life to the fullest and just be a good person.
@iammarlo - THANK YOU!
For so long, I’ve seen the double standard of people who call Christians narcissistic and self-righteous, grouping 2.1 billion people based on what can only be described as a minimal, let’s say field sampling (for lack of better terminology). I might be going out on a limb here, but I find it highly hypocritical of the people calling Christians d-bags and hypocrites when they themselves are audacious enough to proclaim their own deeds self-righteously.
It’s not an excuse for Christians to drink, or be promiscuous, or act in a rude manner, but it seems like everyone expects Christians to uphold a perfect standard. Understandably, Christians profess to live that kind of lifestyle, but Christians are humans…and that’s the entire purpose of forgiveness.
For all those “that’s just opinion” people, consider your words before you speak. It’s crass, if not ignorant, to expect perfection out of fallible human beings.
.//end rant.
Some do, I’m sure. But for the most part nope. They just end up coming across as more hypocritical than most. I do have a lot of respect for those Christians who do actually uphold the values they claim to believe in.
Although I have a lot of respect for non-Christians who have high values too. You don’t see too much in the way of morals these days.
@trunthepaige - so in other words: Christians are human with their good parts and their bad parts!
@redjolie - Yeah, it really doesn’t. And I wasn’t high earlier so I don’t know why I wrote it. Sorry…
as a whole, no. people don’t have to be specifically christian to live moral lives. if you were to merely observe two average people off the street, one christian, one not, i don’t think you’d see much difference in the way either one of them lives. i think a better question would concern what a christian lifestyle should realistically look like.
No, I know a lot people who called themselves Christian and go to church but have no sense of morals.
It makes me sad that this is even a debatable question. It shouldn’t be.
Um … I don’t really know too much (or, what I do know about Christianity is *really random* – read: song of solomon) – but, isn’t already *having* God’s grace to take advantage *of* like … Calvinism, or something? Not all Christianity? Or do Christian’s automatically have God’s grace … wuhhhh.
Most don’t, except for some who are usually busy on Sunday mornings.
Christians are like….potentials… the only difference between a christian and a non-christian… are 2 things…
#1) who they know…
#2) potential to do better….
Now everyone has the potential to do better.. some non-christians are probably better than some christians at it… whatever it may be.. but being christians.. if you believe in the biblical theory… there exists a Spirit that Jesus left behind in this world…that Christians can tap into to do better… b/c it isn’t in our own strength that greatness happens, from as simple as being a good son, a good father, a good mother.. to as complex as leading a country, leading a church, or leading a group of people…but it is our willingness to follow that God/Spirit that potentially leads us to a better person. The hard part is making that choice…
but the #1 reason why Christians and Non-Christians are different is who they know.. did you know, it doesn’t really matter WHAT you do on this earth.. getting into heaven is all about who you know… that’s the only reason you get into heaven. It sounds unfair, yet, it’s incredibly awesome … depending on how you view it. It is only by the grace of God that you are allowed into heaven.. all the good deeds.. are just natural fruits of the love you already carry in your heart for Him. B/c you love Him, you wanna be a better person, you want to help your fellow man, etc…
As for the christians that claim they are and still go drinking, and sleeping around, cheating, etc… some of them, will still go to heaven.. it really depends on whether or not they believe not just in the existence of a God, but if that God is lord of their lives.
granted, even christians can fall away… or run away, in most cases… from what they know deep inside to be true… but if they truly accepted the whole Jesus in the only way into heaven, and lord of their lives, and repent their sins bit.. they’re in. Guaranteed. Does this mean you can do the whole bit, and stay the same? Unlikely… the moment you accept God into your life, you literally become changed… it can’t be faked, you can’t fake it with God. lol, he can see RIGHT THRU YOU. it’s scary, sometimes…
at any rate, stop picking on the christians… christians aren’t by far the worst of the human lot on this planet… give kudos to the peole who are trying to be better, and feel sorry for the ones who feel they need to look down on non-christians.. b/c they have lost their way, as well…
non-christians or christians… we are all still His children…whether we admit to His existence or not… it is what it is…
Hahahahaha!!! This is such a central issue to modern Christianity, and so many people are completely blind to it. I would say the Christians definitely DO live noticably different lives. Let me explain.
If you’re a Christian, you have to have faith in Jesus Christ. You have to have faith that He is the son of God, has never sinned, and died to take your punishment. That faith is what gives you grace in God’s eyes, allowing you to go to Heaven.
How do you know you have that faith though? You can say it all you want. You can search your heart and mind all you want. How do you know? How can you trust your heart? How many times have people trusted their hearts about a decision only to be completely disappointed?
The fact is that people cannot inwardly perceive their presence or lack of faith. I think the Bible is especially poignant when it mentions looking within ourselves to see where we stand. Jeremiah 17:9. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?”.
There is a way to tell whether or not you have faith, and it simply to see whether or not you LIVE by that faith. If you are truly a Christian and have faith in God and Jesus, then you believe that your actions matter because they affect your relationship with God. If you have faith, you will want to live for God, and your life will reflect that because, generally, you want to obey God. You love Him. He’s your Father. You want to be right with your Father.
You won’t be perfect. Christians still slip, but your life will be in a continuous process of change. Paul Washer gave an AWESOME sermon on this. I’ll link it at the end.
So, the question is: Are all the people who claim to be Christians really Christians? If they live a life contradictory to what they profess to believe, how can they possibly believe it? If they profess to believe that they have faith in Jesus, and then turn their backs on him like he doesn’t exist, how can they possibly believe? How can they possibly believe that their actions have consequences? We’re talking about Heaven or Hell for eternity. It’s nothing to joke around about. If you have faith, you take avoiding sin seriously. If you can play around in it all you want, you don’t take it seriously and therefore don’t have faith.
So, to sum it up. The answer is yes. The people who so many non-believers think are Christians aren’t truly Christians. They think they are because they say they are, but their faith is not manifested in their lives. The people who are TRULY Christians shine in this world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuabITeO4l8
Dan, I’m not a Christian. In fact, I have no religion. I feel I have the same morals as any faithful person in the world. There is no difference.
@The_Palantiri - I agree.
Absolutely…
I think we’re less prone to blowing ourselves up in public places.
@woodrowwilson - I agree with you to some extent about the cursing. However, the Scriptures say that we speak out of the overflow of our heart. If we are speaking curse words, that is what is flowing out of our heart. I don’t want that to be the case in my life out of love for my Savior.
Let’s face it folks, we Christians should hold ourselves and each other to a high behaviorial standard than that to which the world holds themselves. We serve the Creator of the universe who is Holy. Does He expect holiness in our lives?
@IAmPositiveILostAnElectron - I just read your comments after I commented. Well said.
Just because someone SAYS they are a Christian…doesn’t necessarily mean they have it right. As one of our pastors used to say…”Just because you are in a garage doesnt make you a car…anymore than being in a church makes you a Christian.”.
And…even true Christians are still human…fallible and standing in the need of Grace!!!
No. On the contrary, they often appear to bend over backwards to prove that they are just like everyone else. Just as “fun”, just as “bad”, just as “anything.” I expect to see “true” Christians behaving as Christ would behave. I have met a few people like that. Oddly enough, some of them turned out not to be Christians, but people of great moral integrity and compassion. I don’t see that being a Christian has set most people apart from those who aren’t in any way, other than their doctrinal beliefs.
There is a Christian lady at work whose faith I greatly respect. She never speaks ill of people, gives people the benefit of the doubt, shows tremendous compassion to others, forgives readily, and very seldom angers. She never tries to force her beliefs on others and shows respect to those whose beliefs differ. She stands out and because of that everyone respects and admires her. It is interesting that, when in her presence, people tend to clean up their act and try to be better behaved and more civil. It is the best example I’ve ever seen of letting your light shine before the world.
I think the only difference is that Christians think they are better. If they truly were real Christians who lived their lives truly by the Bible (no blended fabrics in clothing) then there would be no persecution of gays and others since as Christians we are supposed to accept everyone and leave judgment for the Lord. It is not our right to say who goes to Heaven and Hell, but God’s. Everyone sins, but it is our choice to sin. Why do Christians think that being gay will send them to Hell and lying won’t? It’s the same sin in God’s eyes. We need more true Christians in the world. Christians who do actually accept others for who they are. Judgment is reserved for the Lord.
Christians are supposed to be “set apart,” “in the world, not of it.” I mean, how many verses do I need to paraphrase?! Unfortunately, not all do. But if you are not transformed when you accept Christ, then maybe you haven’t truly accepted Him, right?
I also think the Bible is outdated a bit. The rule then was for people to only clothes of one fabric. In today’s society, clothes are blended with many fabrics such as 50% spandex and 50% cotton or something like that. Back then, that was a sin. Since it is in the Bible, it is technically still a sin. If you’re going to say you are a true Christian then you should follow every aspect of the Bible. Who is actually going to wear clothing that is 100% something in every aspect of their lives? By not doing so, you are sinning just like a murderer. In God’s eyes, it’s all the same. Personally, I don’t think you’re going to go to Hell for wearing a mix of fabrics, but that’s just me.
@TeacherPerson - Amen.
If they don’t live a noticibly different life their not really Christians, they’re hypocrites.
@bartoncii - extreme false analogy there
BeKa28 Christians are so self rightous that they are completely oblivious to the harm that they do. After all they already have their ticket to heaven. They don’t need to worry about the consequences of breaking the rules.
@CallMeQuell - yea, elittists. They have four cars and act all smug when ever they are asked about something.
@EilisAngelos - this is because christianity has been corrupted and seduced, sad to say but it’s true.
“Salvation come through me” type of thinking is taking over. new age but new age is really old age from anchient egypt and babylon. Nice POST!!!
@mammaquiet - I agree with you.
Your question: Do you think Christians as a whole live a noticeable different life than people who are not Christians?
My answer: Yes, that is what God expressly calls Christians to do.
No. The difference between the average Christian I’ve met and the average non-Christian is that the average Christian actually goes to church. They’re not as irreverent of Christian beliefs as non-Christians, although they don’t tend to respect other people’s religions, or at least their right to believe in them. They don’t live differently, though. They don’t seem to hold themselves to a higher standard necessarily.
I’ll respond! I think more people know Christians who don’t live as they ought to. I would like to think I live as Christ calls me to live, but everyone makes mistakes and sometimes that is forgotten.
noticable hypocritical life is more like it. many of them are around me unfortunately
I for one am sick of people who call themselves Christians but don’t live at all like Jesus tells us to.
I’ve heard the excuse “well we all make mistakes, we’re not perfect” … yes but the question is, do we TRY? We as Christians have the responsibility of turning our lives over to Him … meaning every aspect of our life is dedicated to Him… our choices should line up with His will. Yes we might have trouble at times but He is willing to forgive us of slip-ups if we ask.
Depends on the person, for sure.
Frankly, I think the majority of Christians are hypocrites. So many people flat-out refuse to date someone of a different or no religion, won’t be friends with people who have different belief systems, drink alcohol outside of religious sacraments and are just as ready to gamble as the guy down the street. I think they take advantage of “god’s forgiveness” as they call it, and use being in “god’s favor” to be able to say they’re better than nonbelievers.
And people wonder why I turned away from the church? I’m young, not stupid. Though I WILL grant that there are few, very very few, who try live by the Bible. But they are definitely in the minority.
@mammaquiet - The term “Christian” has nothing to do with the Bible (though, yes, Christians read the Bible if they can). Being a “Christian” means being a follower of Christ, believing that He is who He said He was (God’s Son who chose to serve as our sacrificial lamb once and for all so that we can live in the Holy presence of God without dying). You are not a Christian, because you don’t accept all that He said. You do not believe He is Lord.
A lot of christians do not live a noticeably different life and it is sad. Being a Christian myself I know that its really important to try to live differently because of what we are and who we say we are living for…We have caused ourselves a lot of shame in acting the way we do..but their are still some who rock out for God
xXx
@theScalesandtheScorpion - Your comment (your first one, if you’ve posted more) was right on.
I think that some people call themselves cristians when they are not. Cristians are supose to act diffrent from the ones who are not. But if they don’t, they are not really cristians even if they say “they are”.
@TomasekBride - Am I wrong for agreeing with you?
I am not Christian but I did go to a Christian church just to be open-minded. Today, all the kids I went to church with either: 1) smoke 2) do drugs 3) dropped out of school and are being bums 4) are single moms 5) *gasp* have Myspace pictures up of themselves DRINKING! 6) Constantly curse
Hypocrisy is evident in every religion, this I know. But all those Christian kids I went to church with were adamant about being so religious and looked down on me for being Muslim, but where am I today?
1) I graduated from one of the top universities in the nation with high grades
2) I received my BA and am going to pursue my MBA
3) I’m still proudly a virgin (hard to believe, I know!)
4) I’ve never, ever had a sip of alcohol, nor have I done drugs
5) I admit I’m not perfect, but I try my best to live an honorable life, regardless of my religion, but strictly due to my own moral beliefs
I just find it ironic that all those Christian kids turned out the way they did.
It depends on whether you consider calling oneself a Christian sufficient enough to be counted as a Christian. However, just about any specific description of Christian seems to exclude a large portion of the people who call themselves Christian. So I would say a person who calls themself Christian in most cases just follows the norms of whatever culture they are raised around. I would actually say most people’s view of what a Christian is is strictly cultural and not based on an understanding of the tradition.
It does seem to me that a lot of them actually live very hypocritcal lives- my mom is a case in point. She thinks that living together before marriage is a sin, yet she has had two boyfriends live with us, one of whom she didn’t marry. She made the excuse that we needed the extra income- well, why not sell some antiques or take on a female friend who needs a place to stay that can pay some rent? I know that she has carnal desires just like any other human being, so why can’t she just admit it instead of lying about it and making excuses?
Nope. We’re all hypocrites.
Christians are just easier for others to target.
@zjiyre - The pope worships mary, the mother of Jesus. Now thats what you call Idolitry. The pope and vatican, at least I think…are babylonian and distort everything, including the teachings of Jesus. I’m sure they will love the antichrist, since the antichrist will absolutely love babylon and what it stood for…corruption and pagan worshiping fools.
@MidnightExotica - wow. impressive! I never drank or did drugs as well. never a sip of alcohol.
You are very impressive. Well done!
@deathtothenewworldorder - Why, thank you!
I’m impressed you’ve never drank or done drugs, either. That’s impressive, too! Everyone I’ve met has at least done something.
honestly. i dont think Christians do. unless they are like hardcore and take the scripture “you are not to be of this world” like the amish.(sp?) i mean i have non-christian friends who live just like a person of the Christian faith.
@MidnightExotica - you’re welcome. most of the people I knew from high school are drunks ore do drugs…quite sad.
Every person have their own flaws. Afterall, their still human, and their still on a road to learning to be a better Christian. It just takes time. It doesn’t mean you’re a Christian, you’re perfect.
People claiming to be Christian must live a different lifestyle compared to those who do not share their beliefs. True Christians don’t thump their bibles. They live the life. They walk the walk.
As for all the condemning Christians are accused of, I am surprised no one wants to blame their own consciences for condemning them. Some people choose to do evil, and they honestly don’t care. They want the world to burn. Others are too apathetic, and it weighs on their consciences, and when someone points out their wrongdoing, they feel as if they are being condemned by the person who points it out. It is their own consciences that condemns them.
We are called to love God and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We are to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. In short, a simple, quiet life where even our enemies have no reason to complain about us. Is that so hard???
Depends on where they are. Also depends on whether one believes one is on a mission or not.
@MidnightExotica - You have to also consider the fact that they are kids suffering from peer pressure. They haven’t even graduated high school so are not able to get their degrees in college yet like you.
@MidnightExotica - I am just 18 years old and have never done drugs unless prescribed of course. (I get sick a lot from previous medical conditions causing major surgery at a young age and certain genetic diseases) Um, I have tasted alcohol and such, but I have never gotten drunk. I don’t like to drink. Why drink something unless you are trying to quench your thirst? Water is the choice for me. =] I consider myself to be a virgin, not because it wasn’t good (which it wasn’t), but because it was taken from me and I didn’t have a choice in the matter. So in my mind, I am a virgin and don’t ever really plan on having sex. Even if I ever get a husband, he’s going to have a really hard time trying to make me comfortable enough and love him enough to actually go through with it on our wedding night.
Judge Learned Hand once said “No generalization is worth a damn, including this one.” It is difficult to characterize any group “as a whole,” since the whole is just a congregation of individuals.
Billings Learned Hand
(January 27, 1872 – August 18, 1961) was an influential United Statesjudge and judicial philosopher. He served on the Southern District Court of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Hand has reportedly been quoted more often than any other lower-court judge by legal scholars and by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Nope
unfortunately, no. people who claim to be Christians, as a whole, do not behave noticably different lives.
but
the proof is in the pudding – claiming to be a Christian doesn’t make
you a Christian. Matt. 7:20 “By their fruit, you will recognize them.”
so
its unfortunate that so many think think can make Jesus savior, claim
the name Christian, and go on living however they please. Christ has to
be savior and Lord – and if he were Lord of all the people who say
they’re Christians, then that group as a whole WOULD be living
radically different lives.
I know some who do, and some who don’t. What disappoints me is people usually only see the ones who don’t and assume all Christians are like that. I hate that. It’s not fair. Each person should be kudged on an individual basis.
As they say, Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven. However, it is up to good Christians to continually seek perfection, as Jesus ordained we should.
Personally, I grew up unchurched in an agnostic home. I was an Army sergeant before I became a Christian. In my time, I’ve cursed enough to cause global warming on a fair-sized planet and downed enough beer to float the Battleship “Texas”! Forgive me if I sound like I’m boasting!!
There’s an old joke about the black pastor admonishing a parishioner from the pulpit: “You’s not confessin’, Brother. You’s braggin”!!”
I’m not perfect and never will be. But I try. And when, on occasion, I revert to bad old habits, I look back, take a deep breath, ask that Forgiveness and try to do better next time. The key is KNOWING right from wrong in the first place. This is what the Gospels provide… along with the Good News of God’s infinite mercy.
As a whole, no.
But I believe some individuals are.
@TomasekBride - You know what it really is, most of the time those who say they are Christians are lost Christians. If they are getting drunk then they have strayed. Now cussing is not bad. It can offend others and as long as you don’t use God’s name in vein the Bible doesn’t say anything wrong about that.