Why are Christians so nasty to each other when they have different views?

[selenah]

I look at so many other Christians and sometimes they are just plane nasty to each other. They act so....childish with their "oh yeah, well blah blah blah" type attitude. I understand if they disagree with someone their trying to correct the person, but the way it's done is so sarcastic and nasty. They act like people who disagree with them are a bunch of stupid idiots instead of someone who is misguided. It's like bicker bicker bicker "you're wrong no you're wrong I'm right you're stupid you don't know what you're talking about."

[trust_in_the_name]

Originally Posted by selenah

I look at so many other Christians and sometimes they are just plane nasty to each other. They act so....childish with their "oh yeah, well blah blah blah" type attitude. I understand if they disagree with someone their trying to correct the person, but the way it's done is so sarcastic and nasty. They act like people who disagree with them are a bunch of stupid idiots instead of someone who is misguided. It's like bicker bicker bicker "you're wrong no you're wrong I'm right you're stupid you don't know what you're talking about."

As per usual, the answer is in scripture,

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23)

Who "shall enter the kingdom of heaven?" Those who call themselves Christians? No: "[H]e who does the will of My Father in heaven."

Originally Posted by trust_in_the_name

As per usual, the answer is in scripture,

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23)

Who "shall enter the kingdom of heaven?" Those who call themselves Christians? No: "[H]e who does the will of My Father in heaven."

Amen to that!

I think it all really boils down to if your heart is in the right place, God knows us inside and out, he knows our true intentions.

[Deadflesh]

Becasue MOST Christians are still in the flesh. Jesus, the apostles. ALL had to deal with the same thigns. People hating them. The closer you Get to Jesus. adn further from the Flesh. Expect people to hate you.


But it matters what GOD thinks not Man. Humans in the flesh will always be children. Thats why we need to DIE daily. Deny self daily. Otherwise, we live in the flesh. and end up being awful examples of Christ. Jesus Bless you young Sister. Seek Jesus with all you are. And Love God with all of your heart sould mind, and strength. HE loves you so very much. JESUS is all that truly matters.

Haha, trust in the name, and dead flesh, you two are in the Spirit now. I just made a post of this same thing.

[giantone]

It's because they are insecure and don't have the ability to articulate what they supposedly believe. Kind of like what babies do.

[AnandaHya]

Hurt people hurt people.

Most people have not taken the time to just rest and learn about God's love and allowed to God to heal their hurts and keeps picking at the scab of their heart until it bleeds again.

some people call other stupid because they don't feel very intelligent themselves. Insecurity and defensiveness shows me that the person is still wounded and hurting. If people take offense to my words I realize that they are more hurting then I am and I try to be nicer and kinder.

If they act prideful and superior, I have to say I have to resist the urge to pick on them and see if they really are prideful or if they are just using it as a front for an underlying problem. I found that underlying most people who are mean and spiteful is a hurt that has not been healed: they have a mental illness, they have a illness that the doctors say they will die in a few months, their loved one just died or left them or cheated on them, they are alone and have no family or friends, they were raped, beaten or mentally abused as a child, etc.

So when I speak or read others words, I always remember there is more to the picture then the arguments. there are more problems then what can be seen. We have to pray and trust that God will give us the words to help and not hurt. We have to learn through the guidance of the Holy Spirit how to speak and how to comfort one another. We confess and ask God to heal us.There is power in prayer of righteous people.

James 5:15-17 (New King James Version)

15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses[a] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

[zone]

Originally Posted by selenah

I look at so many other Christians and sometimes they are just plane nasty to each other. They act so....childish with their "oh yeah, well blah blah blah" type attitude. I understand if they disagree with someone their trying to correct the person, but the way it's done is so sarcastic and nasty. They act like people who disagree with them are a bunch of stupid idiots instead of someone who is misguided. It's like bicker bicker bicker "you're wrong no you're wrong I'm right you're stupid you don't know what you're talking about."

SATIRE

If Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians was Published in Christianity Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Christianity Today:
In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.
Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI
————————————————————————
Dear Editor:
How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does, and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a secondary issue. Personally, I don’t want a sharp instrument anywhere near my zipper, but that doesn’t give me the right to judge how someone else follows Christ. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal matters?
Ed Bilgeway; Tonganoxie, KS
————————————————————————–
Dear CT:
I’ve seen other dubious articles by Paul Apostle in the past, and frankly I’m surprised you felt that his recurrent criticisms of the Church deserved to be printed in your magazine. Mr. Apostle for many years now has had a penchant for thinking he has a right to “mark” certain Christian teachers who don’t agree with his biblical position. Certainly I commend him for desiring to stay faithful to God’s word, but I think he errs in being so dogmatic about his views to the point where he feels free to openly attack his brethren. His attitude makes it difficult to fully unify the Church, and gives credence to the opposition’s view that Christians are judgmental, arrogant people who never show God’s love.
Ken Groener; San Diego, CA
—————————————————————————-
To the Editors:
Paul Apostle says that he hopes the Galatian teachers will cut off their own privates? What kind of Christian attitude is that? Shame on him!
Martha Bobbitt; Boulder, CO
—————————————————————————-
Dear Christianity Today:
The fact that Paul Apostle brags about his public run-in with Peter Cephas, a well-respected leader and brother in Christ, exposes Mr. Apostle for the divisive figure that he has become in the Church today. His diatribe against the Galatian church is just more of the same misguided focus on an antiquated reliance on doctrine instead of love and tolerance. Just look how his hypercritical attitude has cast aspersions on homosexual believers and women elders! The real problem within the Church today is not the lack of doctrinal devotion, as Apostle seems to believe, but in our inability to be transformed by our individual journeys in the Spirit. Evidently, Apostle has failed to detach himself from his legalistic background as a Pharisee, and is unable to let go and experience the genuine love for Christ that is coming from the Galatians who strive to worship God in their own special way.
William Zenby; Richmond, VA
——————————————————————————
Kind Editors:
I happen to be a member of First Christian Church of Galatia, and I take issue with Mr. Apostle’s article. How can he criticize a ministry that has been so blessed by God? Our church has baptized many new members and has made huge in-roads in the Jewish community with our pragmatic view on circumcision. Such a “seeker-sensitive” approach has given the Jews the respect they deserve for being God’s chosen people for thousands of years. In addition, every Gentile in our midst has felt honored to engage in the many edifying rituals of the Hebrew heritage, including circumcision, without losing their passion for Jesus. My advice to Mr. Apostle is to stick to spreading the gospel message of Christ’s unconditional love, and quit criticizing what God is clearly blessing in other churches.
Miriam “Betty” Ben-Hur; Galatia, Turkey
——————————————————————————-
EDITOR’S NOTE: Christianity Today apologizes for our rash decision in publishing Paul Apostle’s exposé of the Galatian church. Had we known the extent in which our readership and advertisers would withdraw their financial support, we never would have printed such unpopular biblical truth. We regret any damage we may have caused in propagating the doctrines of Christ.

[zone]

Originally Posted by AnandaHya

Hurt people hurt people.

Most people have not taken the time to just rest and learn about God's love and allowed to God to heal their hurts and keeps picking at the scab of their heart until it bleeds again.

some people call other stupid because they don't feel very intelligent themselves. Insecurity and defensiveness shows me that the person is still wounded and hurting. If people take offense to my words I realize that they are more hurting then I am and I try to be nicer and kinder.

If they act prideful and superior, I have to say I have to resist the urge to pick on them and see if they really are prideful or if they are just using it as a front for an underlying problem. I found that underlying most people who are mean and spiteful is a hurt that has not been healed: they have a mental illness, they have a illness that the doctors say they will die in a few months, their loved one just died or left them or cheated on them, they are alone and have no family or friends, they were raped, beaten or mentally abused as a child, etc.

So when I speak or read others words, I always remember there is more to the picture then the arguments. there are more problems then what can be seen. We have to pray and trust that God will give us the words to help and not hurt. We have to learn through the guidance of the Holy Spirit how to speak and how to comfort one another. We confess and ask God to heal us.There is power in prayer of righteous people.

James 5:15-17 (New King James Version)

15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses[a] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

yes....a shining example of maturity.

[AnandaHya]

Luke 6:27-29 (New King James Version)

Love Your Enemies


27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.

Romans 12:13-15 (New King James Version)

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Matthew 5:43-45 (New King James Version)

Love Your Enemies


43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ [b]44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

sometimes its harder then just reading words to act, think and behave as children of God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU_rTX23V7Q

[zone]

Originally Posted by AnandaHya

Luke 6:27-29 (New King James Version)

Love Your Enemies


27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.

Romans 12:13-15 (New King James Version)

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Matthew 5:43-45 (New King James Version)

Love Your Enemies


43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ [b]44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

sometimes its harder then just reading words to act, think and behave as children of God.

YouTube - Who Am I - Casting Crowns

right.
posting on the world wide web private personal messages from "anonymous" others in an attempt to discredit someone because they just keep bringing up that unpleasant false prophetic uttering from Jesus VERBATIM is luuuuuuuuving your "enemy".

a shining example to us all.

thanks for the blessings Ananda!

[selenah]

What.....???

[oncemore]

Originally Posted by selenah

I look at so many other Christians and sometimes they are just plane nasty to each other. They act so....childish with their "oh yeah, well blah blah blah" type attitude. I understand if they disagree with someone their trying to correct the person, but the way it's done is so sarcastic and nasty. They act like people who disagree with them are a bunch of stupid idiots instead of someone who is misguided. It's like bicker bicker bicker "you're wrong no you're wrong I'm right you're stupid you don't know what you're talking about."

Now i knew why the devil fights you so much look what comes out of you and what in your heart stay blessed.

[AnandaHya]

Sorry Selenah.

but JESUS should be the only example anyone needs and who EVERYONE should strive to follow.


Ephesians 2:8-9 (New King James Version)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

YouTube - Who Am I - Casting Crowns

I know who I am because God has told me.

I do not seek to lead, teach, guide or discredit anyone because God tells us by our words we will be condemned or justified.

Matthew 12:36-37 (New King James Version)

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

If the people wish to claim their words they can. I did not make them up. God will call us to give account on the day of judgement for ALL the words we speak. I know I will need Jesus to speak in my behalf because I have said things I should not have in the past. However, through the grace of the Holy Spirit I strive NOT to repeat my mistakes but if others chose to continue to sin and call that sin righteousness, then in the end they will have to answer to GOD about it. IF they do not listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their lives, then why would they listen to me?

People should be able to talk and ask questions of fellow Christains to further their understanding of the Bible without be accused of being a false prophet, heretic, or someone leading people to Hell.

People should NOT feel like they are being stalked from thread to thread by an individual who twists their words and attacks their character and questions if they are even children of God consistently putting false words into their mouth by saying "she says....." or "she does....."

again I apologize Selenah.

Matthew 18:21-23 (New King James Version)

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

YouTube - Chris August - 7x70 (Lyrics)


In prayer, are we sisters or enemies?

I treat my enemies kinder and speak nicer to them. I love them by feeding them the word of God and giving them to drink of kindness and tolerance and do not expect them to understand and I expect them to attack me, but my sisters I treat with love and I speak truth and honesty to my sisters. I tell them when I see them do wrong and sin against God.

Sometimes I mistake enemies and think they are sisters in Christ. sometimes I am wrong and it saddens my heart when they tell and show me that they are not.

[loveschild]

Keep your eyes on God and grow. When you can love people even though they do things wrong you have grown. When you can forgive them then you have grown. When you can pray good things for them then you have grown. Thanks to these people you can grow deeper into God.

[zone]

Originally Posted by AnandaHya

I do not seek to lead, teach, guide or discredit anyone because God tells us by our words we will be condemned or justified.

IF they do not listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their lives, then why would they listen to me?

People should be able to talk and ask questions of fellow Christains to further their understanding of the Bible without be accused of being a false prophet, heretic, or someone leading people to Hell.

People should NOT feel like they are being stalked from thread to thread by an individual who twists their words and attacks their character and questions if they are even children of God consistently putting false words into their mouth by saying "she says....." or "she does....."

again I apologize Selenah.

why are you apologizing to selenah?

so far you have not asked my forgiveness for your sins against me.

nor have you repented of your greveious sins against God.

in spite of your pious language IN THIS POST and your recent re-morph, you're still not being honest:

1) I do not seek to lead - FALSE
2) teach - FALSE
3) guide - FALSE
4) discredit anyone - FALSE

"IF they do not listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in their lives, then why would they listen to me?" - GOOD QUESTION: SO WHY DO CLAIM TO CHANNEL JESUS DIRECTLY AND BE A PROPHETESS?

"People should be able to talk and ask questions of fellow Christains to further their understanding of the Bible without be accused of being a false prophet, heretic, or someone leading people to Hell"

- what about being accused of being demon-possessed surrounded by monkeys? or of being a wolf?
- but what if they are claiming to be a prophet and are threatening people who are asking questions of their fellow christians? in the first person of JESUS NO LESS.
- what if they are an heretic who teaches and promotes new age, occultic pratises calling them "science"?

"People should NOT feel like they are being stalked from thread to thread by an individual who twists their words and attacks their character and questions if they are even children of God consistently putting false words into their mouth by saying "she says....." or "she does....."

- so far you have not asked my forgiveness for your sins against me. for you have done all this to me.


need to be reminded? i know where every post and every thread is.

[lightbliss]

Can we please not bring our unrelated grievances into this thread (but they can be used as an example for Selenah's question)? If you have a problem with another member, private messaging is the way to go.

Matthew 18:15
Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

As for the original question, I agree with trust_in_the_name and giantone.

The mark of a true Christian is having the ability to compassionately recognize error. If afterwards, the other person persist, then, as a Christian, we have done our duty to try to lead them to God's path. Sometimes it's not that the other person isn't "God filled," perhaps they aren't sure of what to make of the information they've received from the Bible, so arguing with them will probably hurt their willingness to further communicate with other Christians and, as a result, they could stray from God's path.

James 5:19-20
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

[wakeup]

Originally Posted by selenah

I look at so many other Christians and sometimes they are just plane nasty to each other. They act so....childish with their "oh yeah, well blah blah blah" type attitude. I understand if they disagree with someone their trying to correct the person, but the way it's done is so sarcastic and nasty. They act like people who disagree with them are a bunch of stupid idiots instead of someone who is misguided. It's like bicker bicker bicker "you're wrong no you're wrong I'm right you're stupid you don't know what you're talking about."

You can see them by the fruits. The true colours will always show in time.

[AnandaHya]

I apologize zone for any offense I may have caused you.

However the monkey and demon thing was spoken to Paulnsilas and she has not appeared or asked for forgiveness or anything either.

I am sorry that you live in double standards and do not have enough faith to leave it all in God's hands.

If you have more problems with me, you can pm me, since I've taken you off my ignore list. I'm not sure if I will regret it or not but you can't blind yourself to the world and to people who refuse to respect the simple request to STOP TALKING ABOUT me BEHIND my BACK.

As for my sins against God that is between me and God and I do not need to confess them to you or the world for JESUS is my high priest.

I am still praying for you, I never stopped, I just stopped reading your words for a while for they made me sad.

how is your health?

YouTube - Blessings - Laura Story - LYRICS

If you see a change in my post is because I stop listening to poisonous words about my life and myself. Crop failure.

I learned how to combat the Enemy by using the Bible as a defense and a sword:

YouTube - Spiritual Warfare - 7 (How the Enemy Attacks) by Jim Logan

these sermons helped. thanks JD for recommending them.

[gb9]

wakeup nailed it. anybody can say anything,but if there actions don't back it up,then they might not be a true Christian.we are never going to agree on every point exactaly, but if someone is constantly doing un- Christian things then they might not be one.