I'm amazed!

[Pat Hartman]

Did you have your head in the sand last year?

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

They are persecuted throughout.....

I sort of get why. My sister's a bible-basher and I think I might be inclined to persecute her a little, myself!

 

[Isaac]

They are persecuted throughout the Middle East except in Israel and we won't talk about Russia and China. And then there is the US. Why was it OK to close churches but keep Casinos open?

One of my favorite ministries to donate to when I do (which is not remotely nearly as much as I ought), is VOM ... persecution.org

They often help the families left behind in the wake of a family breadwinner who was arrested, harmed, dis-employed or "disappeared" all around the world for the simple crime of their Christianity. Those people know discipleship like few do.

 

[Isaac]

I sort of get why. My sister's a bible-basher and I think I might be inclined to persecute her a little, myself!

I sort of get why you would make that comment, as there's grounds for it on occasion. IF you base the perspective on USA Christians.

 

[NauticalGent]

I sort of get why you would make that comment, as there's grounds for it on occasion. IF you base the perspective on USA Christians.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Ghandi

 

[conception_native_0123]

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Ghandi

aint that the truth! WOW.

 

[Isaac]

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Ghandi

Yes, that perspective definitely has merit - but as I mentioned, mostly just if you base it on USA Christians.
The Christians I've met in Mexico (and that I consistently read about in many other countries) are vastly different.
Of course there are exceptions to everything I'm saying.

There is one other mistake that people like Ghandi may have made. Focusing exclusively on the Gospels rather than also on the other 98.9 % of the Bible. I'm not sure about that, it's just a hunch.

The last point is just that (in my opinion), it makes no sense to reject a truth, an ideal, a religion, or a God, simply because you have observed many of their followers who fail to live up to the ideal.

That would be like saying: "People are so unkind. I guess kindness must be fantasy of the weak and hypocritical!"

Where Ghandi's perspective is lacking is that following Christians was never the point, nor the ask. It's following Christ.

Last "point" is that following Christ is a very high ideal. You will commonly find people only half heartedly trying, and therefore it doesn't make much difference in their life.
This actually isn't unusual, nor unique to Christianity. It's like a person with addiction going to a 12 step meeting and learning to live by spiritual principles. It's very hard - and most people only attain a small % of what they might, or could, or want. Sometimes people discard it, claiming it didn't work when really they didn't work it. In fact, most initial attendees do just that. And yet, it lives on, a program never being discarded simply because 75% of its "followers" didn't work it.

Personally, I find an overwhelming number of inspiring Christians. Then again, there are all kinds of them and it's a busy world out there that we're receiving a lot of inputs for.

You find what you are looking for.

 

[Pat Hartman]

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Ghandi

My mother-in-law was a church-going Catholic but I would never call her a Christian.

 

[conception_native_0123]

My mother-in-law was a church-going Catholic but I would never call her a Christian.

can I ask....why not?

 

[Pat Hartman]

can I ask....why not?

You may ask but it is not something I care to talk about. Going to church does not a Christian make.

 

[conception_native_0123]

makes perfect sense Pat.

 

[Harrybrigham]

I have always wondered why in places, where people are badly treated for their convictions, they still insist on proclaiming them. In some countries this amounts to virtual suicide. A little, life preserving, lie might save them.

 

[Pat Hartman]

A little, life preserving, lie might save them.

Trump didn't get this either which was a large part of the reason I became a fan He said what he meant and he meant what he said somewhat unartfully at times He made actual politicians look like the scumbag liars that they are.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

He made actual politicians look like the scumbag liars that they are.

Wait.... politicians are scumbags? Who'da thunk it?

 

[conception_native_0123]

Wait.... politicians are scumbags? Who'da thunk it?

they are not scumbags, they are liars!

 

[Pat Hartman]

I guess scumbag liars was redundant I wonder if it has anything to do with so many members of Congress being lawyers.

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

lawyers = liars

 

[oleronesoftwares]

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Ghandi

it's difficult to believe Ghandi never saw one Christian who depicted Jesus Christ.

Also,if he truly liked Christ, he would have become a Christian(though i don't know if he did?)

 

[oleronesoftwares]

lawyers = liars

Not all.

 

[oleronesoftwares]

I have always wondered why in places, where people are badly treated for their convictions, they still insist on proclaiming them. In some countries this amounts to virtual suicide. A little, life preserving, lie might save them.

It had to see a motivation for this, Christianity is a personal race, and the level of one's convictions will determine the extent one will take his cross, carry it and follow Jesus Christ.