Christianity and hypocrisy

[sandee]

I posted this article and it was edited and therefore it took out some very key points I was trying to make, I will attempt to re post it and hope the mods don't close it as it will be the same article posted as a thread twice . I have a feeling someone reported me because I used all caps in the title or maybe the colors ( red and blue) were too much for someone . So here is a revised copy of the original article I posted.....

Are Christians Becoming Hypocrites?

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1...hypocrites.html

First things first, are all Christians hipocrites? Absolutely not!

Christians are perphaps one of the most demeaning religous groups I have met thus far in my life. There are so many rules and regulations to live by that it is almost unbearable. What you are required to do of course varies from church to church and things vary within sectors too.

Each church has its own set of "laws" that one must abide by or be shunned basically. Now they wont come out and tell you that you are being outcast, but they sure will show you in one way or another. This is especially true of churches that push the monetary donations. Some churches even go so far as to require a certain stipend of money (oh say 10 percent of your income) pledged in order to become a member. Others require you to not have a prior divorce, commit a certain amount of hours to charity work, or to attend unless they see it as a worthy (or excused) absence. Granted, not all churhes have this obligations, but you would be surprised at how many DO!

What happened to going to church to find faith, be among fellow moral people, and to connect with an intertwined support network. Why must you be of one sect to sit beside your fellow man and feel uplifted? Why should one be required to do anything at all in order to come and be with God? Who set this ridiculous rules, and why are Christians obeying them? Have we lost all sight of what the purpose of being a Christian is?

I dont recall reading anything in the Bible that stated that another persons judgement is in your hands.

In fact, as I recall the Bible saying, "Stop judging, so that you shall not be judged, ²for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you. ³But why do you look at the speck, the [one] in your brother's eye, but you do not notice the log, the [one] in your own eye? ⁴Or, how will you say to your brother, 'Allow [me], I shall take the speck from your eye,' and look!, the log [is] in your own eye? ⁵Hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1-5).

It is not to decide who is right or wrong in their beliefs.

Just like you wouldnt want someone attacking everything you believe, neither would anyone else. No one can change you mind about what it is in your heart and what gives you the faith to keep your head up and plow through the mountains of problems that life gives you. You should not take it upon yourself to believe you are mighty enough to make that decision for someone else, or to change what they believe.

In conclusion, this epidemic needs to stop. Christians need to start realizing that to believe is to BE. No one is just enough to make the moral or spiritual decisions for other people. Nor are we deserving enough to be bestowed the power of the all might Judge.

**With so many bashing the beliefs of others I think this article is a good way for all people with all faiths beliefs and religions to understand what these things really mean to the beholder. I have been called a hypocrite and while I know its untrue it still is uncalled for and in very poor character to do so.

Do you have any thoughts on the article? Do you feel like your faith or beliefs are called to question and how does that make you feel?

Always a pleasure

PS If anyone has a problem with the way I post you can PM me, I had several people tell me they did not like post in pink so I now only sign off in pink, All you have to do is ask.

Edited March 10, 2008 by sandee

[Saru]

For the record your post was edited because it contained an entire article copied and pasted, we ask that members only quote as much material from other sites as is necessary.

Thank you.

[sandee]

For the record your post was edited because it contained an entire article copied and pasted, we ask that members only quote as much material from other sites as is necessary.

Thank you.

Thank you SaRuMaN for pointing that out, I will be careful to edit my post accordingly in the future. I did edit this one down considerably and apprciate your allowing me to re post it with a revised copy of the original.

Always a pleasure

[Belle.]

What are some of the unbearable rules and regulations that you have to live by? (if you indeed feel this way Sandee - that's just the part in the article that stood out to me)

And also probably because I am not religious I quite like my beliefs to be called into question. If they are questionable - maybe I had better not have them!lol.

Sometimes it annoys me in a quick emotional hurt pride way - but I know deep down it is good because it makes me examine what and why I believe something.

[sandee]

What are some of the unbearable rules and regulations that you have to live by? (if you indeed feel this way Sandee - that's just the part in the article that stood out to me)

And also probably because I am not religious I quite like my beliefs to be called into question. If they are questionable - maybe I had better not have them!lol.

Sometimes it annoys me in a quick emotional hurt pride way - but I know deep down it is good because it makes me examine what and why I believe something.

When I edited this article I debated on leaving this out because I personally do not find the ""rules and regulations to be unbearable"' thats the authors veiw but some may feel as she does and wish to express their feelings.

The one part of the article that stood out the most to me is.....

""What happened to going to church to find faith, be among fellow moral people, and to connect with an intertwined support network. Why must you be of one sect to sit beside your fellow man and feel uplifted? Why should one be required to do anything at all in order to come and be with God? Who set this ridiculous rules, and why are Christians obeying them? Have we lost all sight of what the purpose of being a Christian is? People will claim to have the faith of God in their soul, and the love of God in their hearts, and then say that all non Christians are going to hell. I dont recall reading anything in the Bible that stated that another persons judgement is in your hands.

I ask the same question all the time, Church has become strictly a social event of sorts its lost the sermons that uplift you and teach you and make you want to go home and read the bible. Also the Christians who do go around telling people they are going to hell make it hard for the ones who want to teach about God's love and forgiveness because the ones who have been told they are going to hell don't want to hear anymore after hearing ""your going to burn in hell"'.

People in general are to quick to judge not just Christians and its wrong to judge another, God is the only one in my opinion that hols the honor of judging us, the good as well as the bad.

To question your beliefs is your right but for another to do it is of poor character and rude, now to Ask questions is different than attacking and thats what the forum is about learning about others beliefs and strengthening your own.( In my opinion )

Always a pleasure

</U>

Edited March 11, 2008 by sandee