Christian Pride Day

[Dymphna82]

Hello. Since I’ve returned to the Church, I’ve been very discrete in who I let know that I’m a practicing Catholic again. And…I’ve received a lot of hateful responses. I notice that many Christians I know hide their faith as well. So, I’ve started a Christian Pride Day. Today and everyday should be Christian Pride day but I’ve set it for a month from now, so that everyone can spread it to their friends.

facebook.com/event.php?eid=178632298860188

Please RSVP as attending and send the invitation to all your friends. Let’s send a message that we’re here, we’re Christians and everyone should get used to it.

 

[Philotheatoo]

What a wonderful idea!

 

[Dymphna82]

Thank you. I’m already receiving a negative response from people who don’t think Christians have a right to be proud. I’ve had one Pastor even say:

"I don’t love the Lord with all my heart, soul or strength. And I take no pride in being a Christian.

But you’ve given me a good idea: Christian Humility Day."

Wow, just wow. Humility is great but we shouldn’t be ashamed of what God expects from us and we should love God.

 

[Dymphna82]

And this is all making me very sad, the more I read. I think that I need to either find more Catholic friends for support, or leave America. I want to cry, really.

 

[roseofshannon]

Dymphna,

You have a great idea! Don’t let the trolls get you down. Rejoice! You have received your daily dose of persecution for your faith and what a privilege that is. You are in good company: Apostles, saints and martyrs.

God bless those who persecute you!

I’ll tell my friends about it as well.

 

[roseofshannon]

Hey Dymphna,

My daughter went to your page and is attending and invited all of her friends and posted it on her wall!

Keep up the great work proudly sharing the Gospel Message!

 

[Dymphna82]

Thank you. It means a lot. I’m feeling lots of anger at the moment that I’m going to have to pray off. People tend to leave an impression on me.

 

[BVM_1221]

Hello. Since I’ve returned to the Church, I’ve been very discrete in who I let know that I’m a practicing Catholic again. And…I’ve received a lot of hateful responses. I notice that many Christians I know hide their faith as well. So, I’ve started a Christian Pride Day. Today and everyday should be Christian Pride day but I’ve set it for a month from now, so that everyone can spread it to their friends.

facebook.com/event.php?eid=178632298860188

Please RSVP as attending and send the invitation to all your friends. Let’s send a message that we’re here, we’re Christians and everyone should get used to it.

I live in an area of Los Angeles that seems to be quite tolerant. No reactions, good or bad, to…

1. The personalized licence plate reading “BVM 1221”
2. The bumper sticker that reads “I Love My German Shepherd”, with a drawing of Pope Benidict XVI

30 The licence plate holders that read “Choose Life/Your Mother Did”

 

[Dymphna82]

OK, I checked the event and things are looking tame, due to all the nice people keeping things calm. Thanks all. And I think some friends of mine are going to pass it on as well. I feel less upset now.

 

[Dymphna82]

A few trolls have come out of the woodwork on that thread but it does nothing but encourage me to do more.

And then a few hours later, Facebook told me someone in Arizona, using Firefox and Windows XP was trying to hack my account. It they are getting this angry, then Satan must be as well. Let’s keep it up!

 

[mathematoons]

And this is all making me very sad, the more I read. I think that I need to either find more Catholic friends for support, or leave America. I want to cry, really.

I know exactly how you feel. I live in the spiritual armpit of America. So why not stay and be a missionary? That’s what I’m doing…

 

[Dymphna82]

It’s not my calling to be a missionary. I have a hard enough time workin on myself. If this were 10 years ago and I knew then what I know now, then yeah, I’d be a missionary. Back then, my gifts were wasted on Paganism. Bah. Humbug.

 

[Dymphna82]

Just started the event for Christian Pride Day again. I’ve taken the questions I was asked from last time and have even writen a FAQ to go with it. You can RSVP here:
facebook.com/events/112391162234705/

Here is the FAQ:

FAQ

What is Christian Pride Day?

Christian Pride Day is a non-denominational day for all Christians to come together and celebrate their decision to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a day where we will not be ashamed of being Christian or apologize for it. We will focus on that relationship, how he transforms our lives and the world around us.

Why isn’t this day everyday?

Facebook only allows an event to run for so long. We agree that everyday should be Christian Pride Day

But isn’t Christianity responsible for all the war in the world?

That’s an inaccurate generalization, and congratulations, you are the reason why this day exists. Christianity has done a lot more good for the world than bad and continues to do good. Remarks such as those do more to make Christians apologetic for matters that they had no hand in, than raise them up to do better for the world.

Does this have anything to do with Gay Pride Day or LGBT Pride Month?

Absolutely not. While the LGBT community have made their Pride Day popular, there are other communities that have their own Pride Days as well. This has nothing to do with the LGBT community. Members of the LGBT community are welcome to join this event, if their relationship with Jesus Christ is important to them.

Last year the event asked us to recite the Nicene Creed. Where is it?

We won’t ask anyone to recite it this year. Last year we asked everyone to recite it because we felt it was a perfect statement of the faith for everyone. Some did not understand the part that said, “In one holy catholic and apostolic Church.” Non-Catholic Christians occasionally took that to mean that we want them to commit to being Catholic. That is not the case. In the Nicene Creed, “catholic” means “universal.” Many denominations have used it today. This year, we simply ask that all Christians say a prayer that strengthens all Christians in their faith, along with whatever prayers they deem necessary.

What are other things I can do to commemorate this day?

Pray and pray hard. Go to church. Spend time with your family. You can also help your neighbor or volunteer to help others. Be kind to others. Take the time out to appreciate all God has given you in life, and in spirit. Read your Bible. Read about other Christians in history.

Isn’t pride a sin?

Some forms of pride are a sin. False pride. Fulton Sheen, for example, states eight manifestations of pride:

“ 1. Atheism, which denies our dependence upon God.
2. Intellectual Vanity, which thinks it encompasses all knowledge.
3. Superficiality, which judges others by their appearance, dress, wealth.
4. Snobbery, which sneers at others to support its own superiority
5. Vainglory, which seeks fame in the trappings of society.
6. Presumptuousness, which causes one to value oneself too highly, to seek rewards rather than to make a contribution.
7. Exaggerated Sensitiveness, To be unable to hear of ones faults.”

We are all imperfect human beings, and all susceptible to those kinds of pride. We should do our best to avoid them. Here are some verses about good pride:

Romans 15:17, “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.”

Philippians 2:16, “Hold fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

2 Corinthians 7:4, “I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.”

James 1:9, “The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.”

Galatians 6:4, “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else…”

If you feel you are full of the bad kind of pride, then you can use Christian Pride Day to work on that.

What is that symbol on the event about?

“The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word “ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ” =Christ in such a way to produce the monogram. Although not technically a Christian cross, the Chi-Rho invokes the crucifixion of Jesus, as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ.”

In creating this event, we sought to find a symbol that would be the least offensive to all denominations. Some Christians do not like the crucifix, so we felt this would be less offensive.

Do you have a website, do you accept donations, is there memorabilia we can buy?

Not at this time. If anyone wants to get more grassroots involved in this, please let us know. Maybe we can have a bigger event next year.

 

[Dymphna82]

I’ve canceled the event this year. I feel like there is little positive response this time around, and I feel more shame for trying to help, which goes against the spirit of what I meant the day to be for. So, please lock this.