Christian Reputation

[bigappleboy]

Hello,
Some time ago I expressed a concern and I am feeling it even more now. Am I alone in feeling that Christianity is under attack? What I mean is that it seems that it’s harder and harder to be taken seriously as a Christian anymore. People automatically assume that anyone who calls themselves “Christian” is an ignorant, malicious bigot who uses the name of Jesus and quotes the Bible in order to justify their own corrupt, evil agenda. Everything from molesting children to condemning homosexuals is used to exemplify how stupid and corrupt Christians supposedly are. I can tell you honestly that I am not like that. I have not known any priests who have molested anyone (not to say that there aren’t). Most of the Christian people I know do not condemn or judge others based upon their sexual nature and even support the inevitability of same-sex marriage. I can tell you honestly that most of the Christian people I know - no matter what denomination - are respectable, decent and honest folk. Not to say I have not come across those who call themselves “christian” who were less-than-that. What can we, as a Christian community, do to stop this de-faming that is more and more prevalent in our society. How can Christianity once again be seen as a true focus of God’s love - not some insidious, socio-political cult bent on taking over the free-thinking world? Thanks for your ideas.
Dave

 

[Edmac]

Dear Brother;

Of course you are right, Christianity in general and
Catholicism in particular is under attack. It always is, one
way or another, and if it weren’t, we’d know we were doing
something wrong, that we were not faithfully following the
Lord. We are at war, after all, against the World, the Flesh
and the Devil and you can’t expect our enemies to love us.
(Not forgetting that the war takes place within our own hearts
and minds as well as externally).

See Matt 10: 34ff where Our Lord say He came not to bring
peace, but a sword.

Then, too, Jn 15:18 - 16:4, where Jesus starts by saying,
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it
hated you…”

We are living in a world, especially in the West, where many
not only reject but hate the Gospel because it contradicts what
they want to believe: that there is no God and no moral law.
These people to a large extent control the media and major
portions of academia. It is very easy for them to make their
voices heard, often and stridently, and they do and will continue
to do so.

Don’t let this upset you, respectability is not a virtue. Take
comfort in Our Lord’s words (Matt 5:11-12) “Blessed are you
when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds
of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad
for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the
prophets who were before you.”

Edmac

 

[idrum677]

There are always going to be people in any group who’s behavior or opinions differ from that group as a whole- the Church is no exception.

The culture of the world today is not much different from that of pagan Rome at the time of the early Church. Christains were persicuted, riddiculed, and accused of all sorts of evils by a society focused on its own greed for lust, power, and violence.

The early church was the “counter culture” of its time- much like it is today. We are called restrictive, insensitive, biggots, and sexist. They say the church has “lost touch” with the world. It seems to me that the world was like this 1900 years ago and she fought against it then as well.

Don’t let this upset you, respectability is not a virtue. Take
comfort in Our Lord’s words (Matt 5:11-12) “Blessed are you
when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds
of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad
for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the
prophets who were before you.”

This passage is right on! It definately brings me comfort knowing this because it means I must be on the right track. As long as we don’t loose sight that we are the true church that Christ established on earth we will be fine. For as he told St. Peter;

You are rock, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail over it.

:knight1:

 

[bigappleboy]

Thank you for that important reminder. The true basis for Christianity is Jesus’ teachings. The core of which was indeed: “Love thy neighbor as thyself”, “As you treat the least of them, that you do unto to me”, “Turn the other cheek”, “As I have done, so you too shall do” and “judge not lest ye too be judged”. I think problems arise when forget what Jesus was saying and use His name to do exactly the opposite. Thanks for the focus!