Preachers who Hate

[JRKH]

1. Some preachers rail against sins they themselves practice, especially sexual sins.
2. Or the opposite of #1, hate gives the hater a false sense of holiness. “Well I may do this, but at least I don’t do that.”
3. Hate produces a chemical reaction in the brain, that’s why it’s easy to get hooked on and spreads so easily.
4. Love is hard, hate is easy and usually haters think God approves of hate.

Good points here…And definitely NOT confined to preachers either. ALL of us can, and probably have been, guilty of at least one numbers 1 and/or 2.

I will say though that Love also produces a chemical reaction.
The “hate” reaction is most often the more “animal” response to some perceived threat. Thus it is often the more immediate response.
Love on the other hand does take more practice for most of us…

It always surprises me that people - even some good Catholics - subscribe to the idea that God approves of hate…

Peace
James

 

[Le_Cracquere]

Many of us “formers” could very easily fall into the same trap if we allowed it. It’s not easy admitting you believed a lie. And that can very easily turn into anger.

Extremely true, and that risk is there for converts to/from most any church or sect. I suspect that a major stumbling block to reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants are the considerable number of converts in each camp who have given themselves over to bitterness (whether justified or not) towards their early religious upbringing. This holds for a lot of clergy, not just laity.

Many converts’ last and toughest hurdle is to develop Christian charity towards the church they left, and it sometimes never happens.

 

[Jesusismyfriend]

They are very self-motivated. To promote hatred is not what God wants of us.
That does not mean you have to be “for” something that is against Christianity in order to be loving. I don’t think it needs to be “tolerance” either. Tolerance would be saying," It’s okay."
The Bible says to always speak the truth in love. So don’t let your hatred motivate you. But you shouldn’t be afraid of chiming in either. People want to hear the truth, even if it’s hard to hear. Let love motivate you. If you see a person struggling in sin, it would be wrong to ignore them and write them off. It would also be wrong to sugar-coat the truth. For example, “There is nothing wrong with what you are doing.” That’s just a fancy lie. What they need is encouragement. Maybe a ,“yes, what you are doing is wrong,” but instead of putting all of the focus on the wrong doing itself, help them see that God can help them overcome it.
That is what they are lacking.

 

[Holly3278]

I am really not sure but I wonder if it has something to do with pride which is one of the capital sins?

 

[AbideWithMe]

Extremely true, and that risk is there for converts to/from most any church or sect. I suspect that a major stumbling block to reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants are the considerable number of converts in each camp who have given themselves over to bitterness (whether justified or not) towards their early religious upbringing. This holds for a lot of clergy, not just laity.

Many converts’ last and toughest hurdle is to develop Christian charity towards the church they left, and it sometimes never happens.

Well said.

 

[JustaServant]

I am really not sure but I wonder if it has something to do with pride which is one of the capital sins?

Knowledge puffs up.

 

[Church_Militant]

This is a very important point Iggy. In CMs thread over on the Apologetics that I cited, this message of hate was an EASTER message. There is no Christ-centeredness.
If God is love, than Christians should cultivate that love…even if it is among that with which we disagree.

Hi servant!

Just found your thread, so sorry that I’m late.

It’s pretty hard to know what really goes on within so many of these “oppositional preachers” (for lack of a better term), but one thing that all news media know is that controversy always sells.

The straight Gospel of salvation in Christ and encouraging/equipping people to live out their faith and share it is something that every good man of God loves doing. It may not pay very well, or pack the building, but most know that’s what they are called to do, knowing that the Bible says that “he that gaineth souls, is wise” (Proverbs 11:30 DRB).

I’ve been in n-C services where the pastor was into the “compare & contrast” sermons that almost always targeted other Christian faiths and it tended to make me contentious about our differences and I wasn’t the only one.

Now, I often wonder why we didn’t spend more time on salvation, and how to live a better Christian life. I’m very grateful for the homiletics in my own parish where I am challenged to live out the Catholic faith moment by moment, day by day.

Some of these anti-Catholic guys, like Mike Gendron, seem to make being a-C their “schtick” even though they call their ministry “Proclaiming the Gospel”. You go through his site and you don’t see Gospel messages…you see constant bad mouthing of Catholics and anyone else who even dialogs with the Church. You see misrepresentations of Church teachings and doctrines and production materials aimed at badgering Catholics about the faith, often with misinformation and out of context quotes that will put any unsuspecting Catholic at a loss to respond.

It’s very sad, certainly, but there’s no reason for anyone to take it or be put off or distressed and confused by it. Taking the time to examine the rhetoric and polemics and show them for what they are will almost always counter it. (Like Gendron’s constant rash generalizations, just for instance) IMO all of that simply shows a serious lack of real content, and in some cases, gross dishonesty.

Fortunately, (and Glory Be To God for them!) most n-Cs are not like that, and I especially love the n-C folks who come here to CAF and ask and discuss things out of a sincere curiosity and respectful Christian charity. May the Holy Spirit guide them and lead them on their journey of faith.

Many of us “formers” could very easily fall into the same trap if we allowed it. It’s not easy admitting you believed a lie. And that can very easily turn into anger.

This is more true than most people realize. I know that I sometimes really have to bear down on myself to keep from responding in kind, but I know that stooping to the other guy’s level violates 1st Peter 3:8-17 and feeds the conflict to no good end.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum,

 

[onemangang]

I went to a Calvary Chapel that’s whole teaching could be summed up in these two words "No Catholicism"

The Pastor was a bitter former Catholic that built straw-man after straw-man to lead his flock away from the “evils of religion, and the system set up to separate you from Christ!”

I was impressionable and had a general concern for my Catholic family, because Catholic equaled lost in this pastors teaching, for the most part! I figured if I was going to witness Christ to my Catholic family, I better learn what Catholics believe, and why! Suffice to say, I returned home to Rome. The problem I have now is that, I am disgusted with Calvary Chapel for the most part! I know I should have no ill will, but when you hear what are essentially lies after lies, you grow cold!

Really, it is a problem of ego! I thought, how could I have been so stupid? How could I have been so easily mislead? The problem I had was I, Ego!

Most of the ex-catholic hate preachers I find, reject the teachings of the Church at all cost, because they base their doctrine on a feeling. “I didn’t feel the Love of Christ while I was a Catholic, but I did, **when a non-denominational evangelical shared the gospel with me **(his/her version of it anyways) I felt the love of Christ wash over me, therefore non-denominational evangelical is true!” They seem to start with that premise and build upon it. It is a tradition, passed on by those that often experienced the same before them, a meme!

Almost the entire congregation I was apart of, was made up of ex-catholics, mostly Mexican, El-Salvadorian, and Fillipinos. They all chant the same phrase in unison "I never had a real relationship with Christ while I was Catholic, but when somebody shared the Gospel with me…

Most people I find were just looking for some camaraderie, a place to talk, be yourself and share. Unfortunately, after Mass most people split and go home! I find that what the hateful preachers really hate, is the fact that nobody seemed to care about them, nobody took the time to say, “hey, how are you? My name is Andrew, are you new to this parish?” They blame the Church for actions (or lack there of) of the laity.

Maybe if we fellowshipped a bit more after Mass, we could keep the memes from infecting our seeking brothers and sisters!

Peace and Love in Christ

 

[JustaServant]

I went to a Calvary Chapel that’s whole teaching could be summed up in these two words "No Catholicism"

The Pastor was a bitter former Catholic that built straw-man after straw-man to lead his flock away from the “evils of religion, and the system set up to separate you from Christ!”

I was impressionable and had a general concern for my Catholic family, because Catholic equaled lost in this pastors teaching, for the most part! I figured if I was going to witness Christ to my Catholic family, I better learn what Catholics believe, and why! Suffice to say, I returned home to Rome. The problem I have now is that, I am disgusted with Calvary Chapel for the most part! I know I should have no ill will, but when you hear what are essentially lies after lies, you grow cold!

Really, it is a problem of ego! I thought, how could I have been so stupid? How could I have been so easily mislead? The problem I had was I, Ego!

Most of the ex-catholic hate preachers I find, reject the teachings of the Church at all cost, because they base their doctrine on a feeling. “I didn’t feel the Love of Christ while I was a Catholic, but I did, **when a non-denominational evangelical shared the gospel with me **(his/her version of it anyways) I felt the love of Christ wash over me, therefore non-denominational evangelical is true!” They seem to start with that premise and build upon it. It is a tradition, passed on by those that often experienced the same before them, a meme!

Almost the entire congregation I was apart of, was made up of ex-catholics, mostly Mexican, El-Salvadorian, and Fillipinos. They all chant the same phrase in unison "I never had a real relationship with Christ while I was Catholic, but when somebody shared the Gospel with me…

Most people I find were just looking for some camaraderie, a place to talk, be yourself and share. Unfortunately, after Mass most people split and go home! I find that what the hateful preachers really hate, is the fact that nobody seemed to care about them, nobody took the time to say, “hey, how are you? My name is Andrew, are you new to this parish?” They blame the Church for actions (or lack there of) of the laity.

Maybe if we fellowshipped a bit more after Mass, we could keep the memes from infecting our seeking brothers and sisters!

Peace and Love in Christ

I could easily blame the Church as well. The post Vatican 2 crippling of Catholic education in the US, liberal priests, nuns, the sex scandals, and on and on and on.
Ultimately however, the blame rests with me, not the Church. I left the Church. I became anti-Catholic, I equated Catholic with non-Christian. I saw the small Catholic world I grew up in as the reality. I wasn’t mature enough to realize the Church is much bigger than me or my (bad) experiences.
It is an ego problem. They can only build themselves up by tearing something else down.
Pride goes before a fall.

 

[sulliaa8]

Church Militant’s thread over on Apologetics on an anti-Catholic evangelist named Mike Gendron got me to think about the subject of preachers whose entire ministries are based on ‘what they hate’ or what they are ‘against’. It doesn’t have to be anti-Catholic. They can be anti-other denominations they disagree with, anti-Calvinist, anti-Arminian, anti-other Bible versions (KJV-only Fundamentalist Jack Hyles once took great pleasure in burning an NIV Bible on his platform). They are anti-pants on women, anti-rock n’roll, anti Charismatic. And on and on and on…
I want Protestants as well as Catholics to chime in.
What do you think makes these people tick?

IMHO it probably started before this particular person, he is a product of an older ideology. It involves the idea that a select group of people have found or possess the truth of something and that someone else want to take that from them. In this case this minister has bought into the idea that his doctrine of his faith is pure and from God. Knowing this to be true the CC is attempting to take it, destroy it, or suppress it to protect its control over people, wealth, government blah, blah, blah. So now he is a warrior for God and is fighting the good fight against principalities etc. Once you have a person and eventually a congregation who believes this its a simple formula from there, Invent the lie; repeat it often,and it will become the truth, no matter what the facts are. If you have and insular congregation who do not engage with other denominations openly its easy to keep people under ideology.:hypno:

Sorry, thats a long way around just saying paranoia and control, although it would be hard to convince anyone that these are their motives.

Again,MHO

Fratus Tuus in Christo

 

[Izdaari]

I don’t really know what makes them tick. But I know whom they’re serving when they preach hate from the pulpit: their father, the devil. Which is not to say, deep down, they’re not better than that. They may love God and delusionally believe He approves of hate. But they’re wrong. I pray God will bring them to that realization.

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

Church Militant’s thread over on Apologetics on an anti-Catholic evangelist named Mike Gendron got me to think about the subject of preachers whose entire ministries are based on ‘what they hate’ or what they are ‘against’. It doesn’t have to be anti-Catholic. They can be anti-other denominations they disagree with, anti-Calvinist, anti-Arminian, anti-other Bible versions (KJV-only Fundamentalist Jack Hyles once took great pleasure in burning an NIV Bible on his platform). They are anti-pants on women, anti-rock n’roll, anti Charismatic. And on and on and on…
I want Protestants as well as Catholics to chime in.
What do you think makes these people tick?

It is much easier to destroy than to to build up. It also gives them a superficial boost in self-esteem and gives them some sense of purpose. Some are simply purists and feel they are doing the world a favor by exposing false teachings and religions. In their mind, if it weren’t for them, many people would be led astray and possibly end up in hell. They believe they are God’s true soldiers.

Peace…

 

[Miriam1947]

Westboro baptist, now there’s a group of haters. I guess they truly think that they are doing God’s work.

And what is God thinking about that?

 

[tarboy]

Extremely true, and that risk is there for converts to/from most any church or sect. I suspect that a major stumbling block to reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants are the considerable number of converts in each camp who have given themselves over to bitterness (whether justified or not) towards their early religious upbringing. This holds for a lot of clergy, not just laity.

Many converts’ last and toughest hurdle is to develop Christian charity towards the church they left, and it sometimes never happens.

Well said Le Cracquere,
I think this bitterness drives much of the more virulent attacks we see on the internet, where it’s more about ‘scoring points’ than discussing theology.

 

[rinnie]

Church Militant’s thread over on Apologetics on an anti-Catholic evangelist named Mike Gendron got me to think about the subject of preachers whose entire ministries are based on ‘what they hate’ or what they are ‘against’. It doesn’t have to be anti-Catholic. They can be anti-other denominations they disagree with, anti-Calvinist, anti-Arminian, anti-other Bible versions (KJV-only Fundamentalist Jack Hyles once took great pleasure in burning an NIV Bible on his platform). They are anti-pants on women, anti-rock n’roll, anti Charismatic. And on and on and on…
I want Protestants as well as Catholics to chime in.
What do you think makes these people tick?

I think some of them are just misled, others just want money, fame, attention. Everything that Jesus was the opposite of.

You can tell by their teachings alone when they are the exact opposite of Jesus.

But from what History has proven Money was the largest root of the evil.

 

[Miriam1947]

The LOVE of money is the root of evil.

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

Church Militant’s thread over on Apologetics on an anti-Catholic evangelist named Mike Gendron got me to think about the subject of preachers whose entire ministries are based on ‘what they hate’ or what they are ‘against’. It doesn’t have to be anti-Catholic. They can be anti-other denominations they disagree with, anti-Calvinist, anti-Arminian, anti-other Bible versions (KJV-only Fundamentalist Jack Hyles once took great pleasure in burning an NIV Bible on his platform). They are anti-pants on women, anti-rock n’roll, anti Charismatic. And on and on and on…
I want Protestants as well as Catholics to chime in.
What do you think makes these people tick?

I’m not sure what makes them that way, but I recall Blessed Mother Teresa saying that she’d always rather be FOR something than AGAINST something, and that makes sense to me. It also reminds me of the Carl Malden character (the protestant minister) in the film “Pollyanna,” who was so full of fire and brimstone, anti-everything, that all the parishioners went home with a stomach ache each Sunday afternoon (until of course, Pollyanna showed him the way.)

We don’t have to be Pollyanna’s in this life, but the two extremes are equally flawed. I think there is a scripture that states that if we hate men, we cannot say that we love God, and another that says to think on “these good things.” Life is so short. We need to be for the good things, and when we must, we can choose our battles when we must go up against tyranny. Even then, we are fighting FOR something good.

Peace
Kathryn Ann

 

[rinnie]

The LOVE of money is the root of evil.

Correct. I thought that was the point I was making. Thanks for making it more clear.

 

[feed_me]

Does this also include all the reviling, scornful, Marine Corps Drill instructing, loud mouth, black preachers who all they do is scream the fear of God into you until you **** the pews?
Cause I see alot of that, Pastors come in, mostly old timers, and all I can see the anger dripping off of them, and they think they are holy, and say that it is the anger of the Lord. Godly anger, like the Holy Spirit is showing Gods anger through them.

 

[rinnie]

I’m not sure what makes them that way, but I recall Blessed Mother Teresa saying that she’d always rather be FOR something than AGAINST something, and that makes sense to me. It also reminds me of the Carl Malden character (the protestant minister) in the film “Pollyanna,” who was so full of fire and brimstone, anti-everything, that all the parishioners went home with a stomach ache each Sunday afternoon (until of course, Pollyanna showed him the way.)

We don’t have to be Pollyanna’s in this life, but the two extremes are equally flawed. I think there is a scripture that states that if we hate men, we cannot say that we love God, and another that says to think on “these good things.” Life is so short. We need to be for the good things, and when we must, we can choose our battles when we must go up against tyranny. Even then, we are fighting FOR something good.

Peace
Kathryn Ann

That is a beautiful way of looking at it.
Thank-You!