Why Do People Have a Problem with Jesus?

[tGette]

This is for all those who follow Christ, regarldess of sect or denomination or non-denomination: (You can address all the questions or just one or message me to tell me to stop making threads!)

Why do you think people (mainly non-believers) get uncomfortable when it comes to talking about Jesus?
(i.e. I think it is amazing how someone can blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ up and down, but then you actually try to start a conversation with them about Him and they go into a seizure practically)

What do you think it is about Christians that turns people off? Is it that we have this “unrealistic sense of hope”? Does our joy scare them?

Have you ever gotten the feeling like people act as if they are allergic to Christians?

Honestly, I feel like some people are actually scared of Christians. Does our message of hope of spending eternity in paradise with God that scary of a message?

In summation:
Why are people allergic to Christianity?
Should we try to get scientists to see if there is some pill to help this problem? (LoL!)

 

[TriuneUnity]

This is for all those who follow Christ, regarldess of sect or denomination or non-denomination: (You can address all the questions or just one or message me to tell me to stop making threads!)

Why do you think people (mainly non-believers) get uncomfortable when it comes to talking about Jesus?
(i.e. I think it is amazing how someone can blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ up and down, but then you actually try to start a conversation with them about Him and they go into a seizure practically)

What do you think it is about Christians that turns people off? Is it that we have this “unrealistic sense of hope”? Does our joy scare them?

Have you ever gotten the feeling like people act as if they are allergic to Christians?

Honestly, I feel like some people are actually scared of Christians. Does our message of hope of spending eternity in paradise with God that scary of a message?

In summation:
Why are people allergic to Christianity?
Should we try to get scientists to see if there is some pill to help this problem? (LoL!)

John 19:20: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Short answer…but it suffices.

 

[Trishie]

Hi again, Thomas
I’m often intrigued as to why in films books and in conversation may people use Christ’s name as swearwords to express depth of annoyance or surprise.

Obviously there is still some sense of the sacred in this strange manner of using God, using Christ, as a means to go beyond ordinary response to some event. His name is used both to shock and to express shock or intense emotion, but without any sense of love or prayer, and the utterer may have no faith or time for God in any part of their life.

As you note, while the name of Jesus or of God is freely used in secular, often aggressive conversation by many, there is also a reluctance in many to know more of Jesus or to become involved in religion, as if it is an irrational and unmentionable subject for weaker minds…and they resist with fear of being proselytised. I think in any case that many of us are reticent about speaking of religious things to unbelievers. Part of this is respect for their freedom, part is fear.

I recall an occasion when I happened to finish a phone-call to my now deceased father-in-law with “God bless you.” “I beg your pardon” he replied very frostily. I never dared again. When my husband became a convert for a brief few years my parents-in-law never made any reference to any part of the process nor did they congratulate or celebrate in any way.

For some, religion is just a closed book, only intended for the sentimental and superstitious or weak. This is not so of course.

In any case some wouldn’t wish to know more of Christ because it would involve perceived unwelcome changes in their lives; and because they perceive no actual benefit in the lives of those who are Christians. A sister -in-law who was initially excited about learning about God suddenly closed off.
I am afraid something bad might happen to my boys if I become Christian", she said. What could I say. Bad things had already happened to my three sons. For her, very little had or has gone wrong for her three sons! I can’t show, in so many ways, that being a Christian was in any way beneficial to my family, in fact in many ways we’re worse off than the unbelievers…so what can I say to them to entice them to faith! Only God’s action, I think.
As St Teresa said to Jesus, “If this is how You treat Your friends, Lord, no wonder You have so few!”

I think we can only live the gospels as well as we can, and perhaps as Catholics we often only begin to actively share faith when the Holy Spirit shows some little evidence of working in another person…and then we get on board…at least that’s how it is for many of us, because otherwise we sense no possible welcome for God in other’s lives.

 

[tGette]

Great replies, thanks!

John 19:20: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Short answer…but it suffices.

K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)
Sometimes an elabore answer is needed, sometimes a concise answer is needed!

I often find myself telling God that it is unfair that people go to hell. I almost feel guilty that I have this relationship with Him and get a chance to be in Heaven and there are so many out there who are seperated from Him.
I just ask “With your grace working through me, what can I do to help others?”

As St Teresa said to Jesus, “If this is how You treat Your friends, Lord, no wonder You have so few!”

I have found myself saying this in prayer lately (well, not verbatim)…though I have never heard the quote before. Interesting…

 

[TriuneUnity]

Great replies, thanks!
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)
Sometimes an elabore answer is needed, sometimes a concise answer is needed!

I often find myself telling God that it is unfair that people go to hell. I almost feel guilty that I have this relationship with Him and get a chance to be in Heaven and there are so many out there who are seperated from Him.
I just ask “With your grace working through me, what can I do to help others?”

Often people ask that question. It’s much more common to hear objections such as “Why does God allow evil to happen to so many good people.” You see… the premise is all off. The correct way to ask those questions is “With all of the wickedness that I have done yesterday, why did God not obliterate me in my sleep last night?”

 

[Pax]

John 19:20: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Short answer…but it suffices.

I agree. Moreover, the Christian represents change and it is a change that the unbeliever may find very uncomfortable.

 

[tGette]

Often people ask that question. It’s much more common to hear objections such as “Why does God allow evil to happen to so many good people.” You see… the premise is all off. The correct way to ask those questions is "With all of the wickedness that I have done yesterday, why did God not obliterate me in my sleep last night?"

A concept I pray people understand!

When I was a non-believer I still respected Christians. I definitely “disliked” them, or I guess jealous would be more appriopriate, because a lot of them had this sunny disposition on life and for me life was in such dispair that I could not understand why people liked life, despite the fact that it was very often not pleasing for them.

 

[TriuneUnity]

I agree. Moreover, the Christian represents change and it is a change that the unbeliever may find very uncomfortable.

Amen. Our actions, our deeds, and our profession of faith is utterly noxious to unbelievers who stand apart from the grace of God. When we proclaim Christ and Him crucified, their hearts dead in trespasses and sins proclaims it foolishness. When we walk humbly and obey our Lord’s commands, we are called square, conservative, puritanical. Deep in their conscience they know that there is a Creator and our works confront them with the fact that they will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment.

 

[tGette]

Originally Posted by Pax

Definitely!

It seems like they know if they accept Christianity as true then every view they hold on the world would have to change. It would mean that they would actually have to live life a certain way which to them seems “restrictive” and “pleasureless”.

Oh how I pray they can experience the joy of how following God’s Commandments actually sets them free and does not restrict them and brings greater pleasure beyond what the world has to offer.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Definitely!

It seems like they know if they accept Christianity as true then every view they hold on the world would have to change. It would mean that they would actually have to live life a certain way which to them seems “restrictive” and “pleasureless”.

Oh how I pray they can experience the joy of how following God’s Commandments actually sets them free and does not restrict them and brings greater pleasure beyond what the world has to offer.

Right…and without the grace of God proclaimed to them through the Gospel changing their hearts and raising them to new life any outward actions they may change will do nothing for them. I think we can sometimes go to the extreme of pointing to really perverse actions, but we must keep in mind also that the nice neighbor you have, who sends his kids to good schools, has a good job, is a law-abiding citizen, mows his grass every other day…if he doesn’t have Christ, he’s a whitewashed sepulchre. We have to remember that Satan doesn’t want to make good people evil. He doesn’t want to make bad people worse. He wants to make people good without Jesus.

 

[tGette]

We have to remember that Satan doesn’t want to make good people evil. He doesn’t want to make bad people worse. He wants to make people good without Jesus.

Amen!
Talk about simple profundity!

 

[cathopologist]

The problem is not with Jesus. Anyone outside of Christianity will be moved by Jesus’ story of suffering and loving everyone, including His enemies. The problem lies with “missionaries” who use very lousy tactics to proselytize. Often ending with contradictory examples of Jesus’ beautiful message.

 

[Kaninchen]

Why do you think people (mainly non-believers) get uncomfortable when it comes to talking about Jesus?

Uncomfortable seats?

 

[cathopologist]

Over-selling Jesus’ love is also another turn-off. Nobody would like it if you repeatedly played love songs for them. Imagine trying to be polite and forced to listen to Britney Spears or Toni Braxton’s songs over and over and over again.

 

[Jimmy_B]

This is for all those who follow Christ, regarldess of sect or denomination or non-denomination: (You can address all the questions or just one or message me to tell me to stop making threads!)

Why do you think people (mainly non-believers) get uncomfortable when it comes to talking about Jesus?
(i.e. I think it is amazing how someone can blaspheme the name of Jesus Christ up and down, but then you actually try to start a conversation with them about Him and they go into a seizure practically)

What do you think it is about Christians that turns people off? Is it that we have this “unrealistic sense of hope”? Does our joy scare them?

Have you ever gotten the feeling like people act as if they are allergic to Christians?

Honestly, I feel like some people are actually scared of Christians. Does our message of hope of spending eternity in paradise with God that scary of a message?

In summation:
Why are people allergic to Christianity?
Should we try to get scientists to see if there is some pill to help this problem? (LoL!)

Great thread!

I think people act this way because they are afraid of change and some do not want focus on Christ, they are too busy focusing on themselves.

Peace

 

[Ronald_E]

The problem is not with Jesus. Anyone outside of Christianity will be moved by Jesus’ story of suffering and loving everyone, including His enemies. The problem lies with “missionaries” who use very lousy tactics to proselytize. Often ending with contradictory examples of Jesus’ beautiful message.

I totally agree with you. It is the human interaction that either draws people to Christ or repels them. New imaging technology is revealing information about the brain that sheds light on how areas of our brain process information before we have made a conscious decision to choose different alternatives.
Our history associated with facial expression, tone of voice, body posture is recorded in the temporal lobes and our history of feelings associated with this (name removed by moderator)ut is located in the amygdala. These areas do not think, they only respond to (name removed by moderator)ut from the outside. We then make our choices based on the feelings coming from the amygdala, which we can called the instinctive brain that we share with other mammals.
Christians seem to talk down to non-Christians. This was my experience before I returned. It was not a Christian who influenced me to return. It was God’s Grace. The Catholics and non-Catholics I hang out with share a bond of mutual love.
Spiritual narcissism puts a person in a position of rigid authority about who is “saved” and who isn’t saved according to that person’s limited belief about God. This creates an aire of superiority that would drive any good-hearted person away.

 

[Ronald_E]

Right…and without the grace of God proclaimed to them through the Gospel changing their hearts and raising them to new life any outward actions they may change will do nothing for them. I think we can sometimes go to the extreme of pointing to really perverse actions, but we must keep in mind also that the nice neighbor you have, who sends his kids to good schools, has a good job, is a law-abiding citizen, mows his grass every other day…if he doesn’t have Christ, he’s a whitewashed sepulchre. We have to remember that Satan doesn’t want to make good people evil. He doesn’t want to make bad people worse. He wants to make people good without Jesus.

This is the attitude of judgement that drives people away. Only God knows what is in a person’s heart.