Love your neighbor, do unto others...

[Thomas Helwys]

Why does there seem to be such a lack of love among Christians? Why do so many Christians seem to be so hateful and vengeful? Honestly, considering all the people I've known who claim the name of Jesus, I can say that I doubt that very many of them are truly followers of Christ. By their fruit you will know them.

"Christians" are notorious for shooting the wounded.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Why does there seem to be such a lack of love among Christians? Why do so many Christians seem to be so hateful and vengeful? Honestly, considering all the people I've known who claim the name of Jesus, I can say that I doubt that very many of them are truly followers of Christ. By their fruit you will know them.

"Christians" are notorious for shooting the wounded.

Thomas, I believe far too many simply do not take the words and teachings of Christ seriously. His teachings are difficult to live and often fly in the face of popular beliefs. People do not want to hear about these teachings as they will require change that most refuse to consider much less adopt into their own lifestyle.

 

[Thomas Helwys]

Thomas, I believe far too many simply do not take the words and teachings of Christ seriously. His teachings are difficult to live and often fly in the face of popular beliefs. People do not want to hear about these teachings as they will require change that most refuse to consider much less adopt into their own lifestyle.

Yes, I believe you are correct.

That is one reason I so much admire the Anabaptists. They emphasized actually living the Gospel.

 

[Rippon]

That is one reason I so much admire the Anabaptists. They emphasized actually living the Gospel.

All Anabaptists did not hold to the same beliefs. Some were indeed heretics. Others were wild and violent. Have you heard of the Munsterites and Batenburgers? The Children of Emlichheim and Folk of Johan Willemsz sprang from them.

I admire Balthasar Hubmaier and others a great deal. But many did not lead lives as well as his short one.

 

[Thomas Helwys]

All Anabaptists did not hold to the same beliefs. Some were indeed heretics. Others were wild and violent. Have you heard of the Munsterites and Batenburgers? The Children of Emlichheim and Folk of Johan Willemsz sprang from them.

I admire Balthasar Hubmaier and others a great deal. But many did not lead lives as well as his short one.

Of course I know about Thomas Muntzer and crew. They were an aberration, completely non-typical of the movement.

 

[Gup20]

Why does there seem to be such a lack of love among Christians? Why do so many Christians seem to be so hateful and vengeful? Honestly, considering all the people I've known who claim the name of Jesus, I can say that I doubt that very many of them are truly followers of Christ. By their fruit you will know them.

"Christians" are notorious for shooting the wounded.

Because of legalism and works-based-salvation models. These stifle the fruit of the spirit as they try to foster "fruit of the flesh" instead "fruit of the spirit." The flesh is exceeding wicked and deceitful. Condemned flesh is not where the fruit of the spirit is generated or experienced. Those legalistic religious systems that try to force it upon the flesh produce the kind of Christians you are talking about.

Those with their MINDS set on the things of the spirit rather than the things of the flesh will experience love, joy, peace, patience, etc.

Within every believer lives a righteous, living spirit housed by condemned and sinful flesh. This duality is constantly struggling for control of the MIND (not control of the body). There are two versions of you - who you are in the spirit and who you are in the flesh. Identify yourself as the righteous one who is in the spirit and not as the sinful one who is in the flesh and you will put off fleshly things.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Thomas, I believe far too many simply do not take the words and teachings of Christ seriously. His teachings are difficult to live and often fly in the face of popular beliefs. People do not want to hear about these teachings as they will require change that most refuse to consider much less adopt into their own lifestyle.

Boy Crabby....you have never said a truer word with that paragraph. I will add that when you tell people this, they just clam up & go silent.....as said in the movie "Scent of a Woman, " a classic:

[Lt. Col. Frank Slade is speaking in defense of Charlie Simms at meeting at the Baird School] Now I have come to the cross-roads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the cross-roads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey.

 

[BobRyan]

Why does there seem to be such a lack of love among Christians? Why do so many Christians seem to be so hateful and vengeful? Honestly, considering all the people I've known who claim the name of Jesus, I can say that I doubt that very many of them are truly followers of Christ. By their fruit you will know them.

"Christians" are notorious for shooting the wounded.

In some models "name calling" is the preferred "solution" - in other models it is objective unbiased comparison of doctrines against the Bible.

We should not be too surprised that there is the same level of conflict seen between those two models as one finds between the Jewish leaders and Christ's disciples.

in Christ,

Bob