Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

MNHQ have commented on this thread

1 2 ··· 5 6 7 ··· 17 18

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

MNHQ have commented on this thread

Philosophy/religion

Should Christians be hated?

433 replies

plaingirly · 05/04/2013 19:50

Random question! I opened my Bible on Matthew 10 and verse 22 says :

And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.

I think there is another verse similar but can't remember it.

So if someone is really a follower of Jesus will people hate them and if people don't hate them are they not strong enough in their faith?

I don't really want to be hated! Also at work we have to get along with people so having them hate us wouldn't be ideal. Unless the verses are more specific or maybe aimed at the disciples.

OP posts:

Report

springyhappychick · 14/04/2013 20:29

Not just mental health issues but physical, too. I'm sure we've all experienced times when we are stressed and end up getting ill, the immune system is lowered. some say it's all linked ie the physical/emotional. Negative feelings can become ailments.

Report

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 14/04/2013 20:33

Ok, but no one has mentioned any physical ailments.

I really don't see how praying can cure you though and I just don't find that I get ill through anger.

Report

springyhappychick · 14/04/2013 20:40

We can't 'prove' that anger/resentment can result in physical ailments etc ie prolonged, held, negative emotions. But we either know people or have experienced ourselves that chronic negative emotion has clearly led to illness, either physical or mental (or both).

Held anger is different to a passing squall of anger. Deep-seated anger - usually from feelings of powerlessness because the appropriate anger wasn't adequately expressed at the time (or at all) because of fear - can be disastrous for health, all health.

Report

headinhands · 14/04/2013 20:45

I'd cut them loose TO GOD. To do with what he deems appropriate

Just out of interest, would god not be able to do what he deemed appropriate unless you cut them loose? Also, how do you explain god taking the time to get involved in your personal disputes while ignoring people starving/dying etc?

Report

springyhappychick · 14/04/2013 20:50

He doesn't ignore people starving/dying. He's on the lookout for anyone at all to get to those areas to help/change government policy/aid etc. As you would be if it were your kids.

I do believe that that's how it works: that if I 'hold' a 'crime', I am blocking it in my person, harbouring it there and God can't get to it. If I let it go he is free to work with it. In whatever way he deems appropriate.

Report

headinhands · 14/04/2013 20:52

So god is able to work on the person directly but not able to do anything himself about those in desperate need?

Report

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 14/04/2013 20:54

I'd cut them loose TO GOD. To do with what he deems appropriate

This is exactly how some religionists justify murder. Quite a disgusting position to hold.

Report

springyhappychick · 14/04/2013 21:03

What you give to him, he can work on. If you hold it, he can't. Free will and all that.

Deems appropriate. As he is love - and he loves all in the way we love our own kids (x million) - then I can trust that he will do the right thing. My kids behave badly at the mo, I wouldn't cut their arm off to punish them. I love them dearly and want them to be well.

ULtimately, I have no idea what God would do, because I'm not God. Just that it's not my job to hold things. I trust that what he can work with, what he will do, will be good, not bad.

Report

headinhands · 14/04/2013 21:16

What you give to him, he can work on. If you hold it, he can't. Free will and all that.

What about the free will of the person you've cut loose? Do they not have a say about god dealing with them?

Report

springyhappychick · 14/04/2013 21:20

No. But they can cooperate, or not.

Report

headinhands · 14/04/2013 21:31

Can you give an example of how god will try and steer them in a certain way without it affecting their free will?

Report

springyhappychick · 14/04/2013 21:33

YOu can love someone but not make them love you back.

Report

headinhands · 14/04/2013 22:10

How would god show love to that person?

Report

springyhappychick · 14/04/2013 22:30

By dying for them.

Report

headinhands · 14/04/2013 22:33

No, I'm referring to god dealing with the person you gave over to them. I asked how god might deal with them that doesn't interfere with their free will.

Report

springyhappychick · 14/04/2013 22:49

He can love them but not force them to love him back. that wouldn't be love.

Report

EllieArroway · 14/04/2013 23:02

By dying for them

Who died?

Report

springyhappychick · 15/04/2013 00:25

That would be Jesus. aka God.

Report

headinhands · 15/04/2013 05:58

Ah, when you said you would give them up to god for him to deal with it sounded like you thought god would actually be doing something

Report

springyhappychick · 15/04/2013 09:08

Yes I do expect him to do something. What that is I have no idea but I trust him to deal with whatever/whomever in whatever way is good.

Report

headinhands · 15/04/2013 09:26

I don't understand how he could do any of that without affecting their free will, and I don't see how you can justify the notion of god meddling in your comparatively simple problems while you know god isn't helping someone who is suffering.

Report

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 15/04/2013 09:48

So god sends himself to earth, in order to die, so that man can be released from original sin, which god himself imposed on man.

And even if you subscribe to that, he was resurrected...... so it wasn't even really much of a sacrifice if you ask me.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Email address

You've subscribed!

Italiangreyhound · 15/04/2013 18:28

Pedro I was under the impression you did not believe in Jesus, now you do and he was 'resuscitated'? You are, of course, welcome to believe whatever you want but the understanding is that he died, not he almost died. (The understanding of many Christians.)

The Roman soldiers had the job of ensuring he died, they would not be very good at their job if they had just let him swoon and that was it? His followers went from being a scared bunch of people to people willing to die for their faith, how was that achieved if it was all a trick?

I am not sure why you think God imposed original sin on us?

Report

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 15/04/2013 19:01

If he wasn't resurrected, what's Easter all about?

Report

Italiangreyhound · 15/04/2013 20:10

Pedro sorry I should have been clearer. I believe he died and then he rose again after three days. I believe he was resurrected, (which means ?to bring back to life; rise from the dead.?). I thought you were implying he was mealy resuscitated (which means "to restore consciousness, vigor, or life to/to regain consciousness").

The difference is (I believe) he did he die on the cross and come back to life. But I know some might claim did he merely ?swooned? and lost consciousness was lifted off the cross by soldiers whose job it was to kill people and then maybe he came round in the cool of a cave, shifted a massive boulder that was in the way of the door and went about his way without the guards stopping him. I clearly think (as a Christian) he died and was raised to life. I was just surprised that you seemed to be talking about what Jesus did or did not do and yet I thought you did not believe in him. Just checking really .