Why is it that Christians can not seem to grasp that its not their religion that's the problem?

really. it isn't. if only Christians would simply mind their own business and worship their god in the closet like he commanded them to do nonChristians would have nothing bad to say about Christians or Christianity. but Christians don't mind their own business. they're always meddling in the lives of total strangers, affecting folks who don't share their beliefs by pushing thier dogma
where it doesn't belong, like in our secular government, public schools, scientific research, pharmacies and my doctor's office.
seems Christians prefer to believe that nonChristian angst toward Christians is based in envy, fear, desolation of spirit, lack of morals and a rejection of truth (their Truth) instead of just taking it face value that the "persecution" they "suffer" is a reaction to their aggressive intrusion into and sought after control of the lives of people who don't share their religion. Why is that?

sheperd ... here's that Bible verse you requested.

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

It's a very good question, the only answer I can give you as a former missionary kid is that when you believe in Christianity there is this believe that you've got it figured out, and if you could only get everyone else to believe what you believe, that everything would work better and be ok. Some of it is guised as "saving souls" but it is also the way that Christianity works, tell the message, preach the good word and all that. American Christianity doesn't have room for alternative views and if you really believe in Christianity then most of your time is spent worrying about non believers wrecking your relationship with god and worrying about their souls.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you.

Put a sock in it all ready.

Insecurity

I'm going to have to watch the answers to this question, I would like to know too!

you are completely right!

BECAUSE GOD SAID WARN THE WICKED.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

If you could show me the verse in the bible where it says that God commanded us to worship him in the closet. Mine says that we are to go out into the world and share the good news about Christ's love for all of us.

its a free country-they can advertise-at least they r not using religion as an excuse to kill civilians

Sorry, but we are not commanded to stay silent about the gospel. Jesus said to go and make disciples of all nations. I don't "preach" to people, but if they ask, I do tell them about Jesus. Also, this is Yahoo answers. People ask questions and that is why we answer based on the bible. If you don't believe, that's your business. But if I were to keep silent about who Jesus is...even the rocks would cry out.

Well said

"worship their god in the closet like he commanded them to do"

There's your issue. God never commanded Christians to worship in the closet. He commanded them to pray in private so as to prevent people from praying in public or whatever only to make others think them pious- that's pride, not prayer.

God commands Christians to share their faith, and that's what Christians do.

Actually it is their religion that is the problem, Because the christian religion and all others that I know of are not tolerant. They believe that it is their duty to rid the world of sin and sinners.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

We tell people of the gospel of Jesus Christ because we are instructed to do so.

Seriously. I'm all for freedom of religion, but these Bible-thumpers really piss me off. It's just going over the line.
Like telling every non-Christian tha they'll go to hell if they're not a Christian. Well, guess what? To every other religion out there, you'll go to their form of "hell", so shut up. If that were the case, we'd all be going to several different "hells".
For the decades that Christmas projects and plays were held in public schools, even if students didn't celebrate it or believe in it.
If other religions don't shove their beliefs in your face, why should Christians?
Religion and politics/government should stay separate. Mixing them will only lead to trouble.

You do make a great point here. I have relatives who have different beliefs than I do and from that viewpoint I understand that it's annoying.

But I also understand that they are concerned for me, and they do this out of concern. I know it's annoying, but they view it as trying to keep me from making a mistake at the end of my life where it will be too late. Morally, we don't want that to happen to anyone, so we try to get you to change your mind.

But I think many Christians go about it the wrong way. They should never try to push their viewpoints on you. But you do have to realize this, if you come in here you have the choice of opening up and reading and answering any question you choose and can bypass the rest. So, if the questions bother you, why not just skip over them to the ones you want to read? Life's too short to get angry.

funnana is a bit of a buzzkill, aint she? We aint all like that, some of us know how to respect people

What would you gripe about then? You'd find something to ***** about, that's for certain.

You've got one problem with your argument. Christians weren't told to keep their religion in the closet, but to go out into the world and "share the good news"

I'm not a Christian, but I really hate arguments when people make inaccurate statements about other groups.

Certainly our government was meant to be secular. Look at the dollar bill, on the back. Read the words beneath the pyramid Novus Ordo Sexlorum. In English, it's "New Secular Order". Of course, next to this is "IN GOD WE TRUST". Whle some would argue that this is the Christian god, we really don't have any proof of that. There are many who believe in a god, without believing in Christ.

In any event, Christians in the United States are not the bearer of the greatest suffering. Try being a transgendered pagan on for size.

If there was a party and everyone was invited but no one was told about it there would be a lot of made people the day after the party when they found out....wouldn't you.....so that's all we are doing is giving you the invitation, its your choice after that if you go, we are the messengers and we have to get the message out...then our job is done...the rest is up to you....oh by the way here's your invitation....

THE DREAM

I DREAMED ONE NIGHT TWO ANGELS CAME TO MY BED. THEY TOOK ME TO HEAVEN I FELT I HAD NOTHING
TO DREAD. WE STOOD IN FRONT OF A BIG WHITE GATE. IT OPENED SLOWLY AS WE STOOD IN WAIT.
MANY CLOUDS BILLOWED AND SWIRLED ABOUT US AS I STOOD IN AWE OF THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS THAT
SURROUNDED US. WHAT I SAW WORDS COULD NOT EXPRESS, I WANTED TO STAY AT THIS BEAUTIFUL ADDRESS.
THE ANGELS ALLOWED ME TO LOOK INSIDE, THE BEAUTY THE MAJESTY, MADE ME CRY.
"IT'S TRUE, IT'S ALL TRUE, I KNOW THAT IT'S TRUE" I HEARD MYSELF CRY, AS TEARS RAN STREAMING
FROM MY EYES.
I KNEW WHAT I SAW WAS NOT OF THIS EARTH,THIS CREATION WAS FOR THOSE OF THE NEW BIRTH. THE
POWER, THE BEAUTY, THE SIGHT OF IT ALL WAS SO STRONG,THAT THE ANGELS SHUT THE GATES QUICKLY
TO MY NEW HOME. "IT'S NOT YOUR TIME," I HEARD THEM SAY, " WE JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE WHAT WAS
ON THE WAY," THEY SAID "YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN INSIDE THE GATE, BUT YOU WILL REMEMBER WHERE
YOU HAVE BEEN.YOU MUST TELL OTHERS ABOUT THIS DREAM. THAT GOD'S WORD IS TRUE. IT'S THE REAL THING.
GOD HAS LET YOU SEE WHAT IS YOUR REWARD IF YOU WORSHIP, LOVE HIM, AND KEEP HIS WORD."
WE ALL NEED TO REALIZE THAT IT'S REALLY TRUE. WE NEED TO GET THE LOST ONES IN IF IT'S ALL THAT WE
DO. WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME, THE END IS NEAR, AND YES, IF YOU ARE LOST YOU HAVE EVERYTHING TO FEAR.
CALL ON JESUS NOW, SO YOU CAN GO TO AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I SAW AND YOU'LL BE EXCITED TOO.
I'LL SOON BE IN MY NEW HOME,PASS THE BIG WHITE GATES. DON'T YOU WANT TO GO THERE TOO? I JUST CAN'T
WAIT!!!!


I REALLY DREAMED THIS DREAM JUST AS IT IS WRITEN. I FEEL IT WAS INSPIRED BY GOD AND HE GUIDED MY
THOUGHTS AND MY HAND IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

I AM GIVING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I LOVE YOU AND GOD HAS DIRECTED ME TO DO SO.
I HOPE THIS MESSAGE WILL HELP YOU TO MAKE THE BIGGEST DECISION OF YOUR LIFE
TO ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND TO SERVE HIM. SO YOU, ONE DAY
WILL STAND AT THE BIG WHITE GATES AND BE INVITED IN TO STAY, FOR ETERNITY.
GOD BLESS YOU

Dude, that is NOT the problem here. It's called discrimination. And I'll tell you why.

Because EVERYONE who has an opinion who thinks other people should hear it do the SAME thing. Any kind of activist could be looked at in the same light. Anyone who believes someone else is wrong does the same thing. In other words, all humans. We can't exist without making assumptions. Welcome to life, love.

Now, if there's a specific REASON you hate it, like a Christian person did something to you or to someone else that bothered you, then that's totally different. If it's a cosmic "why the hell does it have to be this way?" kind of thing, that's different. The only reason you ask, though, is because you want it to be different. That is a rhetorical question, and done to make a point. But since you posted on Yahoo! answers, then you will atually get some answers. However, my guess is that is just a piece of a rant.

Please don't quote the Bible unless you know what it says. The Bible says to pray in private in a prayer closet so that you're not just praying to be seen by other people. The point of that verse was not to serve God for the pat on the back from other people. I agree that a lot of Christians are overly militant. I love God and I live for God. But I believe that the best witness is through lifestyle. When I am living a life that reflects love and integrity, I don't display my God as an angry judge just waiting to condemn the world but as the good and loving God that He is. I am sorry if you have come into contact with a lot of overly militant Christians. But I would challenge you... look over the questions on here and count. How many are from beligerent Christians calling out people with different beliefs versus how many are blatant attacks on Christianity? Look at the numbers on that one. And Christians are not the only ones that militantly parade their beliefs. Look around with an open mind and see how many groups do the same exact thing. Try to be fair about it.

Well I am a Christian and I am going to TRY and answer your questions. 1. Some people are just not very good at being Christians. That answer about sums it up, sorry. My ONLY other thought is I wish there was not so much anger from both sides when discussing this, it is quite worrysome and unfair to everyone.

and yet here you are reading all these answers from Christians.
isn't that ironic?

Unfortunetly the answers you are geting from the Christians are correct. They have to spread the "good news". You will never get away from that. It is there job to "save you." and they have to "spread the gospil" as commanded by their god. As a ex-Christian I have a pretty good understanding of that. I also have many friends that are Christians and they do still talk to me about their religion. Its not going away so just deal with it. The most you can hope for is for the Constitution to work and have a good clear seperation of religion and government.

Your tirade sounds quite intolerant.

So ... Why don't you mind your own business, get off this thread,
and let other people decide for themselves.

People who are Christians have a right to their opinions in government policy. Religion is such a large part of society it would be a travesty to remove all teachings from public schools. Many of our most gifted scientists, past and present have been christians, and it is up to your doctor to decide if it is therapeutic.

People need to know their alternatives. People talking about their faith is the only way others will know about it in these politically correct times.

Keep your nose in your own business. If you can ignore the public profaninty and garbage on tv and in public now-a-days, you can ignore just about anything. If you don't like it, ignore it.

It seems you have your own philosophy you would like to impose on others.

And, you missed the whole point of Mat 6:6. Go back and read the whole passage, starting with Mat 5:46, ending in 6:24. Determine who He is referring to, why, and what He is really teaching.

Yes, I totally agree with you.
I dont mind whether they workship their God or not, but they should never, ever, place prejudices against others based on their sexuality or race!!!
And I have no idea why Christian would label "homosexuality" as "disorder"! It is totally stupid and insane!!

Do you really want to know why we are all talking about our Lord and saviour and about his perfect love he has for all of us
now i am being very honest here God has called us all to be his disciples
to spead the good news of Jesus love Its called doing Gods will
He wants people to know that he does exist Heaven and Hell are real
weather you believe it or not and Jesus does not what anyone of us to perish
Because he loves us so much, Now you know why we are speading the word but its up to you guys weather you believe or not
May God let you hear this message and open your heart to the truth

This is very strange, ma'am.

Islam doesn't do all this?

Doesn't the Islamic Country teach only the Koran in their Schools?

Aren't you Muslims always meddling with total strangers and trying to push your opinions down our throats?

Isn't it common to see the Islamic quotations and pictures of the Ka'aba in all Muslims' Offices?

What's even worse is that your people even go around spreading Terrorism!?

So, who's really persecuted and suffering, please?

oh, but god didn't command christians to worship in the closet, he commanded the great commission, "go ye therefore and teach all nations." i read two lines of this question and knew it couln't be a reputable one, i suggest you do your homework.

It is a two-way street. The non-religious view is on TV, movies, music, public schools, the work place, etc.
Things are not going to change. You just have to deal with it. One way to deal with it, is to avoid the other view as much as you can - like R & S.