Christians mistreating other Christians over doctrinal differences

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Soverign Grace

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I think that it is complicated. We have Tares [Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43] in our midst.

Sometimes it is the Tares who are doing the abuse in the name of Jesus.

Other times, Tares claim abuse when someone calls them on their pretense.

The rest of the time, they are both real Christians who just rub each other the wrong way in this rock-tumbler turmoil as God builds His Church from dynamic members. Love covers a multitude of sins [1 Peter 4:8].

It's good to remember that the tares are in our midst. Probably in our churches.

That's insightful - that a tare can claim abuse when someone calls them out and exposes them/ their lies. Satan is a crafty being.

I wonder why two people with Christ's spirit could rub each other the wrong way when we're given the command to love unless it's just personality differences. We had two people leave our bible study because they didn't agree with the pastor's teaching on salvation - they thought you could lose their salvation. That's a non-issue for me - I don't believe you can but apparently it's something that others think differently about. I thought it was such a shame that they'd leave a vibrant study over that. They're things I don't understand.
 

Dan57

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Doctrine is just a set of beliefs that someone has been taught, to which they've decided to subscribe and adhere to.. Challenging a set of beliefs is not necessarily an attack, nor should it be construed as an threat. If someone tells me I'm going to hell for disobeying the 3rd commandment ("Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy"), I don't consider it as any form of mistreatment, but just a differing opinion. There are some wild things (doctrine) that I disagree with, but feeling mistreated lands in my lap, that's just pride screwing with me.
 

Not me

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I've been a believer over 40 years and throughout that time I've met a lot of good people, yet I've also seen Christians become abusive to other Christians over doctrinal differences. A believer that I respect said to me a long time ago: "Christians like to cut other Christians up."

Why is this?

How can those who claim to have Christ's spirit within turn around and abuse another believer just because he or she has a difference of opinion? Why do they think it's okay as long as they think it's "for the Lord"?

It's okay to disagree yet we see people cross the line and start getting downright MEAN.

James 3:10

“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

Carnality ??

In Christ, Not me
 

Episkopos

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That's insightful. It should be about both getting at the truth. I wonder what to do when one person isn't ready to hear the truth yet.


In worse cases there is an ignore feature. Some people are more aggressive in their ignorance indoctrination than others.

I don't know what happened to humility and kindness....except to say that when you appeal to the flesh and it's desire to survive...and call that salvation...anything goes.
 

Episkopos

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Doctrine is just a set of beliefs that someone has been taught, to which they've decided to subscribe and adhere to.. Challenging a set of beliefs is not necessarily an attack, nor should it be construed as an threat. If someone tells me I'm going to hell for disobeying the 3rd commandment ("Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy"), I don't consider it as any form of mistreatment, but just a differing opinion. There are some wild things (doctrine) that I disagree with, but feeling mistreated lands in my lap, that's just pride screwing with me.


True...but one must consider that a religious bent on any doctrine can hurt people with more fragile dispositions. Not to say that any one of us is the guardian of all truth.

But for that person's sake and they who he is trying to teach...we can avoid a lot of grief by a simple correction. Then, what that person does with it...is their business. In the end we are each responsible for that which we adhere to. If we can believe that God is a certain way with others...then He just may be that way with us. As we sow so shall we reap. If we judge we shall also be judged.

Did I mention the fear of the Lord?
 

bbyrd009

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"Christians like to cut other Christians up."Why is this?
irons sharpens iron in a new light eh
Ignorance breeds arrogance.

Ignorance ignores the truth to the point that the person can only hear themselves. Because they don't hear other peoples opinion, they think their opinion is the only one, and superior to others; hence arrogance, and self-righteousness, is born. They not only become dishonest to themselves, but expect others to agree with them and become be equally dishonest.

Christians who are not honest with themselves are prone to be ignorant and arrogant. Without consciousness of honesty, they can never become conscious of the truth, and hence, remain ignorant and arrogant _ though they generally don't think so.
dunning-krueger chartIMG_0374.JPG
 
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bbyrd009

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As soon as a person has an issue or an agenda they are in service to their own wants and needs instead of God, or what is true. To argue, loathe, anger, and all other forms of tension, is a form of dishonesty. It arises from an issue or agenda not going THEIR way. As soon as this happens, an agitation, a disharmony, and even violence, is expressed by the dishonesty against what is honest or true.

To be honest is to surrender all personal issues and agendas (dishonesty). Hence, repentance (letting go of one's own issues and agendas). There are Christians who feel okay with repenting (being honest), and there are Christians who are not okay with it (remaining to be dishonest). However, the word 'repentance' in the worldly sense is loaded with issues and agendas. This is a false repentance, for they only let go of their own issues for someone else's issues about repentance, which is conditional. Unconditional repentance is simply being absolutely honest. In that consciousness of honesty, there is no issues or agendas for they all disappeared with their surrendered dishonesty. So, in Truth, there is no issue with repentance, left/right, when absolutely honest/true.
i wanna like this, but "dishonesty/honesty" does not strike me as quite the right frame for some reason
 

Nancy

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Yes you expect better of other believers. But it also makes me double-check what I'm doing because I never want anyone to hurt the way I am. People seem to have a sixth sense and know who has a soft heart so I think you're a walking bullseye Nancy. It's good because it draws others to you but then it also draws those who want to exploit that kindness. I was writing to prisoners and one of my family members got upset thinking they were going to try to deceive me somehow. I think there is a balance there of trying to do what we think God wants while also protecting ourselves.

It could be to hone your discernment - sometimes it's hard to figure out what God is doing. But after you've walked with God awhile you learn that not all those who call me Lord! Lord!...are trustworthy.

You are kind to say I have a soft heart, but not always! I have to ask Him to soften it up at times like, all of this for example; forgiving her...

"But it also makes me double-check what I'm doing because I never want anyone to hurt the way I am. "

For sure!!! I would never, ever intentionally hurt anyone, much less another Christian.

"I think there is a balance there of trying to do what we think God wants while also protecting ourselves."

Sure is a balance, but without discernment we can make ourselves crazy! And, this is exactly why I think we get hurt so badly by other Christians...we want to obey God in all ways yet, there are times where we might think it is God saying "help this person" and then there is that "other" voice. Since Satan comes as an angel of light we NEED this discernment more than ever!
God Bless sister!
 

bbyrd009

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For sure!!! I would never, ever intentionally hurt anyone, much less another Christian
ok let's not forget that appropriating the titles "Savior, Lord, King of Kings, Messiah" from Caesars (and Pharaohs) prolly hurt ol Julius a little, and that whipping some ass now and then, in the temple no less, might be called for. So let me rephrase; i would intentionally--and admittedly for me maybe a little too gleefully--hurt someone who is asking for it.

And i know this sounds mean but i would be suspicious of anyone who professes that they "would never intentionally hurt anyone, much less another Christian" arg
love, mark
 

Nancy

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ok let's not forget that appropriating the titles "Savior, Lord, King of Kings, Messiah" from Caesars (and Pharaohs) prolly hurt ol Julius a little, and that whipping some ass now and then, in the temple no less, might be called for. So let me rephrase; i would intentionally--and admittedly for me maybe a little too gleefully--hurt someone who is asking for it.

And i know this sounds mean but i would be suspicious of anyone who professes that they "would never intentionally hurt anyone, much less another Christian" arg
love, mark

Ha! Be as suspicious as you like Mark...makes me no difference. Just because YOU would do this and take glee no less does not mean everybody else would!
Funny you say that, I read Proverbs last night and, don't remember the exact verse but if we take "glee" in someone's punishment God will rescind the punishment He has waiting for them so...careful!! Yes, it can be a tempting thing to know someone who hurts us is being hurt in the same way as they hurt us but, we have to fight hard against those things...the line in the sand...on the one side is doing the wrong and the other side is "I'm dead to that", and move on. Not always an easy thing to do but not impossible either so, what side are you standing on brother?
 

Willie T

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I think most of it comes from having the same attitude about those that we consider "others", that the Calvinists have nurtured. Every single one of us speaks of "them & us". THEM, being the ones who don't have the truth, as WE do. "You know, those nasty "TARES."

How great it is that we can confidently stand with the Pharisee praying at the Temple, and thank God that "We are not like THEM."
 

Man on Fire

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Since WWII, Christians have been taught to be "More Tolerant." No moral person is tolerant of everything.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the LORD. Live as children of light (2 Corinthians 10:5)

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. (Philippians 2:2)

When someone is saved, they may have been saved at different points in their life, they may have had different frames of thought, or view points. As someone grows in Faith and seek God, false beliefs are stripped away. People tend to see things more as God sees them. They tend to vote more the same. They tend to be of one mind. The mind of Christ.

There are differences. We are a Body of Christ, and men may have had different roles. Some are the Apostles, some are the Prophets, some the Pastors, the teachers, some the Evangelists. It is not that everyone is exactly the same, but they tend to think more alike and be motivated more the same and motivated to build God's Kingdom. On Earth as it is in Heaven.

There has been a line being drawn in the Church. Part of that line has had to do with politics. Modernism was an philosophical movement that started roughly with the French Revolution and ended with the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Modernism came to be seen as man triumphing over the world's problems without God or religion. Modernism would be Luciferian believing someone has The Light outside of God. Someone who was a Modernist, may have worked to marginalize Christians and believed he was his own god, a follower of Nietzsche. Post Modernism has been marked by "Moral Relativity," the idea there is no truth. A Moral Relativist who was a Post Modernist may have tried to browbeat people with their subjective truth. They have had a subjective morality, and have worked to judge others objectively. Part of that is Satanism. In the Churches, as well as in politics, a line has been being drawn. Who has the Spirit of God, and who doesn't? Who was at Church because it was a tradition, or they had a tradition and an agenda? These things may be being made more clear for people to see.
 
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bbyrd009

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Ha! Be as suspicious as you like Mark...makes me no difference. Just because YOU would do this and take glee no less does not mean everybody else would!
yes, i know Imelda Marcos loved Love too. Imo be the most suspicious of them types, the unconscious/clueless/unintentional
Funny you say that, I read Proverbs last night and, don't remember the exact verse but if we take "glee" in someone's pun
yes, ty nancy
so, what side are you standing on brother?
so, i would hold to the one and not let go of the other, maybe beat anyone up who was trying to shut you down :)
 
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bbyrd009

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I think most of it comes from having the same attitude about those that we consider "others", that the Calvinists have nurtured. Every single one of us speaks of "them & us". THEM, being the ones who don't have the truth, as WE do. "You know, those nasty "TARES."

How great it is that we can confidently stand with the Pharisee praying at the Temple, and thank God that "We are not like THEM."
word

hey will you come Proclaim at my congregation if we pay the fare?
first class alla way?
IMG_0375.JPG
the hidden church of the holy cross,
pitcher dont even do it any justice bro
:D

(wonder how many pine nuts a first class ticket costs, hmm)
 
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Man on Fire

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I had an argument with a Christian whose mom has been a big Church goer all her life. Said Church goers daughter, the one I was talking to, has been promoting gay marriage in the Church, and got her mom to support her. These two people have been related to me. I became righteously angry, and I worked to show them what the Bible really said and why? The daughter told me more or less "You have a subjective morality, and have no right to judge." She was using her subjective morality objectively, working to browbeat others, and projecting her wrong doings onto others. The Bible is Objective. The Bible asserts Truth. The daughter was an egotist and a weirdo who became "self-entitled" and "self-centered" and adopted false ideologies to feel good about her sin instead of repenting.

In a way, the daughter in this testimony, would be playing her part in drawing a line. She was doing her part to draw a line in a Church, and all a Christian may have to do, is highlight it, and show how she was wrong and why? A prophetic type person, or someone full of God's Holy Spirit, may be someone who had no problems throwing some people out in the first place, but was deemed to hostile or too uncompromising for a Luke-Warm Congregation, and pushed outside at times. No moral person is tolerant of everything. What business does the light have with Darkness and Lies? None.
 
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Giuliano

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I've been a believer over 40 years and throughout that time I've met a lot of good people, yet I've also seen Christians become abusive to other Christians over doctrinal differences. A believer that I respect said to me a long time ago: "Christians like to cut other Christians up."

Why is this?

How can those who claim to have Christ's spirit within turn around and abuse another believer just because he or she has a difference of opinion? Why do they think it's okay as long as they think it's "for the Lord"?

It's okay to disagree yet we see people cross the line and start getting downright MEAN.

James 3:10

“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
I think the reason is vanity, wounded pride.

Religion can be attractive to people since you can hold almost any view and say no one can prove you wrong. It's a lot safer than dealing with the news or science since someone might prove you wrong in those areas. Why, you can even promote yourself as an authority in religious affairs; and others who know they don't know might be impressed. Thus I conclude that religion attracts some people because they're losers in other areas of life; but they can pretend to be experts in religion. Oh my, this can be gratifying to the ego.

Tell someone with this affliction will feel emotionally distressed if others dare to disagree. His feeling of self worth is threatened.

Realize this: Some people who get obnoxious over religious differences are actually unsure about things themselves since they're just putting on an act. Others may feel if they dare question their own beliefs, they might be damned or something. All these are obvious signs of weakness to an unbiased observer; but the afflicted person has too much at stake emotionally to admit it. Often the more people argue with them, the tighter they hold onto their opinions and claim to know things when they actually don't.

I suspect some of the more abusive cases that show up are basket cases in real life. They managed to alienate almost everyone else in their lives by being so aggressive and trying to domineer them; then they show up in forums and act the same way.

The real question then is if there is anything that can be done to help them? I think the answer is yes. If they can learn something about life on a forum, then they could apply it in their real lives. I have some suggestions then.

1. Never let them win by being angry and mean. That doesn't mean you have to agree with them; but you never tell them they're right if you honestly don't agree.

2. End conversations if they get too unpleasant and tell them you don't think the conversations are going anywhere. Ignore them for bad behavior.

3. When they do say something pleasantly and rationally in other places you agree with, go ahead and agree. Be as pleasant as you can be. This is an attempt to reward them to good behavior. If their goal is to get attention, you want to teach them that they need to be pleasant if they want your attention. If they want to be rude, you'll ignore them.

Perhaps their parents didn't raise them the right way. You may see parents telling a child no in a store when the child wants candy. If the child throws a fit, that tells you the child has learned he can often get what he wants by annoying his parents; and if you see the parents buying the candy, that's a clear sign the child has learned the wrong lessons in life. He can get candy by throwing a tantrum.

4. If you see others being snared by this type, you can suggest to them to opt out of the unpleasant situation, either by private message or a short post.
 

Man on Fire

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Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)


The Truth hurts. Knowledge brings sorrow. Ignorance is bliss?

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the LORD. Live as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

What has happened in The Dark? Small difference in doctrine may have been a slippery slope into darkness, and allowed in some spirits.
 
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