How Can Christians Be So Quick To Shut You Out?

I'm going to be blunt with you,

Because I respect you, I will say this.

The topics, statements, and inquiries are very much like many of the questions most agnostics/athiests ask, when playing a game I like to call "Stump the christians".


Your posts smack of challenge and blasphemy. Your writing style lends more to argumentative and accusatory in nature than genuine inquistiveness.

Many people have answered your questions, however, you didn't like the answers you recieved. On this forum you have not been banned, and you certainly haven't been shut out.

If you ask a question and get a reply that is a quote from the Bible, why are you upset? Some of us use scripture instead of our words, some of us (me specifically) paraphrase and use their own words to describe what they feel the Bible is saying.

This is why I say, I will give you benefit of doubt, as you seem to be trying to cause controversy and doubt. You seem to be trying to prove that we as Christians can't answer questions.

I honestly believe that your motives are not out of seeking the Lord and trying to learn, but I am treating you as you are trying to learn.

Many people have been through this same discussion manytimes. If you dont' believe in the Lord, I'm sorry, you're not going to understand alot of what we're saying and why.

You have a preconcieved notion and are using ideas and facts to conduct your experiment based on ideals you learned in college. This seems like a game to you, it's very hard for me to take you as someone who has a genuine interest in seeking the Lord.

You come from a position of confrontation, and are causing a defensive nature. You're posts are attacks, they read as such, feel as such, and end as such.

Fire-7

I think WhiteKnuckle has summarised it well.

If you really care about other people and wanting to engage them in a converstaion and not an argument or debate you would use a different way of speaking to people.

Attitude does come through written language just as much as it does through physical gestures and facial expression. You cannot fully hide a bad attitude even in the written word. Believe it or not.

If you truly want to fix how you approach people when you post I would suggest taking a course in Email Ettiquette. There are many out there especially for Businesses to send their staff for proper training in writing inter-office emails. These Email courses outline many Dos and Don'ts that would benefit you and help you change how you express yourself.

A basic communication course would also assist you as they will clearly outline what irrates others and what ways to re-phrase the way you speak so you don't offend others.

People will not tolerate a belligerant person for very long. You need to find a way of expressing yourself that will open up converstaion and not shut it down.

I can mange belligerence to a point. However it is tiresome and really I don't need to get stressed out by someone who can control their speech if they want to but choose to be lose with how they speak.

So hopefully if you are serious about changing you will take some steps to learn how to be a little more guarded in the way you post or speak to others.

I wish you all the Best with this.

I admire your honesty. With me I would say ask away. My skin is thick and I do not get offended easily. Please understand not all of us Christians will fit into the realm of intolerance. I would hope you do find more tolerance in the Christian community than anywhere else. Not all whom claim to be Christians actually follow what the lord Jesus Christ teaches though. You can not judge or hold against the church experiences which were negative. I understand your frustration with the church as I have frustrations of my own. In all things that man is involved with things simply get botched up. We are not perfect beings, no matter what community we belong to.

Let me assure you Hell is a real place and you do not want to go there. I would suggest, if you haven't already, getting a bible, King James Version in my humble opinion. Study Acts through unto Philemon. It is good to read the gospels also, the entire bible for that matter, but the fore mentioned is what applies to us as gentiles.

Know that we all struggle with sin in its many forms. My struggle may not be the same as yours but together in Christ we both share the burden. Just as we share in the burden so does our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him the burden is lifted and its weight lessened. I am not saying Jesus is some magic pill you take and all your troubles go away, but if you call to him he will answer. True followers of Jesus are here to help you, not judge you or try to put you in some box.

BTW I wrote an answer to your post of Why would God create...

Fire-7 said:

This isn't a bash thread, but sometimes I feel like I am in the Twilight's Zone.

This isn't the first or only forum that I have been a member of. I've been a member of several that have been dedicated to general spirituality and religion. I have been banned from forum sites several times. I don't fully understand why I am so misubderstood by people. People always seem to jump to the defense in my posts for some reason. Because I'm passionate about some things, it's often mistaken for being "negative"--even though I've never used profanity or called anyone out of their name. But because my points of view are sometimes out of the box, I get attacked, villainized, and cut off all together--most o the time, just for asking QUESTIONS.

It's almost understandable in other kinds of forums. But when it comes to christianity, you would think that people would be more willing to answer questions about a God who they claim to know so much about. Excuse me if I sound a little firey right now, but I posted the same thread title "What Really Is Prayer?" on anther Christan message board, and the thread was closed because I was apparently "teaching" without having enough experience wit christianity to do so. When I challenged the admin on his reasoning, I got banned, and "never" have the chance to post there again.

And people wonder why I seem so upset wth the church. This is exactly what I'm talking about. We are not allowed as "babes in Christ " to come to our teachers and ask certain questions, out of fear that we'll be ridiculed. But guess what, I have chosen to break out of this mold, because I realize that if hell is real, I don't want to go there (I dont believe anyone in their right mind wants to go there), and I also realize that deception is running rampant! And I refuse to be willfully deceived. I'm going to ask every question that comes to my mind that I feel concerns my eternal state. It's my eternity that I'm going to have to live, and no minister is going to take my place hell if I end up there. I am responsible for seeking God for myself. Even the rewards that I would receive in Heaven will depend on everything that I do here and now. So, I want to live the most effective life that I can here. If that means understanding things about eternity that people feel I shouldn't even want to know, then so be it. Ban me, cut me off. But one thing is cetain: when I stand before the Creator, He will not be able to say to me that I didn't seek after Him.

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Number one your statement is to general. There are many churches out there that provide study sessions, support and encouragement for new christians. Next, you are right it depends on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I applaud and are excited about your want for knowledge, understanding and wisdom of this faith you hold dear to you! God will give to those who ask, seek and knock. Sometimes our pastors can only give us what they have! If your pastor does not have what you need maybe God is trying to move you to a place where you will receive what He wants you to. Shalom and God bless you! I seriously applaud and are excited about your zeal and vigor for God. Don't let anyone take your fire and desire for the truth of God!

Fire-7 - I like you - this is the first post I've seen by you.

Being banned is a bummer -and it isn't done well -
many times no explanation - mods know full well it will hurt someone and press buttons of rejection
deep in our psyches...yup, keep desiring a direct connection with God with no middle men.

Follow Jesus' example - be an independent thinker apart from the norm and hold your head high.
Miss Hepburn

I like your post teo. Too answer your question,
Christians are supposed to be "Christ Like", Chrst never turned anyone away, but " christians", seem to turn anyone away that differs in there belief or questions them" vey quickly at that. If you where to ask Christ why this is so, I am sure He would say that, " we are hard headed, stubborn, unwilling to change,defensive, selfish and certainlty dont know Him as well as we claim we do", if we did, we would be

Patient
Loving
kind
Gracefull
Ready to answer any question and ready to listen

Hard traits to find in christians.

In His Love

Fire-7 said:

This isn't a bash thread, but sometimes I feel like I am in the Twilight's Zone.

This isn't the first or only forum that I have been a member of. I've been a member of several that have been dedicated to general spirituality and religion. I have been banned from forum sites several times. I don't fully understand why I am so misubderstood by people. People always seem to jump to the defense in my posts for some reason. Because I'm passionate about some things, it's often mistaken for being "negative"--even though I've never used profanity or called anyone out of their name. But because my points of view are sometimes out of the box, I get attacked, villainized, and cut off all together--most o the time, just for asking QUESTIONS.

It's almost understandable in other kinds of forums. But when it comes to christianity, you would think that people would be more willing to answer questions about a God who they claim to know so much about. Excuse me if I sound a little firey right now, but I posted the same thread title "What Really Is Prayer?" on anther Christan message board, and the thread was closed because I was apparently "teaching" without having enough experience wit christianity to do so. When I challenged the admin on his reasoning, I got banned, and "never" have the chance to post there again.

And people wonder why I seem so upset wth the church. This is exactly what I'm talking about. We are not allowed as "babes in Christ " to come to our teachers and ask certain questions, out of fear that we'll be ridiculed. But guess what, I have chosen to break out of this mold, because I realize that if hell is real, I don't want to go there (I dont believe anyone in their right mind wants to go there), and I also realize that deception is running rampant! And I refuse to be willfully deceived. I'm going to ask every question that comes to my mind that I feel concerns my eternal state. It's my eternity that I'm going to have to live, and no minister is going to take my place hell if I end up there. I am responsible for seeking God for myself. Even the rewards that I would receive in Heaven will depend on everything that I do here and now. So, I want to live the most effective life that I can here. If that means understanding things about eternity that people feel I shouldn't even want to know, then so be it. Ban me, cut me off. But one thing is cetain: when I stand before the Creator, He will not be able to say to me that I didn't seek after Him.

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I applaud your efforts my friend. I believe the reason you get banned or your questions go unanswered is because they probably don't know the answers. It's kind funny, it seems every single Christian totally understands what a Christian is so if one doesn't agree with them then that person obviously isn't a Christian, even though it's hard to find two Christians that totally agree. I call it arrogance. In reality a majority or what is taught today as Christianity, actually is not, it is simple the doctrines of men and many things that were originally Christian doctrine are no longer taught by the Church. For instance, eternal security or OSAS was not original Christian doctrine, neither was the heavenly destiny, and doctrines that were basic Christian doctrine are not taught today, such as, the two kingdoms, separation from the world, non resistance,etc. So, don't worry my friend, not being conformed to the modern church doesn't mean you are wrong.

I am a Christian and I haven't shut you out.