Why Is Western Christianity So Soft?

[ChristisGod]

Patrick is right when he writes "Jewish people have been the most persecuted segment of humanity in all of human history".

Prove it with verifiable data. Fox’s book of martyrs proves you wrong.

 

[Jim B]

Prove it with verifiable data. Fox’s book of martyrs proves you wrong.

Are you serious? The Book of Martyrs mainly described the suffering of Protestants under Mary's rule, i.e., one small group in two countries, for a brief period of time. The Jews have been persecuted from the time of Pharaoh until the present day.

 

[ChristisGod]

Are you serious? The Book of Martyrs mainly described the suffering of Protestants under Mary's rule, i.e., one small group in two countries, for a brief period of time. The Jews have been persecuted from the time of Pharaoh until the present day.

Are we talking longevity or deaths ?

 

[amigo de christo]

Agreed fully @Phoneman.
The church of today, in the West has no resemblance to the church in the apostles days, and the early Christians that we call the "church fathers" is most likely something they would be insulted because yo them, the apostles were the early church fathers. Those like Polycarp, who discipled by John and others like Irenaeus, Origen and others.
Alexander of Clement was a very rich guy who actually sold ALL he had, gave it to the poor and followed Christ! He was eventually beheaded for his faith. Can you imagine anyone today that would do that?
Satan has the church right where he wants it, he is at the pulpit on many church's today IMHO. There seems no reverence for God anymore. Sad.

These days are wicked days indeed . Imagine how elijah or was it elisha .
He thought he was alone . But still there was a tee tiny rememenant that had not bowed the kneel to baal .
Even now there is a TEE TINY remenant who has not bowed the knee to the all inclusive lie .
They refuse to join the religoins as one , they refuse to say we all serve the same GOD .
They refuse to pick up the dark alaphabet and call a girl a boy and a boy a girl .
THEY Refuse to call evil good and good evil . THEY are still here . THOUGH TINY that number truly is .
The lambs shall contend for the true faith till our last breath , no matter the cost , i say no matter the cost .
FOR JESUS ALONE saves and all else contrary to HIM graves .

 

[amigo de christo]

Are you serious? The Book of Martyrs mainly described the suffering of Protestants under Mary's rule, i.e., one small group in two countries, for a brief period of time. The Jews have been persecuted from the time of Pharaoh until the present day.

The book of the martyrs was truth . But it was not just the unholy whore of ROME that put protestants to death ,
PROTESTANT LEADERS PUT SOME catholics to death too . IT WAS A MADHOUSE .
Calvin is as bad as any pope was . And now this new religoin , which aint new , but it sure does grow
will put a number to death far higher than any number in recoreded history . sadly most are falling for its ruse even now .

 

[Jim B]

These days are wicked days indeed . Imagine how elijah or was it elisha .
He thought he was alone . But still there was a tee tiny rememenant that had not bowed the kneel to baal .
Even now there is a TEE TINY remenant who has not bowed the knee to the all inclusive lie .
They refuse to join the religoins as one , they refuse to say we all serve the same GOD .
They refuse to pick up the dark alaphabet and call a girl a boy and a boy a girl .
THEY Refuse to call evil good and good evil . THEY are still here . THOUGH TINY that number truly is .
The lambs shall contend for the true faith till our last breath , no matter the cost , i say no matter the cost .
FOR JESUS ALONE saves and all else contrary to HIM graves .

What does this mean in English?

 

[Jim B]

The book of the martyrs was truth . But it was not just the unholy whore of ROME that put protestants to death ,
PROTESTANT LEADERS PUT SOME catholics to death too . IT WAS A MADHOUSE .
Calvin is as bad as any pope was . And now this new religoin , which aint new , but it sure does grow
will put a number to death far higher than any number in recoreded history . sadly most are falling for its ruse even now .

 

[Helen]

@Rita @Nancy

You both wasted your valuable time and breath in responding so often ….once would have been enough for me. haha!
In my book, Ignorant ( arrogant ) attitudes never warrant amy response at all….
.Once the ‘atmosphere of attitude‘ is in play , I just ignore and move on .

love you ladies .

@Phoneman777

Excellent OP !

 

[Jim B]

1 John 2:9-11, "Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness."

This applies to @Rita @Nancy @amigo de christo and everyone else who constantly judges others, including other Christians.

 

[ButterflyJones]

Despite the false claims of leftist Fake News, Christianity is the single most persecuted group in the world - not women, not gays, not transgenders, blacks or browns...Christians. While there are good people doing a good job raising awareness of the plight of our global Christian family - such as Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors, ACLJ - sadly, most Christians don't know what's going on a mere few feet beyond their own church parking lot. If we did, maybe we'd be far less easily offended, easily discouraged, and less likely to give up on God when the going gets tough as often is the case.

In far away lands, Christian women are raped and jailed, their children taken into custody, Christian men and pastors are imprisoned, tortured, killed, churches are targeted and firebombed, governments of pagan countries hostile toward Christianity offer little to no protection, and even far worse atrocities are widespread across the Christian world...but here in the West it's another story.

Here, we enjoy religious freedom. We enjoy the 1st Amendment which forbids state sponsored religion. We enjoy Section 8 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which guarantees workplace religious freedom. We enjoy 501(c)3 tax exempt status which allows billions to be put to use for the cause of God, but much of which is sadly pocketed by unscrupulous "preachers". Yet, in all this, many Christians live under the apprehension that their world will end at any moment. Their boyfriend will break up with them, their church may not re-elect them to that coveted position of leadership, they may be seen as kooky by their secular friends if they join a church, they may even face "difficulties" at home from an unbelieving spouse if they decide to follow Jesus, which often don't go beyond mild annoyance by their significant other. Western Christianity seems to be the weakest spiritually than anywhere else. As that comprehensive Willow Creek church study proved, the more money we throw at this ministry or that ministry, the lesser the positive outcome. Christian divorce is on the rise, children abandon their faith in college for atheistic evolution due to their indiferent "Christian" parents having failed to teach them the difference between Biblically accurate science and the false science of the atheistic scientific community, church attendance wanes, immorality/alcohol/drug/porn addiction is on the rise among believers - the wretchedness of Western Christianity seems to only grow worse and worse.

I think we need to go back to the beginning. We need to get back to our "first love" and "remember from whence thou hast fallen". We need to develop a thankful heart for what we have instead of resenting God for what we think we've be unjustly denied. What we need is a generous dose of persecution:

"The apostle Paul declares that 'all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.' Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world's standard and therefore awakens no opposition....It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the Word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled." —The Great Controversy, 48.​

Why?
Because God commanded it, that's why.

 

[Jim B]

Despite the false claims of leftist Fake News, Christianity is the single most persecuted group in the world - not women, not gays, not transgenders, blacks or browns...Christians. While there are good people doing a good job raising awareness of the plight of our global Christian family - such as Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors, ACLJ - sadly, most Christians don't know what's going on a mere few feet beyond their own church parking lot. If we did, maybe we'd be far less easily offended, easily discouraged, and less likely to give up on God when the going gets tough as often is the case.

In far away lands, Christian women are raped and jailed, their children taken into custody, Christian men and pastors are imprisoned, tortured, killed, churches are targeted and firebombed, governments of pagan countries hostile toward Christianity offer little to no protection, and even far worse atrocities are widespread across the Christian world...but here in the West it's another story.

Here, we enjoy religious freedom. We enjoy the 1st Amendment which forbids state sponsored religion. We enjoy Section 8 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which guarantees workplace religious freedom. We enjoy 501(c)3 tax exempt status which allows billions to be put to use for the cause of God, but much of which is sadly pocketed by unscrupulous "preachers". Yet, in all this, many Christians live under the apprehension that their world will end at any moment. Their boyfriend will break up with them, their church may not re-elect them to that coveted position of leadership, they may be seen as kooky by their secular friends if they join a church, they may even face "difficulties" at home from an unbelieving spouse if they decide to follow Jesus, which often don't go beyond mild annoyance by their significant other. Western Christianity seems to be the weakest spiritually than anywhere else. As that comprehensive Willow Creek church study proved, the more money we throw at this ministry or that ministry, the lesser the positive outcome. Christian divorce is on the rise, children abandon their faith in college for atheistic evolution due to their indiferent "Christian" parents having failed to teach them the difference between Biblically accurate science and the false science of the atheistic scientific community, church attendance wanes, immorality/alcohol/drug/porn addiction is on the rise among believers - the wretchedness of Western Christianity seems to only grow worse and worse.

I think we need to go back to the beginning. We need to get back to our "first love" and "remember from whence thou hast fallen". We need to develop a thankful heart for what we have instead of resenting God for what we think we've be unjustly denied. What we need is a generous dose of persecution:

"The apostle Paul declares that 'all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.' Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world's standard and therefore awakens no opposition....It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the Word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled." —The Great Controversy, 48.​

Clearly you are not okay. Your rant will not convince anyone to believe you. You need to love the world, as God does.

 

[Nancy]

@Rita @Nancy

You both wasted your valuable time and breath in responding so often ….once would have been enough for me. haha!
In my book, Ignorant ( arrogant ) attitudes never warrant amy response at all….
.Once the ‘atmosphere of attitude‘ is in play , I just ignore and move on .

love you ladies .

@Phoneman777

Excellent OP !

Yes Helen my mentor! Wise words indeed. I allowed my flesh to get in the way...won't do it again. I just LOVE peace, don't you?
xx

 

[Rita]

1 John 2:9-11, "Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness."

This applies to @Rita @Nancy @amigo de christo and everyone else who constantly judges others, including other Christians.

I suggest you stop this constant rant , you don’t seem to see that you are doing the very same thing.

 

[Jim B]

I suggest you stop this constant rant , you don’t seem to see that you are doing the very same thing.

I am not interested in your opinion of my posts. I quoted directly from from 1 John. Would you have said the same thing to him???

 

[Nancy]

I suggest you stop this constant rant , you don’t seem to see that you are doing the very same thing.

Oh how blind we can be, until we see...

 

[Jim B]

Oh how blind we can be, until we see...

I agree. Rita is indeed blind to the content of her posts.

 

[Jim B]

The Western Christianity is a false Christianity, that is why it is weak and soft. Far from the way our Master left it when He ascended into the clouds. Only took a few hundred years for it to fall to pieces largely due to Constantine mixing pagan ways to create a new religion. Not the one that was known as "The Way". Also adding to the delusion was many of the Early so called "Church Fathers" adding to and taking away from the inspired word of God. Which our Father gave instructions not to do, you know in the part to what was referred to as "the scriptures".

We have kicked the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel out the door and out of our societies, who is also known as the God of our Bibles both the so called New and Old testaments. The One who "Does Not Change". but No our clever doctrines of men and demons boldly proclaim that He does change. What a lie.

God does not care about your political amendments, He cares about His word and it being upheld and taught correctly, not by whatever a denomination holds as truth, no different to the traditions of the elders that our Master railed against continually. By the way the tradition of the elders is not from Gen - Malachi.

Think on these things and truly ask yourself if what your church teaches is actually in the Bible.

Shalom and Blessings

I just took the time to read the first post of this thread -- above.

What a strange condemnation of Western Christianity, which @Ancient" calls "weak and soft", as thought one's faith should be "macho". I guess Jesus was just fooling around when He washed the disciples' feet. He was being "weak and soft", instead of being harsh and aggressive.

This kind of thing is echoed by some who post on these forums -- you know who you are. It seems righteous in the opinions of those who judge others as being weak, but of course that is the exact opposite of what Jesus taught and the way He lived. Jesus, even though He was God, humbled Himself by being fully human and serving the needs -- physical, emotional, and spiritual -- of others. In other words, He was "soft" -- the exact opposite of how @Ancient and some others claim that Christians should be.

@Ancient claims, with no basis, that "We have kicked the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel out the door and out of our societies". I'm not sure where he lives, but there are many devoted Christians where I live who are very sincere in their faith and in their behavior toward others.

Then he goes off on a tangent about "political amendments". Whatever...

And he concludes with "Think on these things and truly ask yourself if what your church teaches is actually in the Bible." I am not sure what he meant by this, as most churches around here (with a few obvious exceptions) teach what is in the Bible. I am thankful that they don't teach this false, "macho" doctrine that he espouses.

Jesus humbled Himself and became a man, teaching that we should love our neighbor as ourself and, when threatened, to turn the other cheek. The exact opposite of this condemnatory, "macho" Christianity.

 

[Jim B]

These days are wicked days indeed . Imagine how elijah or was it elisha .
He thought he was alone . But still there was a tee tiny rememenant that had not bowed the kneel to baal .
Even now there is a TEE TINY remenant who has not bowed the knee to the all inclusive lie .
They refuse to join the religoins as one , they refuse to say we all serve the same GOD .
They refuse to pick up the dark alaphabet and call a girl a boy and a boy a girl .
THEY Refuse to call evil good and good evil . THEY are still here . THOUGH TINY that number truly is .
The lambs shall contend for the true faith till our last breath , no matter the cost , i say no matter the cost .
FOR JESUS ALONE saves and all else contrary to HIM graves .

I have never heard of a "rememenant", whatever that means. Oh, wait, it means "remenant". LOL! That must rhyme with "religoins". LOL!

How can anybody write something as odd as "They refuse to join the religoins [sic] as one , they refuse to say we all serve the same GOD . They refuse to pick up the dark alaphabet [sic] and call a girl a boy and a boy a girl ." ?

What is "the dark alphabet' (which is what I assume he means) that calls "a girl a boy and a boy a girl"? Either that is so deep as to defy meaning or is just plain nonsense. And he follows it with "THEY Refuse to call evil good and good evil ." LOL!!! What a hoot it is to read such nonsense!

And he follows it with more nonsense: "THEY are still here . THOUGH TINY that number truly is ." Are we supposed to understand what this means? Who is "THEY" and where are "THEY"?

And he ends with this bizarre "poetry": FOR JESUS ALONE saves and all else contrary to HIM graves ."

What a hoot it is to read this nonsense, which borders on irrational and incoherent. And there isn't one single quote from the Bible in the entire post. Gee, I wonder why?

1 John 2:7-11, "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates a brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness."

 

[Phoneman777]

Jewish people have been the most persecuted segment of humanity in all of human history.

Not since they disappeared long ago.

 

[Phoneman777]

Clearly you are not okay. Your rant will not convince anyone to believe you. You need to love the world, as God does.

Man, that's a bit harsh!

What I say to anyone who defends the "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked" Laodicean state of Western Christianity is what Jesus said: buy from Him that gold (of the faith of Jesus) tried in the fire, and that white raiment (of His character) that nakedness no longer appear, and that eyesalve (of Holy Spirit discernment) that he mayest see.