Is it really christian...

[Guest tbaird22]

is it christlike for christian churches to attack another christian church beliefs or doctrine? Are they really "christian" churches if they do? (in the sense of living Christ's teachings and following his example not just worshiping him) I don't understand why churches attack each others beliefs and doctrines at all... my religion works for me. yours works for you. done.

[prisonchaplain]

There are places in the New Testament, particularly in Paul's writings, in which Christians are told to contend for the faith, to not entertain false gospels, to uphold sound doctrine, etc. This is where the attackers get their justification. Then again, some people are just arrogant and loud. :-)

[estradling75]

There is also an all to human tendency to want to feel superior and better then others. This shows up in everything. And lets face it if someone tells you that God thinks you are better then everyone else for whatever reason, well that is a powerful stroke to the old ego.

[Madriglace]

Folks get contend for the faith mixed up with being contentious ... contention has no place in a discussion of the gospel of Christ.

[JThimm88]

No, it's not Christlike, but every church seems to have their position on how they feel about other churches, whether in general or specific churches. And of course, if a church takes a stance, you'll find that the members tend to follow that train of thought.

Then again, you've got the churches who still preach kindness towards many churches and yet members on an individual level take it into their own hands to attack others. I've seen many people from many different churches that I was looking into, even ours, attack other faiths.

It's not right, but we're all guilty of it at some point, unfortunately, I'm guessing.

[Backroads]

I suppose there are cases, but it seems so often out of place to do so. I have yet to be converted by anyone attacking my beliefs.

[Mute]

is it christlike for christian churches to attack another christian church beliefs or doctrine? Are they really "christian" churches if they do? (in the sense of living Christ's teachings and following his example not just worshiping him) I don't understand why churches attack each others beliefs and doctrines at all... my religion works for me. yours works for you. done.

Christlike? Depends what you think that is. There are a lot of Christians of other faiths that have used several verses as justification for their actions. However, they take the verses out of context to justify their actions. Here are a couple examples.

ISAIAH

CHAPTER 54

17 ¶ No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

The verse is in reference to the saints who defend the church of God from those who seek to destroy it. Christ is talking about the church and those who have gathered against it. He's talking about the persecution that the church will face. Christians instead ignore this meaning and use it to justify their actions of going after other faiths. What they're doing to others is referenced in verse 15.

ISAIAH

CHAPTER 54

15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

If anything, those verses would only condemn them and not support them. It's meant as defending yourself from people who gather against you to attack your faith not to justify you going after other faiths and attacking them. If anything, that scripture would be in support of those who are not attacking others. This is a perfect example of perverting the scriptures to justify their actions.

Here is another one.

ST LUKE

CHAPTER 21

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Even this one doesn't help them. It's still meant for the saints defending God's church from those who wish to persecute it. It's not meant for those who attack other faiths. Lets look at the verse in it's entire context.

ST LUKE

CHAPTER 21

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

It's not fun to argue with people who look at one scripture and ignore the rest or take things out of context.

I'd still say they're Christian. They can call themselves what ever they want and I'm not going to say otherwise. But street preachers get on my nerves more than just about anything. Not fun running into them on college campuses with signs telling everyone they're going to hell.

These scriptures might make you feel better though.

ST MATTHEW

CHAPTER 5

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

ST JOHN

CHAPTER 16

1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

ST JOHN

CHAPTER 15

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Isa. 29: 13

13 ¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Mark 7: 6

6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

[ztodd]

is it christlike for christian churches to attack another christian church beliefs or doctrine? Are they really "christian" churches if they do? (in the sense of living Christ's teachings and following his example not just worshiping him) I don't understand why churches attack each others beliefs and doctrines at all... my religion works for me. yours works for you. done.

Ya gotta just try to not take it personally if people attack your beliefs. Sometimes their view is that they're doing it out of love- trying to help save you. But then again, sometimes they're not. :)

Consider- are there false doctrines within some churches? Do missionaries of our church ever "attack" false doctrine (teach that it is wrong)? Have you ever had to stand up for what you know is right, and let someone know that you believe what they're doing is wrong? People might see that as us attacking their beliefs. Maybe they really are wrong, or they're being too sensitive, but things are not always so black and white when dealing with people of different levels of sensitivity.

[Blackmarch]

is it christlike for christian churches to attack another christian church beliefs or doctrine? Are they really "christian" churches if they do? (in the sense of living Christ's teachings and following his example not just worshiping him) I don't understand why churches attack each others beliefs and doctrines at all... my religion works for me. yours works for you. done.

nope.

ONe should work to inspire another to follow them, and once that happens then you can start correcting errors in their way. If you start by by just critiqing faults you'll just make enemies.

[Blackmarch]

Ya gotta just try to not take it personally if people attack your beliefs. Sometimes their view is that they're doing it out of love- trying to help save you. But then again, sometimes they're not. :)

Consider- are there false doctrines within some churches? Do missionaries of our church ever "attack" false doctrine (teach that it is wrong)? Have you ever had to stand up for what you know is right, and let someone know that you believe what they're doing is wrong? People might see that as us attacking their beliefs. Maybe they really are wrong, or they're being too sensitive, but things are not always so black and white when dealing with people of different levels of sensitivity.

those who come to you and start bashing and use the "hard love" excuse do not know love. Defending yourself when someone comes to you and starts bashing is different than seeking someone else out and putting down what you see as faults. As missionaries we don't go out to preach that homosexuality is wrong or <insert sin here> is wrong, we are to preach Christ... Now once someone has accepted CHrist and wants to know how to come to him, thats when one can say "you need to stop doing this, or do this and this..".

[Guest]

those who come to you and start bashing and use the "hard love" excuse do not know love. Defending yourself when someone comes to you and starts bashing is different than seeking someone else out and putting down what you see as faults. As missionaries we don't go out to preach that homosexuality is wrong or <insert sin here> is wrong, we are to preach Christ... Now once someone has accepted CHrist and wants to know how to come to him, thats when one can say "you need to stop doing this, or do this and this..".

Uhhhmmm... I get what you're saying here... but. The reality of it is... missionaries go door to door preaching the Great Apostasy to Christians. For a Catholic, that's about as bashing as you can get... albeit dished out in sugar and spice and everything nice.

[Blackmarch]

Uhhhmmm... I get what you're saying here... but. The reality of it is... missionaries go door to door preaching the Great Apostasy to Christians. For a Catholic, that's about as bashing as you can get... albeit dished out in sugar and spice and everything nice.

We'd also teach about the law of chastity, premortal life, new scripture, and whole other slew of things that generally are considered wrong and offensive by others as well.

Usually we did not discuss the apostacy until the second appointment. If one would want to choose a potential bashing moment it would have to be when when we shared Joseph's experience and God said for him not to join any other church because they were all wrong.

The message we shared was that you need to follow God and Christ, and do that by following his prophets, and that he has prophets here today that we need to follow, and they've brought forth this book that you need to read and pray about to know that this message is true.

In all my interactions with people outside the LDS church that focused on my salvation (as well as most "debates" that involved about a persons salvation ran very similarly) I can count on two hands how many times the message was "Join us because we are the right one" or "we are the only one" (that one is a lot rarer, and I can only recall getting that sort of message from catholics and JWs, and one i have a lot more respect for)..

The rest were "You need to leave your religion because it is wrong" or "Join us because your religion wrong" or "... because you are wrong".

now out of those two paragraphs one is not bashing the other is, both can teach the same things.

Edited May 4, 2011 by Blackmarch

[prisonchaplain]

No matter what, this is emotional. I'd suggest part of the reason is that the battle is spiritual. Somebody is right, and somebody else is...gasp...WRONG! It's doubtful that one person being more aggressive to point out the other's error is and indication one way or the other...which gospel comports to scripture and the witness of the Spirit?

Some people just have more attractive personalities. Others are more confrontational. I'm sure there are prickly evangelicals, Catholics, and LDS. On the other hand, we all have members that make you feel welcome, comfortable and at ease.

A religion's "fruit" should not be confused with the personalities of some of its members.

[spamlds]

If there was not a true religion, everything would be peaceful. Envy, malice, persecution, and violence arise whenever the Lord has established his kingdom on the earth. When the keys of the kingdom of God have ever been conferred, therein is the power to hinder the devil's kingdom.

Joseph Smith would have died peacefully in his sleep as an old man if he had never seen God the Father and Jesus Christ. If he had never received the priesthood keys, any religion he established would have been no more or less valid (and therefore no more or less persecuted) than the Campbellites, the Assemblies of God, the Icarians, or any other sect that existed in his time.

If the keys of the kingdom had died with Joseph, the saints would have been left alone to enjoy their homes and temple in Nauvoo. Instead, the keys remained in with the twelve apostles and Brigham Young as their leader.

If we want peace and understanding from sectarian Christendom, all we have to do is walk away from the First Vision, the Book of Mormon, and the claim that we hold the keys. At that point, we'll be just like them and they'd accept us. However, if we were to do so, we would lose everything that is meaningful about our religion.

If you want to get a "target" on your back, just stand up for Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and claim that the Church holds the keys of the kingdom. The "fiery darts" of the Adversary will start flying in your direction.

[ztodd]

If there was not a true religion, everything would be peaceful.

Seriously? Maybe you should think that through a little more.

Consider- the Great Apostacy was well under way by the start of the dark ages (There was no longer a true religion). Now give this short little article a quick read -

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_happened_during_the_dark_age

[apexviper13]

is it christlike for christian churches to attack another christian church beliefs or doctrine? Are they really "christian" churches if they do? (in the sense of living Christ's teachings and following his example not just worshiping him) I don't understand why churches attack each others beliefs and doctrines at all... my religion works for me. yours works for you. done.

No, it's not. Regardless of someone calling themselves a Christian, once they attack others they are denouncing their Christianity or at least in my opinion that is. Being a Christian means to believe in and follow Jesus Christ. A very common thing is for others to spread lies about different churches such as ours. The Catholics experience the same thing. I've heard people say they worship Mary, the statues, etc. even though that's not true. When people spread these rumors they're breaking two of the 10 commandments given directly by God: loving their neighbor and not to bear false witness which essentially means don't lie. Once a Christian starts attacking others they are no longer following Christ which, as I said at the beginning, denounces their Christianity.

Edited May 5, 2011 by apexviper13

[Blackmarch]

If there was not a true religion, everything would be peaceful. Envy, malice, persecution, and violence arise whenever the Lord has established his kingdom on the earth. When the keys of the kingdom of God have ever been conferred, therein is the power to hinder the devil's kingdom.

well if there was no god and no devil there might be a better helping of that..supposig life spontaniously generated itself.

Actually i'd say that the sub that was carrying nuke torpedoes to protect the envoy (and whos commander had orders to make sure that they got to cuba at any cost) that was taking ICBMs to cuba would have fired upon the US destroyers that were dropping concussion grenades as warning... especially as the crew was pretty much convinced that the destroyer was attacking them rather than trying to warn them.

... so I'd say if there was no real gospel and god or whtanot, that today there would be little to none of humanity left in the world.