For those of you that consider yourself a church going, worshipping, Christian, what do you think about those that gossip, judge others, and what not but claim to be a good Christian?

I always wondered about that...I would meet people who are into church and claim to be such a devout Christian but yet they judge others.

And we all hear stories about Catholics, Jevoh witnesses, etc. I don't understand how some can be like this.

___________________________________________________________________

For me, I really try to be a good one, but sometimes I do get out of line and honestly, sometimes I just don't care at that moment b/c I get caught up in the emotion that person stirs in me.

But later on, I do think about it and decide not only is it not worth to get so upset about, I do regret being in the wrong along w/ the person.

I'm not religious, so I have free reign to say whatever I want right?? LOL, Just kidding!!!

I have a co-worker who claims to be devoutly religious, but she is one of the worst gossips that I know.

We are Catholic but I will the first to tell you that I'm a HORRIBLE Catholic. I had my tubes tied, we married outside of the church, we have three children that aren't baptized and we don't go to mass or confession often so I guess you could say that I'm a sucky Christian/Catholic.

Wow, rach. You just said all i have been feeling in the last two days! I feel so crappy for losing my temper but i feel guilty also for letting them get to me.(my banning incident) I'm such a catholic, i feel guilty for everything. even when its not my fault. I dont know how i feel about gossips, etc...because honestly i fit that category sometimes too, then of course i feel guilty! I just try to pass along my feeling to them when they start with me...sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt, but i'm a praying woman so thats usually what i do.

ETA: By snooniesmom standards I am a horrible catholic too!

My GMIL is a devout Catholic and she is aweful.:oops

I try not to gossip period because it is rude but I am not perfect.

Wow, rach. You just said all i have been feeling in the last two days! I feel so crappy for losing my temper but i feel guilty also for letting them get to me.(my banning incident) I'm such a catholic, i feel guilty for everything. even when its not my fault. I dont know how i feel about gossips, etc...because honestly i fit that category sometimes too, then of course i feel guilty! I just try to pass along my feeling to them when they start with me...sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt, but i'm a praying woman so thats usually what i do.


Me too...About 99% of the time I end up feeling bad if I am "mean" to someone even if they were a royal bitch to me...but I pray too, so that makes me feel better.

We're not perfect, that's for sure. And I don't claim to be...but it cracks me up people who do but obviously have their faults.

Being a Christian has to do with believing in Christ. It has nothing to do with your deeds, habits, actions, or otherwise. People tend to get these confused. They should go hand in hand but they do not. If your heart is in the right place then they will meld together.

Good questions! As a Christian I'm always upset by the misconception that Christians have about themselves and that others have about Christians, the misonception that a Christian is or is supposed to be "better" than everyone else.

Being a Christian means beliving in Christ and following his teachings but we're humans and we're fallible. Even a "good" Christian is going to sin but being a Christian you're saved by God's mercy. Without that we'd all be screwed because there's no way any of us can be perfect enough to be saved without grace.

It really gets under my skin when Christians go around with a holier than thou attitude because they're just as big a sinner as anyone else. There's no such thing as a "lesser sin". I try not to pretend to be better than anyone because I know I'm not. I just try to be a good person and have "right" actions knowing that I'm going to screw up over and over again.

Being a Christian has to do with believing in Christ. It has nothing to do with your deeds, habits, actions, or otherwise. People tend to get these confused. They should go hand in hand but they do not. If your heart is in the right place then they will meld together.

I have to disagree with that. Or maybe I didn't word it right.

Anyways, I believe if you believe in Christ, than you should be trying to follow what is expected of someone who worships Him.

Hmmm Catholic here..... I want to know the stories about Catholics, because I havent heard them :teehee

My inlaws are pentecostal. I have to say.... the ones I know, are horrible gossips, horribly hipocrits. Just not what I would call a Christian at all. But they have their crown of glory, wear their dresses and attend every service. Who am I to judge? :dunno

I have to disagree with that. Or maybe I didn't word it right.

Anyways, I believe if you believe in Christ, than you should be trying to follow what is expected of someone who worships Him.
:agree
and thats what i was always taught as a catholic.

I have to disagree with that. Or maybe I didn't word it right.

Anyways, I believe if you believe in Christ, than you should be trying to follow what is expected of someone who worships Him.

Yes you should be trying but you do not have to. The only requirement to be a Christian is that you believe Christ died for you and ask him into your heart. period. sucks that murders and rapists can be Christians but they can.

Yes you should be trying but you do not have to. The only requirement to be a Christian is that you believe Christ died for you and ask him into your heart. period. sucks that murders and rapists can be Christians but they can.

Yep, we definetely disagree on this!

Yep, we definetely disagree on this!


Rach, we disagree on EVERYTHING :teehee

disagreements are great ways to learn...IMO

You couldn't have said it better!! I am in the same position. We all sin the same and live the same. If we all claim to be the "best" Christian then we are all hipocrits!!! There are moments in time when even the most devout Christian is going to stumble, but that's what makes God's promise to us so great that even when we do stumble or make that mistake that all humans make we can come to him and seek the forgiveness he has promised us!! So judgement or not (even though it is one of the biggest sins) we are all forgiven... we all have human faults!!! It's just a difficult day to get by without having that selfish judging moment!!! Even if it's the simplest little judgement!

Good questions! As a Christian I'm always upset by the misconception that Christians have about themselves and that others have about Christians, the misonception that a Christian is or is supposed to be "better" than everyone else.

Being a Christian means beliving in Christ and following his teachings but we're humans and we're fallible. Even a "good" Christian is going to sin but being a Christian you're saved by God's mercy. Without that we'd all be screwed because there's no way any of us can be perfect enough to be saved without grace.

It really gets under my skin when Christians go around with a holier than thou attitude because they're just as big a sinner as anyone else. There's no such thing as a "lesser sin". I try not to pretend to be better than anyone because I know I'm not. I just try to be a good person and have "right" actions knowing that I'm going to screw up over and over again.

Yes you should be trying but you do not have to. The only requirement to be a Christian is that you believe Christ died for you and ask him into your heart. period. sucks that murders and rapists can be Christians but they can.

I think April is right. Christianity is about believing in Christ and that he died for you. It doesn't mean that people can't make mistakes or sin.

I am Catholic, although I do not go to Mass, but that doesn't mean that I don't believe. I was raised Catholic, I know that there is redemption. I am not perfect, and God loves me anyway. I believe that there is good in ALL people. I believe that if people are good to one another, then they will have an eternity in Heaven.....people do not have to be perfect, but they do need to admit their imperfections and repent.

Rach, we disagree on EVERYTHING :teehee

:giggle Well, you might disagree :lol but I don't mind hearing other peoples beliefs or opinions. Helps me not be so ignorant.

I think April is right. Christianity is about believing in Christ and that he died for you. It doesn't mean that people can't make mistakes or sin.

I am Catholic, although I do not go to Mass, but that doesn't mean that I don't believe. I was raised Catholic, I know that there is redemption. I am not perfect, and God loves me anyway. I believe that there is good in ALL people. I believe that if people are good to one another, then they will have an eternity in Heaven.....people do not have to be perfect, but they do need to admit their imperfections and repent.

I have to agree with you, but cant help feeling guilty with my 'imperfections' I told you i'm catholic!

:giggle Well, you might disagree :lol but I don't mind hearing other peoples beliefs or opinions. Helps me not be so ignorant.


I'll have to think on that one. After all, ignorance is bliss:thinkin

Chris·tian (krĭs'chən) pronunciation
adj.

1. Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Relating to or derived from Jesus or Jesus's teachings.
3. Manifesting the qualities or spirit of Jesus; Christlike.
4. Relating to or characteristic of Christianity or its adherents.
5. Showing a loving concern for others; humane.

http://www.answers.com/topic/christian

Rach I read that too but it does not say for how long. You can not lose your Christianity. Once a Christian always a Christian. So if that Christian decides to rape, murder, judge, gossip....does not mean they are no longer a non-believer. It means they are tempted, angry people. All sin is the same in Gods eyes. We all sin everyday. Only people make a distinction on the degree of how bad an action is. Some actions are more acceptable to us but to God a sin is a sin is a sin and they all sadden Him.

Rach I read that too but it does not say for how long. You can not lose your Christianity. Once a Christian always a Christian. So if that Christian decides to rape, murder, judge, gossip....does not mean they are no longer a non-believer. It means they are tempted, angry people. All sin is the same in Gods eyes. We all sin everyday. Only people make a distinction on the degree of how bad an action is. Some actions are more acceptable to us but to God a sin is a sin is a sin and they all sadden Him.

I agree...I guess I'm not understanding what your saying. To me, this post you just wrote and what you wrote before contradict? I'm really not following?

This is me- :confused

i dont believe all sins are the same...but thinking about it, i'm not sure why

i dont think adultery and murder are the same...maybe because i think each requires a different punishment...

I have to agree with you, but cant help feeling guilty with my 'imperfections' I told you i'm catholic!

We Catholics are good at Guilt about our imperfections....:)

The Roman Road to Salvation




It is a group of Bible verses from the book of Romans in the New Testament. If you walk down this road you will end up understanding how to be saved.

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.

We were born under the power of sin's control.

- Admit that you are a sinner.



Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."

Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.

- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.



Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal

life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't

earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.

- Ask God to forgive you and save you.



Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in

that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"

When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life. He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!

- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change. His love bought you out of being a slave to sin. His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership. God loves you!



Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"

- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!



Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door,

ask Him to come into your heart.



Jesus said,

Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."

- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?



The Roman road is how to become a Christian. No where in there does it say you must not gossip, murder, rape, cuss.......plain and simple. You must believe. It follows that if you believe then your heart will naturally be "good" but it isnt always so.

I agree...I guess I'm not understanding what your saying. To me, this post you just wrote and what you wrote before contradict? I'm really not following?

This is me- :confused


I'm trying to figure out where I contradicted myself and I cant :dunno Help!

I'm trying to figure out where I contradicted myself and I cant :dunno Help!

I don't think you did. You basically stated that Christians believe in Christ and his word, but we do make mistakes....and we are forgiven - because nobody is without sin.

I agree it depends on your acts/deeds. We all make mistakes and lose our temper, get angry, or gossip, etc... thats why its so important that christ died for us. We can ask for forgiveness of our sins. But if we keep doing them without showing real intent and effort to quit I dont think we are truely forgiven. I think its important also that Christians make themselves pure enough that the spirit may be felt with them. Of course we are not perfect.

I don't think you did. You basically stated that Christians believe in Christ and his word, but we do make mistakes....and we are forgiven - because nobody is without sin.

Now for some reason I get the picture April was trying to say w/ that explanation.

Maybe my brain is gone tonight, I dont know :lol

To address that, I agree w/ all that, but I do think we are expected to follow certain principles, even though we do sin.

To address that, I agree w/ all that, but I do think we are expected to follow certain principles, even though we do sin.


WE (people) expect a certain code of conduct. God does not. God hopes we will be good, but knows we will not. He will not turn his back on us when we seemingly turn our back on him.

Faith and Deeds
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"[e] and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Christians all have fault, we are human.... but we are supposed to live life here on Earth reflecting Him and His love.
As for gossip, unfortunately Christians are some of the worst. A lot of times something is spread "out of concern" of course... but it's gossip. I see it in my church all the time. I try my very hardest to avoid this one. We all fail at some point though.
We have a song in my church and the first 2 lines are - To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me... I really feel that, I try so very hard to live my life according to Him.

i dont think adultery and murder are the same...maybe because i think each requires a different punishment...

To God, a sin is sin. We are the ones who match punishment with wrong doings. It's hard not to at times, but it's part of judging others.

I just wish I could get back into church. I work every Sunday, and I know I could ask off, but they hardly give me hours as it is.

one reason i left my youth group and stopped practicing for a long time was that most of the girls and some of the guys in my youth group were those kinds of people that would be :quote i'm such a good christian and i love God, etc etc :quote and then those would be the ones that you would hear stories about doing some really un-christian like things at parties or after church. i'm not claiming to be perfect or that i've never done those things but i have never openly stated that i was a perfect catholic/christian, etc etc. i love God and i have gone back to practicing my faith but then at the same time i just realize that people will always be people. i can't change them by not practicing my faith (there were other issues in there too but that's a whole other topic). i think the reason that people who go to church and claim to be such devout christians gossip and tell rumors, etc etc is because they are human. they buy into that innate human nature that makes us desire scandal and to be like :quote see my life isn't so bad compared to hers, or see i'm a much better person than her/him :quote. i'm guilty of gossiping, we all are.

Christians believe in Christ and his word, but we do make mistakes....and we are forgiven - because nobody is without sin.


Christ died so that we can be forgiven of sin. If you sin and ask for forgiveness then it will be forgiven(meaning you dont do the same sin again because you know full and well it was wrong). At least that is what I have been taught. He also has given us free agency. We are all to strive to be Christ like its hard as heck thats why we live each day a day at a time and are able to ask for guidence and support from him.

although i believe in God and Christ my belief is that basically if you are a good person and try to keep from doing bad things and if you do do bad things you attempt to make them right then you will go to heaven.

that is another part of my break from my church.

I'm not a christian but I try my best not to gossip about people. I feel like it's hurtful and tacky. For me it doesn't take having the authority of a higher power to make me feel like I need to stay in line and live by certain rules.

I tried not to gossip even when I was christian as well, but I'm no different now.

I agree it depends on your acts/deeds. We all make mistakes and lose our temper, get angry, or gossip, etc... thats why its so important that christ died for us. We can ask for forgiveness of our sins. But if we keep doing them without showing real intent and effort to quit I dont think we are truely forgiven. I think its important also that Christians make themselves pure enough that the spirit may be felt with them. Of course we are not perfect.


I agree with you Chrissie. I see what April is saying also, but does that mean that if we only believe in Christ that its okay to go out and deliberately keep sinning. No it does not. We should all strive to be Christ-like but we know that we can never attain to that but that shouldnt be an excuse to go do the things we do. I must admit i am far from a perfect Christian. Yes I have my beliefs but I feel that if i have done wrong in the eyes of God and do not ask him to forgive me then I will not be forgiven, but if i ask him to forgive my wrongs then i should try not to do them again even knowing full well that i will most likely fall again. to me its more than belief but its also our actions. but since we have so many various religions and beliefs out there this is one avenue that i dont debate. i let everyone have their own beliefs and we all agree to disagree agreeably.

I just wish I could get back into church. I work every Sunday, and I know I could ask off, but they hardly give me hours as it is.

Have you tried looking for a church with multiple services that can accomodate you? We are attending a church right now that has Friday, Saturday and Sunday services. We usually attend the Friday service but we have the others to "make up" if we can't make it on Friday. Sounds odd but we have really grown to love a Friday night service. Our church isnt' overly big either; about 600 maybe, but growing fast!

WE (people) expect a certain code of conduct. God does not. God hopes we will be good, but knows we will not. He will not turn his back on us when we seemingly turn our back on him.

Yep. To God, adultry is not better or worse than murder. It's mankind that has put the "better" and "worse" onto individual sins.
I've always been taught and believe the only sin that is "worse" than others, is the sin of not accepting Him.
I always try to remember as well that if someone doesn't see something as sin, they obviously then don't recognize it as such or believe they are doing anything wrong.

We Catholics are good at Guilt about our imperfections....:)

:yes but werent we all taught Catholic guilt is healthy :lmao its GOOD for you!

You know what, I believe in God, I believe in Christ and I live my life the best I can knowing I will make mistakes. We are made in the image of God, we are not God and he gave us choices for a reason. I will sin, I will repent, if I was perfect, there was no reason for Christ to die for my sins and salvation.

I absolutely abhor people that label them Christians and then do nothing but judge others by their standards and look down at others for not choosing their way of religion. Seriously, the "holier than thou" syndrome get's old and annoying. I cannot but help roll my eyes at the holes in their lifestyles compared to the word they preach and preach and preach. :rolleyes

Sharing the word is one thing, using it as a weopon to make your humanity seem righteous, and someone elses unworthy is self idolism to me.

:yes but werent we all taught Catholic guilt is healthy :lmao its GOOD for you!


whatever it takes to keep you people in line :P:teehee

whatever it takes to keep you people in line :P:teehee

LMAO yes Im sure thats what the nuns with the rulers thought when they went around wacking your hands! :giggle

:shock I hated that!

:shock I hated that!


you should not have been so naughty :shame


:giggle

I talked too much. :giggle

Surprise there.

Christians all have fault, we are human.... but we are supposed to live life here on Earth reflecting Him and His love.
As for gossip, unfortunately Christians are some of the worst. A lot of times something is spread "out of concern" of course... but it's gossip. I see it in my church all the time. I try my very hardest to avoid this one. We all fail at some point though.
We have a song in my church and the first 2 lines are - To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me... I really feel that, I try so very hard to live my life according to Him.

Very well put Elizabeth:yes

Everybody judges a little, no matter what. Besides, just because you say you're a Christian doens't mean you are. You'll find out in the end. :)

It's in the human nature to judge. It's a choice of free will, though, whether you're going to follow through on it and gossip and tell lies. I don't think judging is all bad though - it can be quite useful in helping to determine who is trustworthy, good friend material, etc. Unfair judging is what's not right - people are going to have initial judgements about everyone they meet. However, categorizing anybody is wrong.