I believe in God, I belive the Bible, and I think it is a great guide to live your life by.
unfortunately we run into problems when people see it as a great way to tell other people how to live their life's.
for example I have met many Christian men who can tell you exactly what a wifes responsabilities in a marriage are, but a little fuzzy on remembering what a mans obligations are to wife and family.
and in almost every example that ever mentions something bad that was done 'in the name of Christianity' (these things where not done in a 'Christian way') that is the case. people trying to apply Biblical rules (as they see it) to others even if it means breaking rules yourself in your efforts to enforce it.
often it's our own mis-guided members who give us such a bad name. other times I think it's people who profess to be Christians while doing these things just to turn people off from the truth.
it's like this guy last year. I came out of a movie theater and there was a small group of people with lituriture and bull-horns yelling at people walking down the street (one the streets with alot of the hippie, new-age, lesbian bookstore type of shops) telling them how they are all gonna burn in hell, blah, blah blah.
so I go up to this guy and try to talk to him (presumably thats why he's there. comunication, right?
"as a fellow Christian, I'm currious, how many people do you think you got through to tonight?"
"a couple dozen at least I'm sure, recieved the message"
"oh, and which message was that?"
"THE message, that Jesus saves and without him you will surely go to hell"
"oh, I thought you where going for the message that Christians where rabid nutcases and the enemy of these people"
he prety much ended our conversation there.
the point is, I guess, that most Christians aren't like this guy I mentioned. on this street there where a couple hundred people (in just a block or 2), out of those about 6 where making the big scene, I'd bet that there where at least 10 other Christians on that street for every one of those.
I often wonder if these types are really Christians at all, or just trying to keep others away from Christianity.
you shouldn't pretend to aprove of things you find immoral, or wrong. but doing things yourself that are wrong in an attempt to force others to do what is right just makes enemies
