frostymama

I think anyone other than Muslims have it hard in some Muslim countries. If you think it is hard to be Xian in the US... try telling people in GA you are an atheist. Still, I wouldn't consider people's negative reactions to personal beliefs or mild social pressure to be "persecution".

Amos

Hello Rousseau, the gate is narrow but the path is wide, easy and downhill into heaven. In "The Spire" Golding told us that to get there is "as easy as eating and drinking."

If you see Christians, or so called Christians, struggle you can tell them that they are going the wrong way. After all, isn't it true that life must be easy where the streets are paved with gold and where pain and suffering can not exist?

If you think that lobster and fried chicken has anything to do with heaven why don't you just go work on a chicken farm?

I ate Pascal's Wafer

As frosty said, pretty much any non-Muslim has a hard time in Muslim countries.

What's so hard about being true to xianity in the U.S.? If you think being a fundy is tough in American, try visiting northwest Alabama something (or hell, even the panhandle in Florida). Up there fundies dominate. Shows which depict "degenerate" society generally aren't watched, there are few liquor stores, and the region seems to shut down on Sundays. It's not hard at all to follow strict Biblical teachings in that part of the country. Ditto in other places too, but these are just some areas that I have direct experience.

Besides, the only "persecution" that fundies have in this country is that other people tend to make fun of them. Is this really all that bad? Do you really think that Jesus was trying to say that xians will have it rough because non-believers (or "lapsed" xians, even) make fun of them?

-Nick

GeoTheo

I think it is hard being a Christian around a bunch of fundies somtimes. I think many are sincere but some are modern day pharisees. I think if you really try to follow God the first people to give you trouble are other Christians.

I ate Pascal's Wafer

Surely somewhere in America you can find a group of "true Christians" to be associated with.

Besides, what is so hard about expressing your version of Christianity around them? Do they call your beliefs mistaken? Aren't you doing the same to them? In the end, is it really so hard that Jesus felt he needed to take the time out of his schedule to warn people about it? At worst you would only have a heated disagreement with them, but it's not hard at all to refrain from associating with them (or at least bringing up religion when you do associate).

In effect, this still boils down to, "my life is so hard because the other Christians won't accept me." Do you really think this is what Jesus was getting at when he said being a Christian would be hard?

-Nick

GeoTheo

Yep. When you try to follow Jesus people resist you. I also am not playing the "true Christian" shell game with you. Sorry.
Trying to fight against your own short comings, weaknesses and selfishness is also hard. Tying to live out your faith according to how you say you believe is hard.

Sabine Grant

Salut GeoTheo,
I agree with you that it is often more difficult to follow Christ around other Christians than it is around non believers or folks of other faiths.
What I have encountered for myself is that other christians will attempt to make me abide to their own doctrine rather than focus on the fact that I have entrusted Christ with my life. There is that obsessive need to come across as " closer to God"....also the need to evaluate each other's spiritual state and to pull that speck out of the neighbor's eye. In the meantime, we forget to work on ourselves and it definitly starts with our own person, behavior and character.

GeoTheo

Hi Sabine,
I also notice Christians don't mention their doubts to each other much. I've also heard of young people feeling they were called to be a missionary and their parents were Like "Oh no your not your going to be a Doctor!" Not to say that I don't have Christian friends that are a real encouragement, though.
I also know what you mean about the trusting Christ with your life thing. A lot of people seem to have lot's of Godly advice that runs counter to how you may feel God is leading you.

I ate Pascal's Wafer

In other words you are suggesting that you are the only person (or one of very few) who can accept your particular version of Christianity. Is this not also implying that the others are not completely walking the walk with Jesus as they give you a hard time, thus they are not as true of a Christian as you are?

Is this hard because you are insecure with your own beliefs, or is it hard because other people are seriously persecuting you? At worst all I have seen is that people tend to think other people have whacked beliefs and leave it at that. So long as you don't shove your particular interpretations down their throat, many of the Christians I know will accept you and your beliefs. I still fail to see how it's so hard to be a Christian in our predominantly Christian society.

-Nick