Is it right to judge Christianity based on Christians?

[Confused]

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It seems to me that I have invested a lot of energy in trying to find the truth of Christianity by comparing scripture with current Christians. I didn't realize until yesterday when the last local church in this area told me it was impossible to minister to my son because he was beyond their resources. Now, in my defense, I got pissed but for good reasons. My son is a handful yes, but he is in a special education class for children with emotional and behavioral disorders (autism/aspergers/severe ADHD) and function moderately ok. He has his days when he is defiant or when the stimulation is to high and he breaks down and essentially goes into a vegetative state for an unknown period of time (average 8-12 hours) where theoretically he restarts his system. The education system is mandated by law to provide this service. My anger results from that fact that religion is suppose to be held to higher standards. The standards of God. For a church (and this was a large church) to turn away a 7 year old boy was appalling to me. But it is the 5th church to do so. So last night I was on a path of vengeance. I was judging every Christian I knew and using their hypocrisy to discount the scripture. It got me wondering.

Is it right to judge Christianity based on the sole actions of Christians? I am aware of the discrepancies that exist in the Bible. But I am not judging scripture alone here. I am judging scripture and Christians together. Is it right? Any thoughts?

[Confused]

Is it right to judge Christianity based on the sole actions of Christians?

I may be wrong, but doesn't it say something in the Bible about knowing a tree by the fruit that it bears?

Yes, but how are you sure the fruit on the tree are actually of that tree. Many imitate Christians for various reasons. To fit in, to look good, it is the current trend, etc..... And there are so many interpretation of what one scripture means that some who follow it may be following it under the assumption that it is the correct Christian way, when it may not be. So how can I know what is truth and what is false when there are so many different trees with different fruits all claiming to be "the" tree?

Yes, of course, you're right. It would be difficult for any reasonable person to argue with what I have always understood to be the central message of Christianity: Love your neighbour as yourself. Which is much the same as: Do unto others as you would be done by.

The problem, as I see it, is that Christianity is a religion as opposed to a philosophy. And it is the absolutism of religion, especially monotheistic religions, that seems to be at the root of most of the problems. If the 'tree of religion' has so much bad fruit associated with it, however it got there, perhaps there is something fundamentally wrong with the tree.

And therein would lie the problem. If one cannot base Christianity on the practitioners of it, then what does that person have left. The bible. Ok. There are some points that are direct and can't be minsinterpreted. But the largest majority of what Christ spoke was in parables, they could mean anything. Romans, Acts, etc... can't be considered because they are based upon the intepretation of the parables. The OT can't be considered because Christianity didn't exist yet. So what criteria, if any, could one use to judge the validity of Christianity and the reliability of the interpretation into each parable?

[Cryopyre]

It depends, if you are judging a church or denomination, then yes, however, if you are solely judging the religion alone, then it is not entirely fair to judge it by Christians. In fact, if you were to do that, you'd be stuck with a mess, there are a million Christians out there, and each carry their own "flavor" of Christianity, with that, there are good and evil people that are Christians, and they cannot possibly reflect a religion on its own.

[Osiris]

Yes, it is right to judge a religion based on its practicers because they created and practice the religion, and carry out actions based on thier beliefs and interpretation of that religion.

[melikio]

Is it right to judge Christianity based on the sole actions of Christians? I am aware of the discrepancies that exist in the Bible. But I am not judging scripture alone here. I am judging scripture and Christians together. Is it right? Any thoughts?

The 'cummulative' negative effects of "Christianity", cannot be ignored.

I see "Scripture" as a tool, not the reason for the problems which exist. That is, HUMAN NATURE combined with religious legalism or just any negative aspect of what defines us a human, is pervasive. Whatever some individual or group gets from the "Bible", will not remain untainted or unaffected by human beings, and history proves this repeatedly.

For that reason (primarily), I naturally question things at this point in my life. The 'litmus' test I apply in almost any given case stems from what I learned from the Bible: 1Cor13.

If someone has something "Christian" to say, I virtually listen and feel for the "characteristics" of love listed in 1Cor13:

4Love is patient, love is kind.

Kindness (The first quality listed, and the one I take as being most preeminent.)

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

(Self-explanatory, in my view; but more can surely be discussed than I'm sharing here.)

5It is not rude,

Politeness (Ever run HEAD-ON into some Christian's "zeal"? I surely have.)

it is not self-seeking,

Graciousness (So many people talk as if God is storing up exclusive KUDOS for THEM, is they do/say "X". To get those rewards, they'll step on or trample other people's rights, liberties and self-worth.)

it is not easily angered,

Temperance (LOL!!! I know two words, that will often have many Christians barreling AT you, if you say them.)

it keeps no record of wrongs.

Forgiveness (Also self-explanatory.)

6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Compassionate Forthrightness (Not the same as the often ruthless, and brutal honesty, characterized by many angry and over-zealous "Christian" people.)

7It always protects,

Why BULLY anyone for the sake of "religion"? Yet history (and our present day) has shown us where instead of embracing a sinner, there is someone effectively pounding and bullying them to "submit" to doctrines and rules.

always trusts,

This one is hard to fathom for me. But I can say that I trust God to be merciful and compassionate with me (as I realize He has been). But I can count on one hand, the Christians outside of my immediate family, who I could trust implicitly. And I think this frustrates MANY of the more forceful Christians who think/believe by virtue of them repeating verses from the "Bible", that other human beings will HEED what they are saying. But sadly, they give the doubter/skeptic or sinner very little reason to TRUST what they are claiming (often in God's name).

always hopes,

I often melt/cry inside, when I realize that someone, God, family or friend cares and wants/expects or wishes the best for me. As I implied above, there are two "words" I could say to many many (not all) "Christians", that would quench most any positive feeling they have toward me.

always perseveres.

I see agape here; God can be and has been this way. For me, it's an unattainable goal, but the effects of making the effort are something I cannot deny; I've seen many miracles occur in people's hearts, by applying as much LOVE as I could. It's the ONLY reason I share anything here on this site, and that stems directly from the fact that LOVE is an active part of my life. I see the miraculous effects of loving others, even if I'm not perfect in doing so. People have told me their lives have been saved; that they've come to Jesus and stopped HATING another person... because of things I've said and done for them.

I cannot ignore that kind of thing and never will. I personally stopped "worshipping" the Bible a long time ago; but thankfully, I see many things from it still, which tell me that there is yet something meaningful to extract from it.

"Christianity" as people see the "product" (the package being today's Christians), will judge it accordingly. And what the Bible says is "good" religion, is nearly impossible to dispute.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?bo ... text=verse

So PEOPLE and their "religion" (actions, attitudes, thoughts and beliefs) are what most people associate with "Christianity"; and the people who claim to BE "Christians" are making the most significant IMPRESSION by their ACTIONS (not as much the things they say).

If they ("Christians") aren't about justice, faith, hope and LOVE... then what's the "world" (skeptics, unbelievers and the un-saved) to think (about "Christianity" itself)?

-Mel-

[spiritletter]

No, and neither does Christianity necessarily have anything to do with the teachings of Christ. Uhhhh.....who would Jesus bomb?

There are plenty of so called Christians behind the war in Iraq.

[Flail]

Christians are fine...it is the Church that leads them into dogma and ritual and away from Jesus and understanding.

[Nameless]

Is it right to judge Christianity based on Christians?

Is a 'tree not known by it's fruits'?

[Chancellor]

Is it right to judge Christianity based on the sole actions of Christians? I am aware of the discrepancies that exist in the Bible. But I am not judging scripture alone here. I am judging scripture and Christians together. Is it right? Any thoughts?

No. Christians should be judged by the teachings of Christianity as found in the New Testament.

[Jose]

Is it right to judge Christianity based on the sole actions of Christians? I am aware of the discrepancies that exist in the Bible. But I am not judging scripture alone here. I am judging scripture and Christians together. Is it right? Any thoughts?

No. Christians should be judged by the teachings of Christianity as found in the New Testament.

But different Christians, and different sects of Christianity, interpret those teachings rather differently, and act differently. From scripture, we may perhaps judge an idealized Christianity that may or may not exist on earth. But Christians are humans, who may (and must) be judged by their actions.

How do we judge other religions? By their idealized teachings, or by their practitioners? Typically it is by the actions of those who follow the religion. Whether we like it or not, we will, and we do judge Christianity from the actions of Christians. We judge different flavors of Christianity by the actions of different flavors of Christians--even to the extent of some Christians calling others "false Christians" or "Pretenders."

[Assent]

It eases the mind to divide Christianity into its sects, and deal with each as a seperate entity.

They may as well be different religions. Of the two things they all hold in common, Jesus and the Bible, one is no more than a saying "I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior," and thus has no associated cost, and the other is a confusing, wordy, and over-translated document that simultaniously agrees and disagrees with everything it says.

A Christian must be judged by his/her own merits, for that is how he/she is encountered. A church or institution must be seen as representative of its members, for that is how it is encountered. A priest, however, is both; acting as a representative and in his/her own name.

The OP's dilemma comes from desiring a spiritual connection, and being rejected based on secular concerns (ie, the child would be a disruption in the church). Perhaps there is more than one path to spirituality. Perhaps it does not have to go through the doors of a church.