Ex-Ifb's Are The Angriest, Most Hateful...

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Wow. Can I double-like this post?

yeah, me too

[JerryNumbers]

The thing about hypocrisy is, when hypocrisy is within us we are blind to it, yet when its with someone else we can easily spot the tiniest speck at a great distance.

 

Yet as John says our children see our hypocrisy, every speck of it.

[HappyChristian]

I agree with just about everything posted (James - great post!), but I have to say that I don't believe that it is "hypocritical parents" in every case.  I think sometimes (and I say this with knowledge, not just opinion) that it is due to influence from a mindset within a church/youth group/"Christian" school that encourages things like bullying (while claiming that bullying is a buzz word for homosexuals, while "good" kids push non accepted kids down the stairs, etc), etc.

 

I've had it said to me, "I was raised in this [church], and believed that THIS was God...and I wanted NOTHING to do with a God that allowed/did this."  Yes, parents are ultimately responsible, but if said children are told not to tell their parents (and, again, I know this happens) what happens, parents cannot intercede (or if parents are made to feel they are rebelling against God if they interceded...) and the results continue.

 

And then they find each other and "evil communications corrupt good manners."  The evil communications start in a place that is supposed to be safe for them and lead them to others who communicate evil via hatred toward anything godly...

[Ukulelemike]

 

In discerning a rationale response to such actions, it is wise to keep in mind that the level of your expectation will determine the amount of your disappointment.(Hope deferred maketh the heart sick. Prov 13:12.) If I expect the unsaved and backslidden to act any different from what they have demonstrated or stated that they believe, I will be greatly disappointed, especially if my joy depends on the expectations of man's limitations.

 

If I react according to what I know about man's nature, and what I have learned by observance and experience about a persons character, I will not be offended if I have a great love for the law of God, and can abdicate my own desire to be right toward situations of which I can not possibly determine or influence the outcome, and of which may personally offend me, a weakness in which most of us can identify with

If I may diverge for a moment from the OP, (shame on me), these last paragraphs bring to min what I just taught Sunday on the issue of how Christians should be reacting to the current Homosexual movement.

  It seems that Christians expect the unsaved to act moral and, well, saved, so we get horrified and outraged when unsaved, unregenerate sinners act like exactly what they are. We march against the homosexuals, carry signs to make sure they know they're condemned at pride rallies, holler at them through bullhorns, yet how much response do we ever see with these tactics, even if we're NOT doing them ala Westboro Baptist?  Of course the balk and resist and rebel-they're unsaved!

  What I taught my folks is that the signs and such at the rallies and parades don't work well because these folks have basically two things in mind when they go to these events: 1-celebrate homosexuality, and 2-an expectation of 'hateful' Christians with signs and bullhorns to mistreat them, and they already expect to react with great disdain, perhaps even violence. So, when we go and give them what they expect, (of something they can perceive it what they expected), how can we expect them to respond positively?

 

So here is my plan at the next pride rally in our area-we're going to go, in groups of two, and go to various areas and just pray-pray for God's mercy and forgiveness that His conviction might fall on some there, and open a door for us to speak with some-just fervently pray, not waving our hands around or being a spectacle, just pray in teams for them, maybe walk through the areas praying in our hearts for the people there, and seek openings to speak with individuals-not in groups, because you get that nasty mob mentaility-but we go after them the same way we always do: one on one, face to face-we save the world one soul at a time, and if the Lord popens doors, we will do our best to walk through them, but at least, we'll pray that God will begin a work-love them like Jesus loved the sinners-not with harsh words and direct condemnation, but seek to get close, and when possible give them the unabashed truth of the gospel.

 

Remember, Jesu and His disciples never marched with signs at the houses of the publicans and pharisees-He loved them and was invited to their homes, and then he was given a forum to speak. I have dealt with a few homosexuals in this manner and have found them far more willing to hear the truth when they know I'm not there to beat them up, but to tell them of the love of God for them, that He is not willing that any perish, and that He sent His Son for them. yes, they must know they are lost and I make no bones about it, but even that can be done in love.

 

Okay, I have ranted enough-back to the OP! Hi-Yo!

[JerryNumbers]

I agree with just about everything posted (James - great post!), but I have to say that I don't believe that it is "hypocritical parents" in every case.  I think sometimes (and I say this with knowledge, not just opinion) that it is due to influence from a mindset within a church/youth group/"Christian" school that encourages things like bullying (while claiming that bullying is a buzz word for homosexuals, while "good" kids push non accepted kids down the stairs, etc), etc.

 

I've had it said to me, "I was raised in this [church], and believed that THIS was God...and I wanted NOTHING to do with a God that allowed/did this."  Yes, parents are ultimately responsible, but if said children are told not to tell their parents (and, again, I know this happens) what happens, parents cannot intercede (or if parents are made to feel they are rebelling against God if they interceded...) and the results continue.

 

And then they find each other and "evil communications corrupt good manners."  The evil communications start in a place that is supposed to be safe for them and lead them to others who communicate evil via hatred toward anything godly...

 

 

Probably for the majority of them public school & school friends is the blame, as well as colleges that teach God is not real.

[HappyChristian]

Probably for the majority of them public school & school friends is the blame, as well as colleges that teach God is not real.

Not for the ones I know...if you notice, I included Christian schools...

[OLD fashioned preacher]

Not for the ones I know...if you notice, I included Christian schools...

Way too many Christian schools are basically a public school that charges tuition for not teaching evolution.

[HappyChristian]

Way too many Christian schools are basically a public school that charges tuition for not teaching evolution.

This is true. But the ones I referenced in my earlier post are staunch IFB schools (I'm not naming names).  And they do teach right. It's the attitudes/actions that create the problem.

[Ukulelemike]

This is true. But the ones I referenced in my earlier post are staunch IFB schools (I'm not naming names).  And they do teach right. It's the attitudes/actions that create the problem.

*cough cough (hac)cough cough*!

 

 

[JerryNumbers]

Not for the ones I know...if you notice, I included Christian schools...

 

I know one thing for fact, the majority of children I went to public school with went to church, but the majority of them after high school & or college left Jesus behind. Yet many of today's Christians continue to send their children into the den of the Devil that teaches children that if their parents teaches them about Christ they're lying to them. That my friend causes children to rebel against their parents & God.

[HappyChristian]

I know one thing for fact, the majority of children I went to public school with went to church, but the majority of them after high school & or college left Jesus behind. Yet many of today's Christians continue to send their children into the den of the Devil that teaches children that if their parents teaches them about Christ they're lying to them. That my friend causes children to rebel against their parents & God.

Jerry, I never said it didn't.  But MY point is that currently children are going to the devil after being sent to (some) IFB schools.  Any school that EVER undermines parental authority causes children to rebel.  That's all I was saying.  

[Pastor Matt]

In my experience, some of the most angry, hateful, evil people ever are those who have come out of an IFBx or even more cultish religion. Some people I've "Met" online and wondered why they were so angry and hateful at other Christians only to find out later that they had been raised in some sort of "fundamentalist" home. Once they find out I am a Christian, it is like they spew hatred...and sometimes I feel like if they could just snuff me out, they would.

Is the "abuse" that terrible in IFBx and other groups? Or....why do people turn out like this???

As a side note, I am more and more concerned about Christianity in this country. The hate that groups, especially gay groups, have for Christians is frightening. More and more I feel like Christians will be a truly persecuted group...maybe even by the time my children are fully grown.

Sobering.

I think anytime you have "ex" anything, those people will be very passionate about it. It seems that Ex-Catholics are more passionate about Catholicism than those not raised catholic.

I do agree with you that that majority of IFBx hate anything IFB. Seems they throw out the baby with the bath water and we all are terrible people to them. Sad, but the stereotype is there.

[Moved_On]

In my experience, some of the most angry, hateful, evil people ever are those who have come out of an IFBx or even more cultish religion. Some people I've "Met" online and wondered why they were so angry and hateful at other Christians only to find out later that they had been raised in some sort of "fundamentalist" home. Once they find out I am a Christian, it is like they spew hatred...and sometimes I feel like if they could just snuff me out, they would.

Is the "abuse" that terrible in IFBx and other groups? Or....why do people turn out like this???

As a side note, I am more and more concerned about Christianity in this country. The hate that groups, especially gay groups, have for Christians is frightening. More and more I feel like Christians will be a truly persecuted group...maybe even by the time my children are fully grown.

Sobering.

 

Here’s one reason:

I've personally seen more than once where a man labors "for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life" only to allow his children to bathe in Hollywood and the world's music. It’s no accident that a portion of these children vehemently turn against God’s people and embrace the world. Others are less hostile but yet still live for carnal pleasures.

[John81]

Here’s one reason:

I've personally seen more than once where a man labors "for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life" only to allow his children to bathe in Hollywood and the world's music. It’s no accident that a portion of these children vehemently turn against God’s people and embrace the world. Others are less hostile but yet still live for carnal pleasures.

That is another problem. Men of God who neglect their families in what they call "serving the Lord". No doubt some of what they are doing is indeed serving the Lord, but when they should be with their family but they choose to do "something for the Lord" they have stepped out of bounds.

 

Children from such families (and some women do this sort of thing too) often grow up saturated in the world and they resent church, Christianity and even God for what they see as losing their parents to them.

[Ukulelemike]

Well, in this issue, what irritates me is the men, or couples, who compartmentalize their lives, like, they have 'church' or 'God' time and they have 'family' time, when they should be mixing the two. Children that are taught from a young age that Family time should BE God time as well, that God time is always and includes family time, should grow more balanced. Rather than dad running off and leaving the kids for doing something for God, why not include them in it? If there is going to be a men's meeting, why not have a women's meeting and kid's event at the same time-everyone is part!

 

By the way, I speak this as someone who often did the opposite of what I am saying-seeing the family split apart for events, rather than encouraging all to be part together when able. My own daughters are off in the world. I have learned by mistake and failure, though I haven't given up on them-they DO have a foundation, if they will return to it.

 

**Edit: By the way, nether of my daughters hates God or church or fundamentalism-they just have no place for it in their lives.