Why So Much Hatred Against Christians in America Today?
On Sunday, the day of the church massacre, cultural commentator David French tweeted, “The amount of anti-Christian hate on Twitter the same day Christians were massacred is stunning and chilling.”
If ever there was a time when we might have expected sympathy for Christians, or at least restraint in attacking them, it’s at a time like this. But the opposite proved true far too many times. Why?
On Fox News, Laura Ingraham noted that some of the reactions to the shooting pointed to “elite hostility to people of faith.” She stated that “hostility to faith infects the popular culture.” She also spoke of a rising “militant secularism,” drawing attention to comments which mocked the prayers of believers on behalf of those affected by Sunday’s church massacre.
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This is more than heartless and tactless. It’s intentional and focused: Faith in God is to be mocked, in particular Christian faith. And when Christians are slaughtered during a church service? That’s the perfect time to pile on.
To paraphrase: “Where was your God, you stupid Christians? A lot of good your praying did! Go ahead and stick your head in the sand some more and keep praying to your imaginary deity. You deserve each other!”
Four Reasons for the Hostility to Christians
On Sunday, someone posted a picture on my Twitter account of three lions holding up signs that looked like those held up by cows on popular Chick-Fil-A ads. Except these signs were not saying, “Eat Mor Chikin.” The signs read, “Eat Mor Cristins,” with a caption adding: “America. Yeah. It’s getting that way.”
Eat More Christians
At this point, these sentiments should not surprise us at all, as despicable and ugly as they may be. There is an increasing, palpable hostility toward the gospel in some quarters in America. It’s easy to explain.
First, it’s a natural fruit of the harsh and condescending “new atheism.” This continues to poison many hearts and minds with its venom. God is not simply to be rejected; He is to mocked and ridiculed, as are His followers.
Second, the hatred is a result of the culture wars. Conservative Christians are targeted because of their opposition to LGBT activism and abortion. Bible-believing Christians are commonly compared to ISIS. They are accused of wanting to establish a Taliban-type theocracy, and called bigots, haters and Nazis. (Just search for any of these key words at AskDrBrown.org for a plethora of relevant articles. You’ll even find examples of gay activists calling for us to be thrown to the lions.)
When tragedy strikes conservative Christians, it brings the hatred against us to the surface, especially when we respond with faith in God.
I regularly receive death-wishes (in perverse and graphic terms). On occasion, I receive death threats. And this is quite common for those of us on the front lines.
Others, whose voices may not be as prominent, receive ugly, personal attacks on social media. Those attacks are filled with malice and bile.
Consequently, when tragedy strikes conservative Christians, it brings the hatred against us to the surface, especially when we respond with faith in God.
Third, evangelical Christians in particular are lumped together with President Trump. It’s as if we are responsible for (or in support of) every statement he makes and every stand he takes. To the extent that he is divisive, we are blamed for his shortcomings. Just as many on the right despised President Obama, many on the left despise President Trump. And as they despise him, they also despise us.
Fourth, the darkness hates the light. This is an age-old battle that will continue until Jesus returns. To the extent we stand for sexual purity and biblical morality, and to the extent we preach Jesus as the only true way to God, we will be mocked and scorned.
Jesus Warned Us About This — And Gives Us Hope
That’s the way it has always been. That’s the way it will always be. And that’s why we must not deceive ourselves in terms of the cultural climate in America. The hostility against us is reaching a crescendo. Things could get even uglier in the days ahead.
That’s why we should remember the words that Peter wrote almost 2,000 years ago:
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (1 Peter 4:12-16)
And that’s why we should also remember the words of Jesus, who called us to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), as well as the words of Paul, who called us to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
Many of those who ridicule us viciously today will be preaching our message tomorrow. Some of the finest gospel ministers in the world were once profane gospel mockers. So, we can expect more abuse in the coming days. We can also expect some of our abusers to have a change of heart as they encounter the God whom they mock. https://stream.org/much-hatred-christians-america-today/
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1. New atheists don't hate you.
2. It is a result of the culture wars. When Christians try to force their religion into our civil laws as an excuse for religious bigotry, you invoke a backlash.
3. Evangelicals voted 80% for Trump, so yes, they have responsibility. Of course, by voting for Trump you jettisoned any moral high ground you thought you occupied, and lost most respect. That's your problem, Trump is America's problem.
4. Neither darkness or light can hate anything, they are simply conditions. Rather arrogant to maintain that only you are the light and everyone else is the darkness, but Christians do lean towards arrogance. It does not become you.
That pretty much sums it up. If Christians minded their own business, perhaps there wouldn't be any "hatred" towards Christians.
Exactly. Christians should stop trying to legislate morality, stop trying to make laws based on the bible, stop butting into other people's personal business.
The only people who don't mind the state enforcing a cult's sharia laws are the people who share the same bigoted and theocratic views as that cult. Everyone else can't stand it when the churches mixes with the state.
I don't care if you have "faith in God" as you put it but, what I do care about is when you say you are following the "gospel" and, what you are saying on line, especially in NT and, NV is the exact opposite of what Jesus taught, Comment removed for CoC violation [ph]
I pass on another religious article~
There will always be those that mock or insult beliefs other than their own, atheists are not exempt. Christians practice it as an art. I find it ridiculous that the irony that such a tragedy occurred in a house of worship and I would bet not a single believer questions the obvious. How many Christians have brought forth the observation that the Walmart shooter lived in a spartan apt. with the most obvious accruement was a stack of bibles. Two sets of premeditated murders and only one is worthy of mention.
Long time, no see, Corny....looks like you escaped NV relatively unscathed...very good!
Now, where to begin...let me respond one point at a time.
If you are a Bible-believing sort, you know of John's visions of the "End Times" mentioned in the Book of Revelations. It mentions that Christians will be persecuted all over the world, that it will soon be criminal to profess your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior. It WILL happen! The type of mockery and ridicule some Christians say happens to them today will be FAR worse in days to come. You need to toughen up!! Don't play the victim. It's funny...social and religious conservatives have no qualms about attacking those who practice religions OTHER THAN Christianity. How is that any different than what some Christians say they go through?
The resentment (what the author calls "hatred") of some Christians by non-believers most likely comes from their over-zealous drive to make the old Hebrew laws the law of the land locally, statewide and especially nationally. They are hellbent (pun intended) on pushing their puritan agenda and laws on those who don't share their beliefs. Banning of media (books, movies, etc.) that Christians believe are a "bad influence" on people, especially children. Of course, that is the responsibility of parents, not of government. When you begin turning secular laws and regulations into religious ones, you get pushback from the masses. You end up with a theocracy, and you end up like Iran, no better, no worse. Wanna stop the "hatred"?? How about you live your life your way, and let others live their own lives their way!
To be honest, I don't equate Donald Trump with Christianity at all! He's not a true Christian, never has been. If others make the mistake of believing Christians are solely responsible for unleashing Trump and Trumpism on the country (not to mention the rest of the civilized world), they are mistaken. I believe he won last year's election for one reason and one reason only....Hillary Clinton was his opponent! Now, Mike Pence, on the other hand, is an evangelical Christian who believes in denying, even making it a crime, for a woman to make her own decisions on health care. It just might come to pass, if (or should I say "when") Trump gets impeached and leaves the office of POTUS in disgrace. I wouldn't put it past Pence, if he were ever the president, to push for a regulated media, banning books, movies, even controlling the internet, such as to somehow bring this country back to some puritan state, where television shows would be like Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Lassie, etc....the family will consist of the sole breadwinner (Dad), the stay-at-home housekeeper (Mom) and little Timmy and Suzy, happily playing jacks on the front porch after doing their homework after school. Now, the specter of that scenario becoming a reality scares me, as it should scare most everyone. You want to live your life and raise your family that way, be my guest....just don't make everyone else do the same!
Again, it has been prophesied in the Bible that this will happen. And again, nobody's against you and your family living your life as you see fit. Have at it!! Just don't push your lifestyle on anyone else. And, you need to be just as tolerant of others' lifestyles as you wish others to be tolerant of yours. As true Christians (living by the words and teachings of Jesus Christ), you should love your neighbor, do unto others the way you would want to be treated, freely give help to those who are less fortunate than you are. Don't be so condescending of others who may not believe what you believe. After all, man's judgement of man's apparent immorality WILL be judged in the end by God...you just make sure YOU are living by His Word, and don't worry how others live. And, dammit, TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, when you feel you're being persecuted for your beliefs!! Take the high road!!
Peace out!
The Christian fanatics in America claim they are persecuted in order to attract attention to themselves and their political positions.
NT never lets them down either.
Dancing on the graves of the victims before they where even put to rest. Did we see this response with the Dylan Roof murders? If we did, I don't remember it. Is the hatred rearing it's ugly head because these victims where White Christians?
What is your purpose? What did you hope to achieve by mocking those who died before there bodies have even gone cold? To prove you are correct, to prove how wrong the victims where? Can you not control your self gratification for one day?
Nobody listens to you. Nobody listens because of the disgust. They do not hear your words, they hear your heart is miserable.
Huh! I guess the Pope hates Christians too!
the cult of the Church oif Rome has hated Christianity for it's entire existence.
Hi Larry! Aren't you one of those "Christians" who uses our secular government to impose your cult's sharia laws on everyone else? At least that's why you admitted you voted for Prop h8.
No wonder people are disgusted by your ilk.
Still waiting for you to tell us what Christian Sharia Laws are and where they are found in the Bible
Sharia is uniquely a Muslim Term
“Sharia law is Islam's legal system. It is derived from both the Koran, Islam's central text, and fatwas - the rulings of Islamic scholars.
Sharia literally means "the clear, well-trodden path to water".
Sharia law acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to the poor.
It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes.”
The closest thing to law in the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles is the Jerusalem Decree at the Council of Jerusalem (circa 48-50 AD) and it is NOT a list of civil laws. They are moral laws. It also specifically states that Christians are not under the Laws of Moses (OT Jewish Law)
The Jerusalem Decree
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “ You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell. Acts 15:22-29
And you continue to lie about me. I have repeatedly told you that I voted for prop 8 because the government has no right to redefine marriage. And furthermore you KNOW from our repeated debates that I oppose ALL government involvement in ANY marriage.
The fact that you voted for Prop 8 speaks volumes, regardless of your reasons or justification. And government is involved in marriage and will remain so. Your religion has no say in that regard. Get over it!
Actually this is what you said at the time....quite clearly you want to use the state to enforce the anti-gay sharia laws of your cult:
I continue to challenge you to show me where Jesus or the Apostles ever commanded to establish Christian civil laws
“Sharia law is Islam's legal system. It is derived from both the Koran, Islam's central text, and fatwas - the rulings of Islamic scholars.
Sharia literally means "the clear, well-trodden path to water".
Sharia law acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to the poor.
It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes.”
The closest thing to law in the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles is the Jerusalem Decree at the Council of Jerusalem (circa 48-50 AD) and it is NOT a list of civil laws. They are moral laws. It also specifically states that Christians are not under the Laws of Moses (OT Jewish Law)
The Jerusalem Decree
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “ You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell. Acts 15:22-29
My answers are consistent and do not attempt to establish what you accuse. I maintain that Government has no authority to meddle in marriage and that includes redefining marriage. therefore my statement you cite is consistent with that position. You just choose to ignore that fact and instead falsely accuse me of a position that I do not hold.
The US instituted marriage licenses because of the 1927 Uniform Marriage and Divorce act which was an unconstitutional law that was implemented to prevent interracial marriage. there is no reason not to return to our historic role of keeping marriage private between individuals and keeping government out of it.
Without government involvement in marriage that entire debate goes away. But haters like yourself don't want a reasonable solution. You want to press your hatred of Christians and Jews.
Except you weren't voting to keep government out of marriage, you were voting to deny gays the civil rights which you enjoy. That means you wanted special rights and are so greedy (not to mention theocratic) that you wanted to deny those same rights to gays. That's profoundly un-American.
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That's a nonsensical comment. You've obviously confused the legal contract of marriage (which is about kinship rights and property rights) with one of the irrelevant rituals of your cult, like "holy matrimony" or something. No wonder you don't understand the issue at all. What your cult thinks on this topic is and must be irrelevant to our secular government. Even funnier......you also seem unaware that many Christian and Jewish sects fully support marriage equality and perform religious weddings for same-sex couples.
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I agree with you on that point even though I'm not an expert on your cult's mythology. It always seemed strange that you were trying to use the state to enforce your cult's homophobic sharia laws rather than following your buddy Jesus' command to "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to god the things that are god's." So at least your buddy Jesus understood the separation of church and state even if you don't. Too bad you aren't a real Christian and don't actually follow the commands of your buddy Jesus.
Marriage is between one man and one woman.
Not according to your bible.
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David & Solomon had multiple wives (polygamy) and some had mistresses as well. David's name means "beloved by God".
Please provide the biblical quote that confirms marriage to be between one man and one woman.
And for your reading enjoyment:
According to your cult's mythology they weren't married. What's worse is that Eve was the transgender clone of the dude she shacked up with.
Shouldn't clone sex be banned? It's like incest combined with masturbation. Funny that your cult's sharia laws don't prohibit clone sex.
In other words you selfishly voted to deny same-sex couples the same civil rights you enjoy, and you have a desperate need to feel superior to gays which is why you want privileged status and oppose equal protection of the law.
As a California court noted in 2005 when it first struck down "domestic partnerships" as being blatantly unconstitutional, "The idea that marriage-like rights without marriage is adequate smacks of a concept long rejected by the courts: separate but equal."
No wonder your ilk overwhelmingly lost in courts throughout the country. The Jim Crow days are over.
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That reminds me a lot of those who claimed that marriage was only between people of the same race. What those racist bible-babblers and you both failed to demonstrate was that the state had any legitimate secular basis to deny marriage based on the relative race or relative gender of one's spouse. In fact all you had was bible-babble and sharia law, neither of which can be enforced by our secular government.......and even worse, they're absolute proof of unconstitutional animus.
E.A Lunatics Rave, that is well known, so what FACTS have you to share with us, on what YOU have stated?
Eve was the transgender clone
Wow that Sounds more like a " Hate Piece " on Transgender " But that aside can we see you Evidence of what EVE was or was NOT!
That's over the top!
So you supported discrimination, got it!
You are right, Isaac had only one wife, but Abraham, while having only one wife, had a child (with the full knowledge of his wife) by Hagar, who he later banished.
"Why So Much Hatred Against Christians in America Today?"
It reminds me of underage kids at a high school party complaining about the police showing up and taking all the alcohol. The cops don't hate you, if you hadn't been breaking the law and flaunting it no one would have ever noticed. A lot of parties have been allowed to continue because you have local cops saying "Well, I was a kid once, and no one is really getting hurt...". That was until kids started getting hurt and the police found themselves liable for allowing the parties to continue.
Christians have been enjoying their party for a long time in the US and the cops never busted them because they thought "Well we're Christians, so it's no big deal...No one is getting hurt". They allowed "blue laws" and Christian monuments on courthouse grounds, public schools pushing all sorts of Christian holiday festivities and art projects, they just accepted it as the norm. Then, as America has become more diverse and those of other faiths began complaining that everything was so Christian-centric, the government had to start actually applying the law which bans any sort of establishment of one faith over another. If you can build a Church near ground zero in Manhattan, then you've got to allow a mosque or temple to be built. If you allow a 10 commandments monument in front of the court house, you've got to allow the monument to Satan. If you can inject Christian holidays into public schools, you have to allow teachers to have kids work on Muslims holiday art projects. If you don't want other religions to be on display and injected into our public schools it's easy, just stop injecting your own.
Sadly, Christians see this as an "attack" on their faith, but all it really is doing is removing them from places they shouldn't have been in the first place. It's not an attack for stores to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas", it's inclusionary making all people of all faiths feel welcome, because first and foremost this nation is capitalist and makes billions off religious holidays, whatever they may be.
The backlash against Christians from some is simply in response to many Christians acting as if they own the entire nation and are entitled to inject themselves wherever they want. However, there is no evidence this most recent shooting was motivated by any of that, it was most likely motivated by anger from a mental patient towards his mother-in-law.
We do sort of own Christmas ......forgive me if I am wrong, but you know, the birth of Jesus Christ and all that stuff. Oh, I know, wrong time of year, pagan this and pagan that, but it still is Christmas for Christians. It, also, makes for a fun time of the year.....food, parties, kids off from school, vacations, gifts, decorations, music. You can thank us later.
I am just as much of the reason for the season as Jesus, since my birthday is in July.
We will add your name. Now, you know yourself that December is a much better time than hot July. Snow and all! Santa Claus would have a tuff time wearing that suit of his in July.
The birth date jesus was given is about as accurate as anything else in their revised book of fairytales.
I hope that comment made you happy! Didn't yank my chain one way or the other!
I am really getting into the Christmas spirit with Christmas Eve being my very favorite day of the year! Ho! Ho! Ho! I am so glad we are talking about Christmas.
My two sons have always known that Christmas Eve was special to me. We had a traditional buffet dinner that night and sat around the fireplace eating and listening to music. They promised me that when they grew up they would always come home no matter where they were. The at home was, sometimes, their own home, but we have always been together. We were always happy when Mother would join us, but we really didn't need anyone else ......the four of us.
A month and a half to wait....guess, I can wait!
Enjoy your family and the spirit of the season.
It has always been the time of year that my family gets together too.
You, too, Jane.
It is a magical time of year!
Yeah, because it's been forbidden for so long. But why do we have we waited this long. We should start wishing each other Merry Christmas in August and get the Black Fridays to start in September. We really should have our outside Christmas lights on all year.
OK
Atheist.....I am about over you!
I have attempted to keep the dialogue open for polite conversation knowing full well you will use every opportunity to dispel any attempt I make.
I desist!
There is only one other person on a forum that I have met up with who resembles you. A very disgruntled individual who has no good to say about anyone. You might be that person.
Don't let it get to you Mags.
Most atheists I've know over the years are normally pissed off at the world and this one doesn't disappoint in that regard.
It does, sometimes, I must tell you.
No matter what one says they are hateful. Really hateful and vile.
I guess I will call it a day.
Take care of yourself. Don't let the bad guys get you!
We really should have our outside Christmas lights on all year.
It's such a beautiful time of year in my neighborhood! I'm all for it-- It would be like living in Disney Land!
Wouldn't that be wonderful?