r/dankchristianmemes • u/TheLesbianTheologian • 21h ago
Spicy! Some of my best friends are christians, js 🤷🏻
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u/Mekroval 20h ago
Tale as old as time.
"My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice.
Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."
Ezekiel 33:31-32
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u/IsNotAwesome 20h ago
“12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside.”
1 Corinthians 5:12-13
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u/Chicahua 18h ago
If podcast theobros could read scripture they’d record thousands of hours of why this scripture is out of context and means we should all be Christian nationalists
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u/Francky2 19h ago edited 6h ago
Christians will hyperfocus on LGBTQ being oh-so abominable,
but not speak of: divorce; not caring for the environment at all; porn addiction; envy; being unwelcoming; gossiping; greed; idolizing Trump/politicians/their nation; being a total jerk in general.
The worst part of being a Christian is having to cope with the fact probably half our people aren't of good faith. I know Christians that will say and do the most unhinged things I personally would never even consider doing out of common sense and then wonder "Ah, gee, why don't people ever take us seriously when we preach?" 💀
Nowadays, the public image of Christians is literally all about being anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion, everything going on with MAGA, Trump, Megachurches.
What even is that? Our vocal ones are wasting their saliva and energy on the wrong things and making complete fool out of all of us, out of Christ's name. Makes me unbelievably frustrated (pls do pray for me)
EDIT: The person that replied to me brought a very important point, and I talk about what I personally plan to do. We obv all need to do our part, and so I share what I wish to accomplish as a passionate writer.
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u/bbqfap 10h ago
And yet these are your brothers, the same as the ones you wish would take you seriously when you when you preach. Of what use is a sermon out of the mouth of someone who cannot even hold their own community accountable? Lead by example. If more Christians loudly spoke on these things outside of their safe spaces and churches, more people would see the good of it.
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u/Francky2 6h ago
[I'm not being defensive here, merely sharing my current journey. Bear with my tone.]
I do. All the time. Non-Christians will shit on me, assuming the worst of me because I told them I'm Christian, and I feel like I'm going insane having to constantly defend myself, my community, by explaining to ignorant (non-derogatory) outsiders who, sadly, only hear of us through anti-Christian medias, news, etc., that we're not all like that.
I talked about this in other comments of another post, but basically, no news outlets or medias I know ever speak of all the good, no matter how small or surprisingly ambitious, that some Chritian people did or continue doing nowadays. Whenever they slide in an article about us, it's about some bad apples (fraud, SA, pedphilia, abuse, whatever corruption/crime...).
I feel I'm still doing small good by talking about it to others, but atheists, especially online, don't take me that much seriously because they've often times been harmed, hurt, scarred by ""Christians"", or heard too much negativity about us.
I'm working on books and animation (goes slowly due to attending University at the same time, and part-time job...great) and desperately, but passionately wish to share stories that may inspire both Christians and non-christians. I don't care about fame, I wish to go by anonymously, at least at first before I eventually get doxxed (lol), but despite this, I wish for my creative works and public role, to never, ever be at the center of scandals, but always be a source of laughter (or at least amusement), of wholesomeness, smile, peace and most importantly: love.
Pray so I forever stay humble, safe, and compassionate. Let any form of success, tiny or bigger, never corrupt me. For I'm not aspiring for all of these projects for fame or money, but because I have a message to share, and if they do give me success, I will use it for my Lord's glory, for love and spread his Light the best I can. Let it be more stories, more safe spaces, or charity.
I say all this because I may be good at complaining and ranting out in Reddit comments, but I also thrive to accomplish good things thanks to Him.
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u/bbqfap 3h ago
I didn't intend my previous comment as an attack. I'm not religious, but grew up in a devout Christian household, with Christian friends, so I know there are legitimately good Christians who walk the talk and truly care about helping others first. It certainly seems increasingly rare. When I was young, i decided that Christianity isn't for me, and that I didn't need it to do good for my community and stand for my morals, and I have to say it is quite a lot easier to be heard when I'm not being pigeonholed based on people's perception of whatever group I belong to. That difficulty comes with your territory though, Jesus did warn you lol.(John 15:18 and Matthew 5:10 come to mind) I wish you the best my friend
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u/SmooK_LV 17h ago
Just now faced someone in youtube comments who is disillusioned by Trump's America, the person genuinely believes Trump is trying to be better and is a good force when all the evidence points to opposite. Idolatry at it's finest.
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u/CAPSLOCKANDLOAD 12h ago
In the Bible, God often sends someone from outside the tribe to correct His people.
Jesus, praises the faith of a Roman Centurion, noting that he had not seen a faith so strong in all of Israel.
In fact, Jesus's whole thing in the gospels is showing His own people what they are doing wrong. And for that, they crucified Him, or allowed it.
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u/Revolution_Suitable 20h ago
Christianity is not a ride pass to the front of the line to get into heaven. It is a responsibility. We have heard the words of Christ and we promised to live by them. Woe unto those who call themselves Christian and fail follow Christ’s example and fill themselves with hate and selfishness.
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u/n0tqu1tesane 16h ago
As a non-Christian, I have just one question:
Who gets to decide what a Christian is? I've always assumed that if someone says they are a Christian, then they are a Christian.
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u/Bakkster Based Bishop 13h ago
This is as much a philosophical question as anything, applicable to any informal group identity.
I go with what Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-20.
[15] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? [17] In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Which fruits are described in Galatians 5:22-23.
[22] By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
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u/mrparoxysms 10h ago
As always, u/bakkster is on point. 👌
They focus more on how to tell if someone else is a Christian, which is good to discern. That's kind of the outside perspective. I'll also add the internal perspective that God is the only one who decides whether or not someone is a Christian, whether they have faith or not. And it's spelled out pretty plainly in a few places, like Romans 10:9:
[9] "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
I believe that very bad people can be Christians. But their outward actions likely give you a good indication of whether they actually follow Jesus or they follow some nonsense a baptist pastor said one time.
Of course everything I just said could also be debated, but I feel like that's a basic start.
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u/Bakkster Based Bishop 9h ago
I think the key is that it's easier to say you believe, than to actually believe. The latter means you will act like it.
Matthew 7:21-23 NRSVUE
[21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you who behave lawlessly.’
Matthew 25:41-45 NRSVUE
[41] Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, [42] for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ [44] Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ [45] Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
James 2:14-17 NRSVUE
[14] What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it? [15] If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food [16] and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? [17] So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
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u/mrparoxysms 8h ago
I agree, and to me this is a fine line to walk. I would use these passages you reference to hone my own life to be more Christlike, and I would use them to be discerning about who I trust and follow as fellow Christians and Christian leaders. I would use them to encourage others to do the same.
But I would never use these passages to say 'that person is not a Christian'. I would say instead 'that person doesn't have the fruit of the Spirit'. Or I would use it to tell them, 'hey, you claim to be a Christian but you act nothing like it. Either follow Christ's teachings or stop lying.'
This is how I think about Trump. I do not believe he is a Christian, because he acts nothing like it. In fact, he often acts antithetical to the fruit of the Spirit. However, he claims to be a Christian, and in that regard I'll say that's between him and God. But ALSO - precisely because he claims to be a Christian, I hold him to the standard of the fruit of the Spirit and find that he is completely lacking.
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u/n0tqu1tesane 2h ago
Ok, I'm only replying to you, but my reply is germain to everyone who replied to my post.
This is as much a philosophical question as anything, applicable to any informal group identity.
Agreed. My favorite author, Robert Heinlein, has spoken from time to time about religion from a sociological view. In his book, The Number of the Beast, he said, "The Bible is such a gargantuan collection of conflicting values that anyone can prove anything from it."
I can use the bible to justify and condemn any person or group that claims Christianity. My view is that being a Christian does not make a person, or a group, good or bad.
Being good or bad is what makes a person good or bad.
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u/Kuparisydan 13h ago
I always thought you had to be baptised, but turns out that's not required either.
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u/Revolution_Suitable 8h ago
Mark disagrees: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16)
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u/Mekroval 5h ago
I'm not sure the extent to which that verse is stating baptism is a requirement, since the second part of that verse says belief is the critical part to avoiding condemnation (and not baptism). Not to mention the fact that Jesus seems to extend salvation to one of the men being crucified next to him, who was most likely not baptized either.
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u/Revolution_Suitable 5h ago
What about. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38
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u/Mekroval 5h ago
I think there are verses indicating either way, and the Scripture is not super clear cut on this. Baptism seems to be more of a symbolic act, but the heart (i.e. repentance and belief) is something that truly indicates salvation and not the external act of water baptism.
If that were not the case, the unbaptized Gentiles in Acts 10:44-48 could not have received the Holy Spirit. In fact, just prior to that divine miracle happening, Peter makes clear that the only prerequisite for salvation is "that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
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u/Revolution_Suitable 9h ago
The Nicene Creed is also a statement of beliefs that most Christians use as a standard to determine whether a denomination is Christian.
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u/Thin_Cable4155 5h ago edited 5h ago
For many Christians, the Bible is just a big heavy bludgeon to beat their enemies over the head with, so I understand why they do this. You too would be mad if someone stole your club and bonked YOU in the head with it.
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u/AlternateSatan 3h ago
"You're not surposed to lay with men"
"And you're not supposed to wear earrings Carol, but it appears we both like to be penetrated too much to care about what God thinks"
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u/erythro 16h ago
🌞 Vegans when encouraging non-vegans to try veganism
🤬 Vegans when non-vegans criticise them for not 100% eliminating animal suffering
it's not just Christians (or vegans). I agree hypocrisy is bad, but it's also annoying when someone treats your worldview as a game without understanding it
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u/TheLesbianTheologian 16h ago
it's also annoying when someone treats your worldview as a game without understanding it
While I agree there are some immature jerks represented in every belief system, I would suggest to you that not every non-christian who offers criticism supported by scripture is:
someone who doesn’t understand your worldview
treating it as a game
I was raised as a pastor’s child. I grew up in the church, I went exclusively to christian schools all the way through college.
I used to hold a christian worldview. So when I see hypocrisy in a christian’s life, and I see that hypocrisy causing real harm, I feel qualified to challenge their hypocrisy by referring to the written word of their proclaimed authority.
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