Here's how it's defined by the Webster's Dictionary: A person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices especially: one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.
Okay, I'm for sure not "devoted" to my own "opinions."What I am devoted to is God and according to the Bully the Bullies Facebook page, that makes me a bigot.
Wow. Ouch. The only comfort I take in having stumbled upon this sign was that my friend did not "like" it.
So . . . this sign calls Christians "bigots," and yet their theme and name is "Bully the Bullies."
Perhaps this person or these individuals have indeed been bullied by Christians, and as a Christian, I believe that kind of behavior is WRONG. But because I'm a Christian it also doesn't mean I was one of them! So . . . why lump all the Christians, who for the majority are peaceful, loving individuals, into this category? Are these people not being "bigots" as well by making such broad accusations?
This sign has served to make me fearful that I'm going to be bullied for being a Christian. And now, I'm becoming more fearful for my children and their futures as Christians. Is it possible that Christians will be next on the list of persecution?
I realized my unrest when we recently were able to buy a new car (new to us, anyway), and I thought how nice it would be to put the sign of a fish on the back. Then it occurred to me, what if someone attacked us because of that symbol of Christianity? Am I willing to put myself and my children in danger just for having the sign of a fish on our car? Wow. Would we even be in danger for wearing the sign of Christianity or am I just taking this "bully the bullies" site too literally?
Of course, this made me think of the books I write, which are about the persecutions Christians have undergone in the past. What if the persecution of Christians is now a part of our future? Do I have the same courage and strength of my ancient brothers and sisters who paid the price for being followers of Christ?
Back to my question: Are Christians bigots because we believe what the Bible teaches is true?
Here's how God defines a Christian and what we are to strive to be. I implore all Christians to ask yourselves if YOU are these things (what the Bible teaches us to be):
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
And now I ask those non-Christians who want to bully us, is this the definition of a "bigot?"
I believe that "uneducated, "ignorant", and "fundamentalist" are the key words in this meme. Fundamentalism of anything scares the heebeejeebees outta me...and there's a whole heck of a lot of fundamentalism going on in this world. Think of the parents whose children are being targeted for simply being who they are--just because others believe differently than they do.
ReplyDeleteI think you should put your fish on your new car--it's your car! Everyone can have their own beliefs...it's when those beliefs are hurting others, keeping others from being treated equally under the law, when things become a problem...when a belief turns into fundamentalism. No one, especially in this country, should have to live by laws that are made by a certain religious group--that is not what our country is about. We should all be able to believe as we want...again, as long as we are not hurting others and preventing them from being treated equally under the law.
Christians come wrapped up in many different packages...I agree, they should not be all lumped into one group...just as all Muslims shouldn't be, or Hindu's, or anyone else. The world is too vast and amazing to have a blanket put over it.
You are one of the strongest people I know. Put your fish on, Sandi! :-) XO
Thanks, Tang. My concern is the cross symbolizes ALL Christians. :-(
DeleteLove you.
Me
I think we Christians will get the "You're an intolerant bigot!" more and more. The new religion in America is "and each man did what was right in his own eyes." so I guess it should not surprise us that we will be hated for our devotion to truth that transcends our mere humanity. We Christians are always apologizing to an intolerant world. No matter what we do or say, we will be excoriated. As from your quote from Corinthians, we have the lofty duty to love like Christ loved. He died for His truth, but he also didn't mince words.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Dena. They already boycotted Chick-fil-A for being a Christian company and not "agreeing" with homosexuality. Seriously? This is only the beginning.
DeleteWell, I would interpret that image with a little less emotion than you did, Sandi. I would assume that they were speaking ONLY of "uneducated ignorant fundamentalists" and not all Christians. What they are saying (by my interpretation) is that a SUBSET of Christians (i.e. the ones who act like bigots - and those people DO exist AND consider themselves Christian) have given all Christians a bad name. As far as I'm concerned, that's somewhat true. I shouldn't have to be embarrassed that I'm Christian just because OTHER Christians are bullies. In the same vein, my Muslim friends shouldn't be bullied because of fundamentalist terrorists who call themselves Muslim.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the person who made the above image really meant - but I'm happy to interpret it in my own way and say that I agree - bigots are horrible, no matter what religion they are!
And, of course, now I see that Tangi has already commented pretty much the same thought I just did. :)
DeleteRachel, I agree. And it was "fear" in showing myself to be a Christian, not "shame." I just have a feeling Christians as a whole will be suffering persecution in the future, and they already are, I believe, with all the church vandalisms that are happening. This was on the news just the other night. The people didn't take anything, they just destroyed things. It's sad.
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