I have a question.

Trying to phrase this properly without offending anyone so please don't be offended.

It seems to me that a lot of people who claim to be christians are not. Usually they get caught doing something and then they repent or say they are going to but they don't. I know we all sin or whatever and it says you shouldn't judge other people and all that and I agree. Nobody is perfect BUT it seems to me that these fake christians are really rapidly destroying christianity and discouraging people from becoming christians.

Why don't real christians expose these fake christians or at least separate themselves from them in some way?

 

becuase the real ones don't judge?

 

I know the judging thing but can't they do anything?

 

Since 76% of the US population, around 174 million adults, self-identify as Christian, I don't think it would be unusual for a large percentage of that group to be little more than "socialized" Christians rather than actual religious adherents.

So many folks identify with what they grew up with that there is actually little more to their beliefs than just doing what they've always done and believing what they always "believed" even though there is no substance behind it for any practical purpose.

Certainly, "real" Christians may bear the brunt of the negative influence of the "fake" Christians, but I don't think it is really that much of an issue. The old "I don't want to go to church because they are a bunch of hypocrites" excuse is just something that folks that are really more secular in nature have used for centuries. Much easier to turn away from something for "simple" reasons like that than to actually admit in this society that you just don't buy the whole Christian package.

 

It would certainly make people like me much less hostile.

 

I always enjoyed the spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts of the Catholic Church along the guilt free consumption of alcohol.

 

This is the kind of the reason for my question. I've had a few friends who grew up this way but began questioning what they were raised on and were ridiculed for it so they left. I had one friend leave the church completely because her father had an affair left her mother and yet convinced her mother if she divorced him for the affair she would be kicked out of the church.

 

I think alot of the diffferent denominations came from what you're suggesting. One group decides they have a corner on the truth that the other group is missing and so they start there own new and improved group.

 

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21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" --Matthew 7:21-23

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." --Matthew 7:1-5


I'm being a little glib here, but you raise a serious question. I think it was Rick Warren who said, "There's generally only two reasons someone doesn't know Christ. Either they've never met a Christian, or they have."

I try to address my frustrations in that area with the first passage I posted above. Basically Jesus said He knows who's really with Him, and who's just going through the motions, and He's going to deal with it. I find that I'm pretty good with that.

As far as why some Christians don't call out others, it comes down to each person's own reasons but the Bible is clear that Christians are supposed to be known for their love for each other. (John 13:35)

As for me, this question is why I have the tag line, "Fighting the stereotype".