As a matter of fact, some of the nicest people that I have ever met are Christians, including the above-mentioned, my mother-in-law, the pharmacist at the medical centre where I work, my mechanic, and several colleagues.
It makes a lot of sense. I grew up attending Sunday school, church and youth fellowship, and during this time I was made to understand that Jesus Christ was a really awesome dude. He not only performed cool tricks that made David Copperfield look like a three-card man, but his life exemplified love, empathy, compassion, forgiveness, kindness and humility. The Christians mentioned above not only talk the talk, but walk the walk, trodding in his footsteps as best as they can.
What perplexes me, however, is my observation that many Christians appear to deviate from the path of following Jesus Christ and are not nice at all. Some are actually downright awful. Yes, nobody is perfect, and all of us fall short of the glory of God, but when people make vows to follow a man who is said to have exuded such powerful and magnificent love, why do so many treat their fellow human beings poorly and with scant respect?
I began to notice this phenomenon as a child. The most ‘tiefin’ helpers were the ones who professed to be Christians. I remember one who claimed to be a bona fide Seventh-day Adventist, and was caught leaving our house one day with pork, stolen from our fridge, in a ‘long bag’.
And as I got older, I observed many more instances. I know a lady who loves Jesus more than He loves little children. She fits the definition of a ‘Jesus freak’. The last time I visited her house, I was greeted by a crucifix on the wall facing the front door, as well as a plethora of religious imagery. To top it all off, she had an open Bible or prayer book in every room of the house with, for some reason, two in the bathroom. Maybe it was because she thought that the bathroom needed more ‘cleansing’. Anyway, one day, her daughter, a ‘worldlian’, suggested that she visit a home for mentally challenged children. She rejected the suggestion, being concerned that the children would drool on her clothes. I think that she may have taken Jesus’ call to “suffer the little children” literally.
And then there is the workplace. Stories abound of devout Christians at the office, who are in church every Sunday or Sabbath, in addition to Bible study, prayer meetings, choir practice and other activities during the week, but who carry news to their superiors, talk down to their subordinates, and sabotage their peers, doing so while considering themselves to be ‘blessed and highly favoured’.
I have encountered my fair share of disgusting Christians in my professional life. As a matter of fact, the people who have hurt me the most during my medical career are three very devout Christians: a colleague, a colleague’s spouse, and a patient. One of them even preaches. All engaged in dishonest and, in some cases, unethical behaviour that wounded me deeply, and to date they have shown no remorse.
The vitriol of some of these Christians becomes even more apparent on my Facebook page. Challenging their beliefs or posting articles on LGBT issues is guaranteed to bring them out from under the rocks where they reside. The condescending, arrogant, self-righteous and judgemental attitudes rear their ugly heads, and the traffic in my inbox increases, with messages from friends who are offended by their unkind comments, especially the ones used to refer to people who are not straight in their sexual orientation.
Do unkind words come from atheists and agnostics, too? Sure, they do. But these people never made a vow to follow a ‘Prince of Peace’ who taught us to turn the other cheek. Do Christians have a right to stand up for what they believe in? Definitely. But insulting, debasing and denigrating others is not necessary while bringing their points across. Indeed, it is attitudes such as these that induce depression and suicidal ideation in some of the recipients of these attacks, persons who ‘fall short’ and are harshly criticised and vilified.
Hypocrisy is another issue. Some people have more skeletons in their closets than Dovecot, but take pleasure in pointing out the flaws in others, forgetting to first cast the beam out of their own eyes. I know a woman who is a diehard, hardcore Pentecostal and has a child out of wedlock, among other things. One day, on my Facebook page, she commented on a photograph of a woman holding a placard at a pro-choice rally. She remarked, in all caps, that “ABORTION IS MURDER!”, and also that the woman in the pic must be a “walking cemetery”. I responded by asking her if she could put her hand on the Bible and honestly say that she was not a walking cemetery herself. She did not respond, and has not commented on my page since.
There is also a sense of entitlement and a level of coldness that I have observed among many Christians. I recall speaking to one about the 70-odd civilians slaughtered during the Tivoli incursion in 2010, and she remarked that she had no problem with it at all, even though innocent people were killed, because “something had to be done about ‘those’ people”, while another dismissively remarked that “the Bible said that there has to be a blood sacrifice”. Others have also shown little empathy for Palestinians and other non-Christians in the Middle East, referring to Biblical prophecy as justification for any hardship or oppression that they may face.
It is indeed difficult to believe that these people claim to follow a man who allegedly healed one of his captor’s ears after one of his loyal followers lopped it off, and defended a woman who committed adultery, while daring “him who is without sin” to “cast the first stone”. Had Jesus issued that challenge to some of the Christians that I know, he would have had to run for cover, only to later emerge wearing bandages, plaster of Paris, and Gentian violet.
Some even look down on fellow Christians who belong to other denominations. A Christian friend of mine who wears jewellery visited a church where adornment with bling is frowned upon. A member of the congregation asked her if she planned to get saved and give her life to The Lord. My friend replied that she was already a Christian, which earned her a scornful look of disbelief from the holier-than-thou congregant.
Many Christians are so caught up with dogmas, doctrines and rituals that they have forgotten one of the basic principles in Christianity and several other religions: to love others. Too many are quick to quote scriptures condemning and rebuking ‘sinful’ people and behaviour, but cast aside such gems as “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”, “Love your enemies” and “Judge not, that ye be not judged”. No wonder Mahatma Gandhi was quoted as saying, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
While reasoning with the monsignor one day about sin and sinners and who he thinks will go to Heaven or Hell, he looked at me and said: “I am probably more flawed than you. Who am I to make that call? Right now, I am only concerned with loving and caring for people.” That is the kind of Christian that I can deal with.
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/commentary/20150420/why-are-so-many-christians-not-nice-people
Bí èèyàn bá ngún iyán bọ́ ìlú, yóò lọ́ọ̀tá, bó sì ńsọ òkò s’ọ́jà, yóò lọ́ọ̀rẹ́ ti ẹ̀. /
If one feeds the whole town with pounded yam, one will have enemies, yet whoever pelts the market with stones, will have his friends…….Yoruba Proverbs!
[Whatever you do, you will always have those who will support and those who will oppose you; do your best and keep moving]
Everything comes when it must, and everything happens for a reason, do not hurry your life, what is destined for you, cannot escape you, just keep the faith, be patient and be prayerful, filled with compassion, kindness and respect for all, let these qualities be among your name, God will fill in the rest…..Obara Meji!
All religions are valid as long as it teaches peace and love….Obara Meji
There are no disappointments in life, only lessons learned!….Obara Meji
Great piece.its happening now that Christians are standing with Israel despite the atrocity Palestine is facing from the zionists.!!!
Morning everyone, Happy Friday!!!
Obara is having internet issues and may not get to post today…
Good morning folks! Sorry I missed yesterday; I got into some rengle and tengle and couldn’t make it to class. This man got it right. The coldness I’ve seen towards the Palestinian plight is too real.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/23/creflo-dollar-jet_n_7129548.html
Here is a good ole Christian, pastor at that….not on my dime….
Ty, I love cursing, for this dude I don’t even have expletives to describe him. I want black people to wake up and stop letting other blacks take advantage of them through “worship” and gospel.
So true good night Cami to be good is not to be fool. Letting a man or woman of God condemn yu for not paying tithes n offerings when u could barely buy food for the month or pay a full utility bill is horrible.
Mi sey de wickedest people, love sey it Cami, I ma a good Christian…nutten can guh so? There are as Lady said above some very good people who are Christians, but those are just innately good people, it is not the religions or the teachings which built them, it may strengthen their already good personalities as they try to Observe God’s Laws and so called commandments (which is an bag of BS, as it all came from the Ma’at the 147 negative confessions of the Kemetians now called Egyptians…..Christians I like your Christ but I do not like you Christians!… Read more »
I think that the declaration of being a christian while being evil is just a defense mechanism.
Doreen a first lady a church, lol Hint, hint Obara
Night Obara i agree with the goodhearted people statement. I’ve meet some good Christians and some that need Jesus, Mary, Martha, host of angels, holy water, love bath n God. Lol I went to church n was Christian for awhile. But i always felt out of place…incomplete. Felt like it was too many rules overshadowing me getting closer to God.
That illustration is another riot! Obara or Ty you’ll put in work on this one.
I would want the illustration to go like this “Please God protect me from Jesus followers”, dwln
Hi every one!
I’m not finish with the article, but I must pose this question in regards to “There are many wonderful Christians out there.”
Why is it that people like to say “he/she is a christian” , as if its a true validation of genuine goodness. Just a thought…
so true Cami…they wear that label like a badge…they think it makes them holier, infused with awesome goodness, and my favorite…. exempt from all sins….
dem love drop di “highly favored and blessed” line, like it makes them special…
((muah, muah, muah)) Ty. Ty, you know I wrote the words ‘badge of honor’ and erased it. lolol
That hat look like a ton of orchids died pon de way to market, grunnnnng wid her mary kay look.
BBlater
grung….
Hello Everyone, and a Special hello to you Obara… christians are now to legalistic and have their noses too much in the air… now , not all are like that..the very few and rare in between ones live the word “humbleness” and are usually beaten down by their brothers and sisters in the Lord for being too “simple”. The pastors puts a literal sheild over their eyes and bar them from really exploring their true potential in the spirit, they cause them to believe more in them( the Pastors) than in the Creator. The Christian bible admonishes Pastors to be… Read more »
Good morning Obara and ESP family. This is so true, Ty. These so called Christians are usually the ones who puts most of us through trials and tribulations.
Thanks for posting this Obara.
Hey Cher, Ty yuh know me and de ugly hat dem, and yuh si how she look, ah so one name Smith (Simit in patois) id look and she was a big trouble maker!
Good morning Obara and bloggers, this is too funny I just saw this article this week and I post it on my Facebook page, and the only people respond was the so. call Bishops and Christian people that’s on my page. Wow! One even ask if she could borrow it from my page to share with her members.
Obara, da hat deh a say one….grung…from di color, to the frill, to di cock pon one side a di head… too early today
when you live on a existence based on fear and damnation it bleeds over into everythingelse….then if you sprinkle in a bit of greed, ego, and self importance…you have a wicked combo….
I have chosen instead to walk in the light and be bathed in love…
natural hair, no ear piercing, hairy legs, long skirts below the knee and all the other deemed non worldly things, do NOT make anyone person a better individual than another…
self reflection, introspection, love of self and others, forgiveness and empathy are much better characteristics of a loving human, with christlike endeavors…
Morning everyone…..
The ghandi saying is so true, I like your Christ but not the Christians….some of the most evil people I have met are Christians….some of the most horrific crimes are again committed by the said Christians….
am I perfect? No …but I do not profess to be….the story of Jesus is to help us to seek enlightenment….we are ALL children of God and so too came become Christlike…
P.s please tell do jevovah witness dem if stop knock pon mi door….