Bruce Cooper

When Were Christians First Regarded as Intolerant “Haters”?

In the midst of the high octane culture wars of the last ten years, Christians have been labelled all sorts of things: intolerant, bigoted, arrogant,…

When Were Christians First Regarded as Intolerant “Haters”?

19 comments

  3. So Christians are known as haters when they go around judging around, with having a daughter chronically sick I have seen so many (I once thought) to have so much hatred including family members doctors. Tell her she has no faith telling me because of some great sin that I even cause her to be sick, so yes I have seen many so call Christians there true side I am sorry to say. We need to follow Jesus example to love all people regardless of their situations or even the one they love. I could go on but for now I won’t

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    • I think the jest of this particular post, Eileen, because of the comparison being made with early Christians living within a Roman pagan society, was more in the line of non-Christians labelling Christians as haters of others, because of disagreements on religious issues, and they automatically assumed that because the early Christians disagreed with them, they automatically hated them, which I would think was not the case. What you are talking about now is within the current church, the body of believers itself, and you identified how some interact with others in unloving ways etc, and for sure, I know that sometimes happens, probably more than we’d like to admit. I do understand what you are getting at but in this particular article and context, the false labelling came externally from outside of the church. Blessings!

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      • Hi Eileen, I am aware, and as you are probably aware, there is a lot of misunderstanding within the Church, about who to judge and who not to judge, plus what and how to judge, if Church discipline is required. But this particular post wasn’t dealing with that wider context, so we’re probably getting off into a bit of a side ramp, which isn’t necessarily a good thing either. However, here is a link that does cover the issues that you have raised and I would love to hear your thoughts on it when you have the time: https://bcooper.wordpress.com/2016/09/05/righteous-judgement/ Blessings!

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  4. I did add a comment, well anyway I will try again. Christians are known as haters because many of them judge others, if it is not the LGBTQ community it is the disable community. I have experience in as a mom of a disable daughter, between so call Christian judge her because of being disable because she has no faith, it is my fault (her mom) because of some great sin that is why she is sick and has battle many diseases including cancer. As the words of Jesus You 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 7:5) I have meet people when my daughter in a wheelchair in a store or doctor’s office who are down right nasty which is wrong. No one and I mean no one is perfect that is walking the earth at this moment. If we as Christians try to become more like Christ our sanctuary in our churches would be fill, many stop going to church because they have been judge. As I Christian Chaplain I have heard the reasons why many stop going to church it is because Christians judge too much and they think they are perfect. Let us show others that we are Christians by our love and not by the way we judge someone else. (PS yes I read the article and disagree and it is okay to disagree also)

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    • The author was identifying a different context, Eileen, which as I indicated in your first comment, was addressing false labelling by non-Christians towards early Christians in a pagan Roman society. Are there other contexts where Christians could be labelled as being hateful, absolutely, but the primary focus of this particular article was on non-Christians identifying Christians as being hateful BECAUSE of their objective beliefs, as compared with non-Christians who held subjective beliefs. The same mislabelling still happens today with regard to the rejection of God’s objective truth versus the subjective truth held by some non-believers. Are there other contexts that are applicable with regard to Christians being perceived as displaying hateful behaviour? Absolutely, but that would require another article, wouldn’t it? Hope this helps and you are absolutely welcome to disagree. Blessings, Eileen!

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  6. Yes, it’s just the same today. We’re accused of being intolerant because we don’t hold with the things that go against God’s law/will. I used to be one of the accusers, but I understand better now.

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  7. Hi bro. Bruce,

    You may like to know Why Christians are Regarded as Intolerant “Haters” here and https://mytopfinding.com/christians-regarded-intolerant-haters/ and discover some Bible Verses about Christianophobia: https://mytopfinding.com/bible-verses-about-christianophobia/ here, too.

    Drawing the attention of the brethren to things like these is a great thing to do. Prejudice against us is a blessing. We don’t lose.

    Thanks for sharing that post by Michael J. Kruger; this your share here lead me to write those two posts. The two have blessed the lives of so many since I posted and shared them on reddit and some other social media platforms.

    Sowing the seed of God’s Word in athiest, for instance, is the ideal thing to do and that’s what I do on reddit’s r/Christianity. Their comments tell if the seed is sown or not. They may run but can’t hide.

    You’re a blessing, bro. Bruce.

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  8. Hi bro. Bruce,

    You may like to know why Christians are regarded as intolerant “haters” here: https://mytopfinding.com/christians-regarded-intolerant-haters/.

    And discover some bible verses about Christianophobia here: https://mytopfinding.com/bible-verses-about-christianophobia/.

    Drawing the attention of the brethren to things like these is a great thing to do. Prejudice against us is a blessing. We don’t lose.

    Thanks for sharing that post by Michael J. Kruger; this your share here lead me to write those two posts. The two have blessed the lives of so many since I posted and shared them on reddit and some other social media platforms.

    Sowing the seed of God’s Word in athiest, for instance, is the ideal thing to do and that’s what I do on reddit’s r/Christianity. Their comments tell if the seed is sown or not. They may run but can’t hide.

    You’re a blessing, bro. Bruce.

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    • Hi Francis, I read through the two post links you sent me. You’re absolutely correct about us not judging the unsaved. Our Lord taught me that lesson very clearly while I was serving in Cyprus under the United Nations Peace Keepers banner. Here is the link: https://bcooper.wordpress.com/2022/06/29/what-did-you-expect-him-to-say/ Of course, exercising discipline within the Church calls for a different perspective, but even here, we are to be mindful of our own shortfalls and forgiving. I agree, there is a lot of confusion about rendering a righteous judgment or no judgment at all, especially within the Church. I have followed your blog and am looking forward to reading more of your posts! God’s grace, peace and blessings on you and yours!

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