Do you make ubelievers angry?

[Christ_empowered]

Should we, at least sometimes, make those in the world (and possibly some Christians, too) angry? I know we're told to expect persecution. But what about infuriating people?

I think I'm starting to anger some unbeliever acquaintances. I'm not even a good Christian yet. I'm just trying to be decent. Is the anger what leads to the persecution? Some of these people--gay dudes in particular, for some reason--just don't seem at all pleased with my progress and transformation.

What about you? Do you make/have you made unbelievers angry, for no partiulcar reason? Or for a good reason?

 

[Gordon]

Gay dudes probably take your progress personally because you confront them with their sin. I'd just take it man and keep praising God. You are told to rejoice when you are persecuted because you will be rewarded. If they can't deal with it move on.

I had a bunch of people hate me because I didn't talk to them at work. They all made fun of this deaf guy right in front of him. He obviously couldn't hear it. So when they started to hate me I started wearing my Cross. I wanted them to know I don't put up with it because of Jesus. Plus we are rewarded for being persecuted for his sake.

 

[Nick]

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[reba]

Most folks get angry when they see their own sin.... The more Christlike we appear the more the world sees their true self... Sure we fail, we don't always have the Christlike attitude we should have, as time goes by it becomes more natural

 

[Hammer]

Jesus made people mad enough that they wanted to kill him.

The Apostles and the Prophets made people angry enough that people wanted to kill them. They didn't steal, lie, or kill. They did something more offensive, they told the truth, while being blameless.

 

[Davies]

Hi Christ_empowered,

I was just reading this when I remembered your post.

"And is he not a stone of stumbling in the ministry of the Gospel to many professors to this very day, upon which they fall and are broken? When he saith, "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me:" he doth therein plainly suppose, that both in his person and doctrine the generality of men would be offended in him." - Matthew Mead

Now if professors of Christianity can be offended, what do you think unbelievers will react. I would imagine if unbelievers were happy with your love for Jesus, then I might be concerned about the genuineness of my faith.

I've made people mad, but it's usually because of my big mouth. When someone is angry because I'm faithful to Jesus, well, it is really unavoidable, and it doesn't matter what community the offended party is from, gay or Christian.

- Davies

 

[evenifigoalone]

Sometimes, and only online. Normally it's over some belief or opinion of mine they don't like for whatever reason, and it's usually over some debate or discussion we had.
Once in a while they have had a good reason. Most of the time I'm nice even when I don't have to be, but when I want to I can be a real jackass.

Most of them are nice, though. I have friends who are unbelievers.

 

[The Unbeliever]

I try not to make unbelievers angry. Of course, I try not to make believers angry either. I don't always succeed on either of those counts though so I suppose I would have to opt for the no particular reason over the good reason.

 

[Classik]

Most folks get angry when they see their own sin.... The more Christlike we appear the more the world sees their true self... Sure we fail, we don't always have the Christlike attitude we should have, as time goes by it becomes more natural

Private jet

 

[Classik]

Jesus made people mad enough that they wanted to kill him. The Apostles and the Prophets made people angry enough that people wanted to kill them. They didn't steal, lie, or kill. They did something more offensive, they told the truth, while being blameless.

Presidential handshake

 

[Milk-Drops]

From my personal point of view I don't get angry with most believers. The ones I end up getting mad at are not the ones that tell me any aspect of my life is sinful. I don't believe everything they do so I don't care. My positions are based on asking why something is bad and finding a reason that its wrong, not just because I'm told its evil. Now I have gotten angry with people who seem to think that just because they think a certain way ( this doesn't apply to just Christians, I've met Atheists and other Religious people of this ilk) therefore everyone needs to agree with them. Or if I figure out someone is deliberately lieing, being dishonest, hiding information, or trying to demonize anyone who doesn't just accept their position.

I enjoy discussion, but if I end up in a discussion where the persons comes in expecting me to persecute them, so they think any kind of disagreement is an attack, or are just unable to talk about a topic without it turning into the Lie Olympics, I get angry.


I think the biggest misconception and presupposition is that frustration equals anger. If someone is frustrated with what you say, it doesn't mean you are right. It just means that the person doing the frustrating isn't pleasurable to converse with. If a person's point is to frustrate, then they have already failed the conversation before going into it.

 

[thightower]

If we aren't making unbelievers at least feel uncomfortable, we may not be where we should be in our walk with Jesus.

 

[Milk-Drops]

Shouldn't the message bring joy and grace and not a sense of being uncomfortable? I don't see a point in purposely trying to make people uncomfortable. Would you by chance maybe mean challenged?

 

[AirDancer]

I made a 'non-believer' angry recently .... I predicted the Yankees wouldn't make it to the World Series this year, and the person with whom I was talking happened to be a big Yankees fan.

As for bringing anger into a discussion about our Lord.... prayerfully, I don't do that. It would definitely put a stumbling block in front of that person. If any sense of aggitation or irritation appears, I back away with saying "thanks for listening as I challenge myself to more fully grow in my faith...not everyone is as good a sounding board as you are. Thanks!" Works for me, anyway.

 

[The Unbeliever]

I have a question, and I don't mean any offense by it. But wouldn't the sentiment expressed by the original post be the Christian version of atheists going around correcting Christians for their "mistaken" beliefs. They could even interpret any offense taken by Christians as a sign that they are doing the right thing. Consider this:

Do you make Christians angry?

Should we, at least sometimes, make followers of Christ (and possibly some agnostics, too) angry? I know historically Christians haven't been very tolerant of atheists. But what about infuriating people?

I think I'm starting to anger some Christian acquaintances. I'm not even a good atheist yet. I'm just trying to be decent. Is this the anger what leads to intolerance? Some of these people--pastors in particular, for some reason--just don't seem at all pleased with my progress and transformation.

What about you? Do you make/have you made Christians angry, for no partiulcar reason? Or for a good reason?

As strange as that seems, I have no doubt that something very much like that has been written on an atheist message board. The real question is if it expresses an admirable sentiment or not.

 

[Gordon]

Why are you guys assuming he is pointing the finger at people. I think much more likely his very way of being is what makes them angry. That the way he is living his life is sending the message what they do is wrong and it's not his mouth.

 

[The Unbeliever]

How could he live in such a way that would make gay people angry without saying something directly about their lifestyle?

 

[Gordon]

CE would have to share that with you.

 

[The Unbeliever]

But I'm having a hard time even imagining possible scenarios, nevermind what he is actually doing.

 

[AirDancer]

Here's a scenario for you, The Unbeliever: Several years ago, I wore a silver pin in the shape of a Celtic cross... very ornate while simple at the same time. I was verbally attacked because of the pin, and the attacks were focused on my faith. The language was quite colorful. When the rant concluded, I simply said "God bless you" and walked away.

I was a grandmother-to-be at the time, and was going about my own business. I wasn't getting into the face of anyone; I wasn't trying to 'convert' anyone ... instead, I was trying to do some shopping so I could return home (and those who know me know I reallydon't like to shop!)

As you can see, I did nothing other than wear a Celtic cross pin. However, a non-believer decided to take issue with a piece of jewelry and attacked my faith. My thinking was and continues to be that there are rude people in all walks of life; bad behavior doesn't descriminate - it's equal opportunity.