So.... being a Christian = being retarded...

[OneLight]

First of all I want to thank God for everything He has done for me.

I feel as if I am this "oddity" completely among my co-workers and people in my career path. I feel this total disconnect between my "Christian" way of thinking and lifestyle, and my work environment and all these people in my field( atheist, feminist, humanist, "religion is patriarchy", "religion is oppression against women"etc) .

It is ok, it is all very clear and I am ok with that.

Then today, I attended a meeting with workers from other places who have known me on other projects and here comes the big joke at my expense: in the middle of the meeting, someone says "Let's hope she (talking about me) won't change religious affiliations on us again!" Everyone laughs. Clearly, every one is making a joke out of my conversion from Islam to Christ. And clearly thinking I moved from one backward stupid religion to another.

Fine.

I collected myself and didnt say anything and brought the conversation back to the topic at hand.

Of course, no one laughed when that same lady mentioned the "amber necklace" she got for her 6 month old baby in order to "balance his chakras" so that teething won't hurt. So that is NOT "backward"?

What makes people look at Jesus with such contempt?

Literally they act as if my belief in Christ means I am retarded. Yet, someone believing in some crystals and chakra balancing theory, somehow, makes them more "enlightened"

Just venting I guess. It gets a bit aggravating at times.

It is one thing to see and hear people disregarding God in their own life choices, but it offuscates me to see them being so "close-minded" when it comes to my faith.

Let me get back to reading Psalm 146...

Amen to your story, why is it when christ in seen in so many venues, paintings, books other then the bible, plays, song go people have such bad karma toward our belief as christians, what ever happened to the world from 40 years ago, when there where stong values and family was family and friends where care givers, life is so harsh these days, my prayers and thoughts go out to you amen for your story from Christ

You answered your own question. They depend on "karma" when we depend on the Lord.

[fromIslam2Christ]

I am grateful for this forum!!

Interestingly, here in my Canadian province, there are lots of "bibles" and various books about a so-called "Jesus": some are "the bible of crystals", the bible of angels", angel cards, oracle something-something, the "true story about Jesus", something about the grail and various so-called revelations from archangels and angels about the "missing years of Jesus".

All these items are considered cool and non-threatening. So basically, as long as you talk about Jesus in a way that is contradictory to what the Holy Bible says, you are considered cool and enlightened. But the minute, you dare to speak about Jesus as presented in the Gospels... catastrophe!! You have to be silenced.

Book stores are filled with all these items mentioned above. No Bible in sight.

[Guest man]

I am grateful for this forum!!

Interestingly, here in my Canadian province, there are lots of "bibles" and various books about a so-called "Jesus": some are "the bible of crystals", the bible of angels", angel cards, oracle something-something, the "true story about Jesus", something about the grail and various so-called revelations from archangels and angels about the "missing years of Jesus".

All these items are considered cool and non-threatening. So basically, as long as you talk about Jesus in a way that is contradictory to what the Holy Bible says, you are considered cool and enlightened. But the minute, you dare to speak about Jesus as presented in the Gospels... catastrophe!! You have to be silenced.

Book stores are filled with all these items mentioned above. No Bible in sight.

Consider yourself blessed that you are able to recognize these things........not many are.

2 Corinthians 11

3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted

[goldust59]

First of all I want to thank God for everything He has done for me.

I feel as if I am this "oddity" completely among my co-workers and people in my career path. I feel this total disconnect between my "Christian" way of thinking and lifestyle, and my work environment and all these people in my field( atheist, feminist, humanist, "religion is patriarchy", "religion is oppression against women"etc) .

It is ok, it is all very clear and I am ok with that.

Then today, I attended a meeting with workers from other places who have known me on other projects and here comes the big joke at my expense: in the middle of the meeting, someone says "Let's hope she (talking about me) won't change religious affiliations on us again!" Everyone laughs. Clearly, every one is making a joke out of my conversion from Islam to Christ. And clearly thinking I moved from one backward stupid religion to another.

Fine.

I collected myself and didnt say anything and brought the conversation back to the topic at hand.

Of course, no one laughed when that same lady mentioned the "amber necklace" she got for her 6 month old baby in order to "balance his chakras" so that teething won't hurt. So that is NOT "backward"?

What makes people look at Jesus with such contempt?

Literally they act as if my belief in Christ means I am retarded. Yet, someone believing in some crystals and chakra balancing theory, somehow, makes them more "enlightened"?

Just venting I guess. It gets a bit aggravating at times.

It is one thing to see and hear people disregarding God in their own life choices, but it offuscates me to see them being so "close-minded" when it comes to my faith.

Let me get back to reading Psalm 146...

Sister, reading your post reminded me of a factory I worked in back in the 80's. I was the resident "weirdo". I prayed over my lunch & read my Bible while I ate. I was continually made fun of, mostly behind my back, (i would be told later), but some were bolder with their comments. I would just smile & go about my job. I never tried to preach at people, but people would come to me in private & question me about my faith & the peace I always had at work. What was odd to me was the ones that wanted to talk were the ones that tried to cause me the most trouble.

God truly uses us daily as His witnesses, even when we don't speak a word. My silent prayer at work was often the same that Jesus spoke...Father forgive them, they know not what they do.

[childeye]

First of all I want to thank God for everything He has done for me.

I feel as if I am this "oddity" completely among my co-workers and people in my career path. I feel this total disconnect between my "Christian" way of thinking and lifestyle, and my work environment and all these people in my field( atheist, feminist, humanist, "religion is patriarchy", "religion is oppression against women"etc) .

It is ok, it is all very clear and I am ok with that.

Then today, I attended a meeting with workers from other places who have known me on other projects and here comes the big joke at my expense: in the middle of the meeting, someone says "Let's hope she (talking about me) won't change religious affiliations on us again!" Everyone laughs. Clearly, every one is making a joke out of my conversion from Islam to Christ. And clearly thinking I moved from one backward stupid religion to another.

Fine.

I collected myself and didnt say anything and brought the conversation back to the topic at hand.

Of course, no one laughed when that same lady mentioned the "amber necklace" she got for her 6 month old baby in order to "balance his chakras" so that teething won't hurt. So that is NOT "backward"?

What makes people look at Jesus with such contempt?

Literally they act as if my belief in Christ means I am retarded. Yet, someone believing in some crystals and chakra balancing theory, somehow, makes them more "enlightened"?

Just venting I guess. It gets a bit aggravating at times.

It is one thing to see and hear people disregarding God in their own life choices, but it offuscates me to see them being so "close-minded" when it comes to my faith.

Let me get back to reading Psalm 146...

Love your thread. Welcome to the cross. You will not be seen as cool by any who don't know the Christ. Jesus also was alone in this world. It is hard to be a silent lamb led to the slaughter and I sometimes cry out. Hope you are better than I.

Edited March 16, 2011 by childeye

[joi]

Having Christ as our Savior is comparable to nothing, because nothing else can come close to Him and His presence in us.

Read Matthew 5

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=KJV

Our call is to love everyone as we love our self, and admittedly that is not easy.

May God continue to bless you where ever you may be, my sister in Christ.

[desi2007]

First of all I want to thank God for everything He has done for me.

I feel as if I am this "oddity" completely among my co-workers and people in my career path. I feel this total disconnect between my "Christian" way of thinking and lifestyle, and my work environment and all these people in my field( atheist, feminist, humanist, "religion is patriarchy", "religion is oppression against women"etc) .

It is ok, it is all very clear and I am ok with that.

Then today, I attended a meeting with workers from other places who have known me on other projects and here comes the big joke at my expense: in the middle of the meeting, someone says "Let's hope she (talking about me) won't change religious affiliations on us again!" Everyone laughs. Clearly, every one is making a joke out of my conversion from Islam to Christ. And clearly thinking I moved from one backward stupid religion to another.

Fine.

I collected myself and didnt say anything and brought the conversation back to the topic at hand.

Of course, no one laughed when that same lady mentioned the "amber necklace" she got for her 6 month old baby in order to "balance his chakras" so that teething won't hurt. So that is NOT "backward"?

What makes people look at Jesus with such contempt?

Literally they act as if my belief in Christ means I am retarded. Yet, someone believing in some crystals and chakra balancing theory, somehow, makes them more "enlightened"?

Just venting I guess. It gets a bit aggravating at times.

It is one thing to see and hear people disregarding God in their own life choices, but it offuscates me to see them being so "close-minded" when it comes to my faith.

Let me get back to reading Psalm 146...

I see the right things are established in your heart... Sometimes in your discontent you will find your dreams. Stay encouraged. God speaks to us Thru the Word, Desires of your heart, Inward knowing, Thru other people, and Our dreams and visions.

blessings,

desi

[David of Derby]

Several people have given chapter and verse references to Bible passages relevent to this issue. I'll only add that, just as those passages tell us, we were promised that we'd be persecuted for Christ's sake, and so we are. Maybe not the violent persecution of places the Sudan, where a person who converted to Christianity from Islam would be murdered by their neighbours, but we are persecuted. We are mocked, derided, belittled for our faith. I've experienced this. When I worked as a chef the head chef used to regularly make jokes about me going to church. I'd get in on Sunday afternoon and he'd ask how many times I shouted "Hallelujah!" during the service. A friend of mine posts on facebook mocking Christianity. People refer to Easter as "Zombie Jesus Day." It's disgusting, but it's the world we live in. A fallen world that loves the darkness.

All you can do, as others have said, is endure the mockery, as Christ endured the mockery of the Romans at Calvary. He gives us the strength to endure any trial, because He has endured them before us.

[Guest]

.... When I worked as a chef the head chef used to regularly make jokes about me going to church. I'd get in on Sunday afternoon and he'd ask how many times I shouted "Hallelujah!" during the service. A friend of mine posts on facebook mocking Christianity. People refer to Easter as "Zombie Jesus Day." It's disgusting, but it's the world we live in. A fallen world that loves the darkness.

All you can do, as others have said, is endure the mockery, as Christ endured the mockery of the Romans at Calvary. He gives us the strength to endure any trial, because He has endured them before us.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:9-12

[ears]

I wonder why they always have to be so aggressive with their protests. I had Sister one time who seemed to verbally attack me because I prayed before I ate. We were having a Sisters sleep over at her house. She knew very well I always pray and had never seemed to have a problem with it before. I was really upset with her for a while but now I just feel sorry that she doesn't have his love in her life. I may not be cool, but I'm blessed..