"Many of us have a mental conception of what a Christian should be, and the lives of the saints become a hindrance to our concentration on God."
-Oswald Chambers
"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
-Brennan Manning
Stereotypes, hypocrisy, and missing the main thing for a seemingly good thing. I'm not entirely sure yet of the proper link between all of these, but all are incredibly frustrating. Here's another:
Coming overseas, we had this idea in our head that the rest of the world hates America. Guess what we've found out in our limited scope of experience somewhere else? It's not true... until we make it true. You know who we hear loathing comments from? Americans. Tanzanians are fascinated with the US and have no major qualms with any foreign policy, belief systems, or culture. I think in our hundreds of conversations we've heard one complaint/remark to the contrary. But what we do hear all the time is "stupid Americans" coming from US expats, or negative remarks about the election, government, foreign policy, culture, and people... out of the mouths of fellow Americans. I don't think that the general people of the world have any qualm with the USA until we teach them to. Maybe.
(And why do we leave our country's borders with the idea that we as a nation are despised? Seems to come from within as well. Maybe I'm being way too ethnocentric. Maybe not.)
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6 comments:
Don't you know that it is not politically correct to say that Americans are not hated by the rest of the world. Err, wait, maybe it is politically correct to that Americans are hated around the world. Or something like that
Jimmie
"If the u.s. is so terrible, how come millions of people try to come here legally or illegally each year? You never hear people trying to sneak into France and live the French dream" - Brad Stine (Christian Comedian)
I'm reading a book right now, where an American is living in Paris and hates America. He lives next door to a Russian who wants to move to America. This book was written in the 70s and the setting is in 1868-1870. So, hundreds of years ago (at least fictionally), this theory holds up.
Your observations are insightful and tell me that you are positive people that are infected by the love of Jesus.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder if you love the place you leave.
Time makes your heart bitter if you hate the place you leave. ( and you most likely will not like where you are )
"The greatest...cause of atheism...is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle...." Just had a talk with Mom about obedience to God that centered on this. Soemtimes we proclaim our devotion but have no follow-through, no obedience...however, our love for God is proven through obedience. He doesn't want lip-service. Interesting that that very thing turns off nonbelievers as well as the Creator. Coincidence? hmmm
Jenni
Great comments guys, thanks. Interesting indeed. Speaking of absence making the heart grow fonder, I can't even begin to tell you what I would give for a Q'doba burrito right now.
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