5 Reasons Why People Despise Christians
I have been a Christian since a child and have had my struggles in my walk with Christ and relationships with people. I’ve certainly made mistakes and had to unlearn and relearn what it actually means to be a relevant Christian and of above reproach.
Recently, I ran a poll on my Instagram stories and asked two questions — “Why do people despise Christians” and “What do people love about Christians?” This article is about the first question and you can view the answer to the second question here.
So, what does the world despise of Christians?
#1 — Holier Than Thou
No surprises. This was the most common answer. Most people do not like Christians because they think they are better than others. What gives a Christian the leverage to think they are better? Is it because they know the “truth” and others don’t. I’m of the opinion that it is because their walk do not match their talk. The attempt of Christians wanting to share their faith to others must show in their deeds. In fact, John the Evangelist exhorts Christians to:
…let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
People often say, you must walk your talk. Someone recently told me instead, we should ‘talk the walk’. Do first, show kindness, meet a need — and then share your faith.
#2 — Corner people into accepting Jesus
I know many friends who were invited by their friends to Church for events and programs, only to be felt cheated because the “sole” purpose of their invitation was to make sure they “receive Jesus”. Someone once told me — “it is as if he befriended me so that he can bring me to a holy grail where I also accept his lord”. I felt sorry for my friend and had to apologise. As a disclaimer — I’m not against evangelistic rallies, Christmas plays or your Easter drama. However, feeling forced to enter into something they do not want to is definitely not something anyone should go through.
#3 — Condemning other religions
Yet it is far better to light the candle than to curse the darkness.
W. L. Watkinson
Bringing other faiths down is surely not the the best way of introducing yours. In Jesus’ interaction with foreigners, you would never see him condemning other faiths. He never did try to get others to join His group. He did not try to get people to change their mind. He did not debate. He never put words in people’s mouth. Jesus demonstrated miracles, loved them and answered questions that they were asking.
Fellow Christians. Do not ever judge or put down others because of their faith. As one of my survey respondent said, Christians sometimes “lack EQ to communicate truth”.
#4 — Ignorance
Christians sometimes can have a shallow worldview. We become so engrossed with our own that we do not read or understand others. We do not read up on science, other faiths or various topics in general. We get so boxed up in our own paradigm and often think that the world revolves around us.
Read up about evolution. Read some of Richard Dawkins (atheist) articles. Find out why New Age is on the rise and build your own understanding about it.
As the old English proverb say — don’t be an ignorant fool.
#5 — Dissing groups of different orientations
Followed by the above point, Christians also have the tendency to form pre-judgement on those from the humanistic and LGBTQ+ groups, among others. They often suffers the wrath of Christians. We label them “sinner” and condemn them so far away that many do not want to be friends with Christians.
They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” (Jesus)
The key to love is to understand. Or is it the other way round? The key to understanding is to love. Whichever way it is, Christians need to treat people as people. Watch your body language and those eye contact you give. Always be sure to listen more than talk. There is a reason why we were created with two ears and one mouth.
To my fellow friends who are of different faith — I would like to apologise on behalf of any Christian remarks we have said in the past that may have hurt you. Where possible, give us another chance to mend that relationship.
Fellow Christians — love your neighbour as yourself. Enough said.
