Why Do Evangelicals Ostracize People?

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   evanlaeysposted 15 years ago

   I just posted a hub: "In Rebellion Against God" about being ostracized by an old friend who became an evangelical Christian. My question (that she won't answer since she isn't speaking to me) is: Why? Is there a verse in the Bible that tells her to do this?

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      LarasMamaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Replying from a completely non religious (but raised in a strict christian home) outlook. Mixing with unbelievers can be considered bad because they are a worldly influence. Don't ask me to give you bible verses though...
      It's sad what religion does to some people.

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      h.a.borcichposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe the religion has nothing to do with it and is only coincidental. Maybe she is upset about something else and just isn't able to deal with it at this time. Or maybe she is going through something else that she considers embarrassing, like bankruptcy. I am not aware of christian teachings telling people to drop their friends. Are you assuming the religion is the cause for the fall out?

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         SirDentposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Her hub spells it out pretty plainly. I wonder if she is self promoting on purpose or if she doesn't really know what she did.

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            h.a.borcichposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            ah, I did not read the hub Just responded to the thread. Hope all is well with you Dent!

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               SirDentposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               All is well for sure. Baseball season is underway and the NBA playoffs are likewise underway.

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         evanlaeysposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, if you read Kate's note, you'll see that it is definitely a religious reason.

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      Apostle Jackposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      In answer to your question read 2 cor.6v14-17
      Be not enequally yoke together with unbelivers.
      
      It's the same as oil and water...they do not mix.
      Have you thought about joining your friend?

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         evanlaeysposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         No, I would never join a church that professes to be "the only way." This kind of theology is responsible for many of the wars and violence that have taken place in the world throughout history.

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      rebekahELLEposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      they do it because they think there is only one right way to believe. for people who preach love, acceptance, they are very intolerant.
      
      anyone can make the bible say whatever they want it to mean.
      
      find a friend who will accept you as you are (which is exactly what they preach)   makes no sense to me.

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      Beelzedadposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Your friend knows you'll be roasting for an eternity over open flames by a god whom she loves, obeys and has taught her you are evil and blasphemous. Nuff said.

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      Hokeyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      They have to make you feel like you have a problem so people dont see that they are nuts!

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      getitriteposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      I can understand that differing positions on life's issues can forge wedges between friends, but when the issue is based on nonexistent, and totally unprovable nonsense, it is shocking.

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   Originposted 15 years ago

   I remember reading about that before about half a year ago. That some religious organizations don't believe that believers should mix with non-believers. I remember getting a vibe of that they didn't want to contaminate their religious group by fellow church goers being around people who were not religious or people of another religion, also people who were of the same religion but followed it differently.
   
   I guess some religious groups have very strict rules about that type of thing, I don't really find that fortunate or unfortunate, because I believe in the "freedom of religion" idealogy, even if that means that they must exercise rules like that.

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      Justine76posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      you would find it unfortunate if you were the ostricized person. Most of my family and everyone I ever knew growing up no longer speak to me, or acknowledge my existence.
      
      http://bible.cc/2_thessalonians/3-6.htm

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   Jeramiposted 15 years ago

   I am not so informed as to what being celebrant means.
   Yea; looked it up. Didn't find a good definition.
      Is this something like a Justise of the Peace who performs weddings or is it  deliberately denouncing Gods place in the ceramony?

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      Originposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      You have have judges do it from what I remember.

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         Jeramiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I see nothing wrong with being married by a Judge.
         I was married by a judge that said "and what God has joind together ............."
             Someone that .. "professes to be a believer" ..  shouldn't intentionally and forcefully leave God out of the ceramony.
         At least in my opinion.
            Other wise I see nothing wrong with it. But that is just me.

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      evanlaeysposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      You can learn more about celebrancy on my hub, "Ceremonies for Life." A celebrant would NEVER denounce God! Most celebrants believe in God, but write ceremonies that fit the client's beliefs. Some ceremonies include prayers and blessings, and some do not. Many are interfaith or multicultural ceremonies.

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         Jeramiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I try to be very careful when I speak of issues such as this one; cause the easiest thing to do in this world is to be hypicritical. We all fall into this trap at some time.
            
            Professing Christians sometimes unknowingly start worshiping their faith more that the object of our faith. This may be the second easiest thing in the world to do.
         
            I think that sometimes we have to be the victom of these acts before we can see that we have been guilty of doing this ourselves.
            
             In short...  two people does not have to be married within a Church or by a minister in order for it to be Holy ceramony.
         To say otherwise would be Church worship.                  Your friend should be make to understand this

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   Originposted 15 years ago

   I don't have any problems with -any- method of being married, being it religious, non-religious, or whatever. I think it's between the 2 people being married that makes it sacred, so whatever method they wish, more power to them!

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      Jeramiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      That is basicly what I am saying.
        I can see a bit of conflict not in the ceramony itself but in the person   "Professing to be....  and yet adamently denying...?"    I recognize common law marrages to be legadimate when a commitment has been made between two people and in the case of a professing Christian .. "and God is their witness"

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   livelongerposted 15 years ago

   I'm sorry that you lost a friend. But her note alone and her strict dogma suggest she could never be a true friend, anyway.

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      evanlaeysposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      True . . . but she really WAS a true friend for 33 years. Somehow she changed, and then accused me of being the one who had changed! Yes, I have other good friends who will never betray me, but I mourn for the one that's lost, just as the Good Shepherd mourned his one lost sheep!

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         livelongerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Wow, I had no idea it was that long! That must be especially heartbreaking. Mourning is the right word here.
         
         But, I'm sorry I wasn't clearer. I meant that she was no longer a true friend, even if she had been before. Unless she wakes up from her heavy religious indoctrination, I suspect she's no longer the person you befriended years ago.

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         Brenda Durhamposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         True friends tell you the Truth.   And the Truth is that being born-again gives a person the insight to test the spirits.   There's no fellowship between darkness and Light.
         
         I've had to do a similar thing before, cut ties with "friends" who used me for their "token Christian" until the time came when it was politically-correct to bash the name of Christ.   Like your friend, I should've cut ties sooner.
         
         I'm not sure what all a "celebrant" is, but IF it's secular as it seems to be, and IF that woman Diana whatever is the same psychic I googled,  then it's not your friend who's the "lost sheep", but it's you who's lost.
         
         When/if you go back to your first Love (Christ Jesus),  IF you ever WERE there,  then I'm sure your friend will still be there for fellowship and strength for you!   And I'm sure, as a born-again child of God, that she's praying for you often.

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            evanlaeysposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I never bash the name of Christ who is still my guiding Light, my way-shower, and the best example of unconditional Love the world has ever seen.

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               Brenda Durhamposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               I didn't say you were bashing Him.
               My view, from the hub's information and your posts, is that you're not following Him, because He is not the god of the psychics/magicians;  He is the God who commands us to Love and follow Jesus.
               It's very easy to get drawn into the world of sorcery and astray from the Cross,  especially when the modern world succeeds in "mainstreaming" its way into Christian circles.  One way "they" do that is to leave out the Judgement/wrath of God while trying to keep the unconditional Love.
               
               Your friend took the harder path, but the right one.

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                  evanlaeysposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                  I can't imagine why you would think I'm following the way of the "psychics and magicians." I do love and follow the way of Jesus - which is the way of love, forgiveness (70 x 7!), grace and mercy.

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                     Jeramiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                     I may be wrong but it seems that some people believe that marriages are not legit unless they are performed by a Church minister in a Church???  It this the issue???

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   luvpassionposted 15 years ago

   Good...the search for truth is never ending. Be mindful of those that say "This is the truth."

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      Brenda Durhamposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Teri.
      
      I bet you meant your reply to be to evanlaeys....
      
      I'll leave you two to your communication,  as my own Faith is separate from that.

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