I, too, have found the least Christian like folks I have met - claim to be Christian. I'm not religious, but I'm more Christian like than 99% of the Christians I know - who look down on me with their righteousness. So refreshing to hear a true Christian say this out loud.
I’m an atheist, but I don’t care if someone has faith so long as they aren’t using it as an excuse to hurt someone. Today Christians have so much money and power that Solomon would blush, yet they seem to always want more and complete domination. If you want to convert people, show the love that Jesus speaks of rather than the hatred of Christian Love.
As a Christian, I wholeheartedly agree with you! We’re supposed to be changed by Christ and go out and be gentle in this world. Not dominate and force people to think the way we do. #theygiveusabadname
Christians... problem is you're doing a bit of a generalization there. Just because it's happening in the US doesn't mean it's happening elsewhere. But to my alarm, I've seen a candidate to the presidency in my country, adopt American habits and use Christianity to promote himself. And what a coincidence, his party is the branch of the US Republicans over here. I can't call them a party, considering they're copy-pasting American rhetoric over here, in Eastern Europe. I think their party should be banned and they should be arrested for treason and espionage, as they're clearly working for foreign interests against our national interests.
The ikntention and purity of the original folloers of "the Way" Had the spirit of love and peace. Prosperity wealth and power, political correctness has all been humanities attempt to make the Divine more relatable, more like us. Wonder why church attendance is down? No Jesus..all us.
That is quite a generalization. In many countries, Christians and other religious minorities are persecuted and have little or no power. Secondly, the Christians of whom you speak are often the ones who get the most attention, such as Greg Locke, Charlie Kirk, and other MAGA type "Christians". The Christians who donate to and assist at missions, support orphanages in third world countries, and serve their neighbour's unselfishly get scant attention, as do those who oppose Christian Nationalism and such distortions of Christ's teachings.
I was raised Pentecostal and now atheist; it was the ppl in the church that drew me away and not the teachings of Jesus. I could honestly say I love Jesus and his love. I have a long journey to reconnect with my spirituality/God, and ppl like Pastor Ed draw me in closer, it seems like…
I agree with you that the “Christians” are the ones who are turning away anyone who is not blindly following them. It’s the same group who will not do anything to assist anyone because you are not a part of their religious beliefs. In some of the churches, you are not accepted because as a stranger, you do not fit their profile of what a Christian is supposed to look like. If anyone is destroying Christianity, it’s that sorry bunch of fakers!!!! 0:11
I am Lakota and my family and all Native people who are part of 570 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. were forcibly converted until 1978 when the American Indian Religious Freedom Act became law. All along my family continued to practice traditional ceremonies in secret and my paternal great-grandfather was even an ordained Methodist minister to keep the Indian agents and non-Lakota ministers out of the reservation community. So I will never be a "Christian church goer" but I do respect people who live and behave like Jesus told his followers to spearate themselves from the Pharisees, who were the Christian nationalists and megachurch pastors of today, because he did address hypocrisy which is practically ignored today. He als told his followers to love their neighbor as themselves, another thing that gets ignored. So for those embodying the teachings of Jesus, I enjoy listening and learning from.
As a non- native who is blessed with having indigenous friends, I can say that I see indigenous people as living the values espoused by Christ more fully than non- indigenous people who claim to be Christian.
@auntiebobbolink exactly. And just imagine how much different (better) things could be if "we" learned, participated (with permission) and followed their lead instead of what we did to them. Omg. 😞
I mean if you look far enough back in most nations history. we all have a story in our history's that recognizes Genesis up to the Tower of Babel, when we all spoke the same language. Just saying...love my indigenous brothers and sisters
I think many of the indigenous spiritual traditions/stories/symbols/medicine have very much to teach modern north American culture and spirituality. I'm happy that a good deal of that survived and is passed on. It took me years to de-program myself.
Growing up Catholic, then going to a nondenominational church, I would always bristle as I heard people say all Catholics are going to hell. My response? "When we stand before God, He won't look at our labels, He will look at our hearts and whether or not we love Jesus."
@@jamesparsonalways a hard question for me to give anyone that says they're atheist because I love you all just like all humans. If you haven't accepted Jesus as your savior and put your trust in him...and accepted him trying for our sins. It's a good possibility you will end up there....I dont want that and neither does Jesus.
AntiCatholic bigotry is on the rise in Europe and in the US. Catholic Churches have been vandalized and desecrated. Some churches have been burned to the ground. It's shocking and scary to see so much hate in our World.
@jamesparson I dont think anyone is there yet...I don't think we're sent until Judgment time and we stand in front of Jesus for Judgment personally. Sadly, if they never accepted Christ before they died I can only think where their Judgment will lead to. Again, I want everyone that was born to sin to repent and return back to Christ. And if they end up "suffering " it's sad bit they were given everyy chance to avoid it since God gave us Free will. He wants us to chose him, not him forcing us to believe and accept him
I have been saying for a long time that it is Christ we should be following and not all the church teachings, but I just get pushed aside and laughed at, even by the ministers. I gave up going to church and now my faith is even stronger.
Honestly Rev Ed if every pastor or reverend was like you I wouldn't consider myself anti christian. You speak about kindness, compassion and love and that's something that seems to have been lost with Christianity.
Yep, I have never heard another Christian speak like this man. I don't think he can heal my hatred and fear of Christians, but it is incredible and soothing to hear this one.
I agree. I hate fights, but I love seeing people loving one another. When people love one another, I rejoice. I don’t care who they find it with, either.
If we’re talking about love then we have to speak to the one who loves us so much that he died on a cross for our sins. Our culture promotes that “love is love” and is focused on sin, not Jesus. Without Jesus, love is relative and defined by each person. Jesus offers objective love, for everyone if we just simply accept him.
When I read Anti-Christian, I immediately thought of some judgmental people who are Christian in name only. Didn’t think of atheists or agnostics at all. Agree with you, Rev. Ed, & Jesus rocks! 😊 Thank you.
Hammer hitting the nail right on the head, bud. I’m there. My grandparents were founding members of the little Lutheran church in my tiny town. I no longer go there. When the christian church got into nationalism I’m done.
In the course of my volunteer work, I once had someone say to me, "I didn't know Christians could be kind." I found that heartbreaking but also understandable, because the followers of a faith that should bring only love, acceptance and service to others are too often associated with the opposite: hate, judgment, rejection and attempts to control those who don't agree with their exact version of Christianity. A lot of the time I really struggle to have faith or to feel God's love . Most of the true pain in my life, and in the lives of too many people I've met, has come from Christians and the church, to the point that I've had PTSD since my early teens. Back in the 80's I volunteered at a hospice for AIDS patients. Basically my job was just to be a loving, comforting presence, a surrogate for the families that wouldn't accept and didn't visit, and every single time the reason for that estrangement was that the parents or siblings were devout Christians. Despite all that, I've never stopped believing in the teachings of Jesus.
My atheist husband does love Jesus. Does he believe he's the son of God? He doesn't know and he doesn't care. He just loves the teachings and the way of life.
I have no idea how your channel ended up in my feed, but I am glad it did. I was raised as a devout Muslim and am now an Atheist. I am pleased to see some rational and thoughtful consideration to your commentary and arguments. I may not believe in god, but I do believe in good people. Keep up the positive contributions.
The stuff Jesus actually said is way more in line with eastern faiths like Bhudism and Hinduism. Christianity makes alot more sense to me after learning about those faiths. You definatly get the message and not everyone does I appriciate your channel.
No one seems to acknowledge that Alexander's conquest actually linked the Buddhist and Greek worlds, and most of what is called "Persian" or "Babylonian" in the gospels is actually referring to Greco-Buddhist kingdoms that existed between the Levant and the Mauryan empire based in Maghada, and it is at that time that the name "Mariamne" started showing up in Greek contexts (distinct from the semitic name "Miriam" and the Greek is also the name of a couple of Herod the Great's wives, especially Mariamne I 'the Hasmoneon' who was suspected of adultery with Herod's advisor and Salome I's husband named "Joseph" and whose first generation of children were ordered executed by Herod).
Absolutely. Most of the people in that group have some form of narcissistic personality disorder, in my opinion. They actually have very low self-esteem and a lot of doubts, so in their fear they double-down trying to put on this fake showing of virtue they think will get them into Heaven. I’m not a believer, but if I were I would say their souls are weighed down more than anyone else with sin, and they know it.
Quietly do good! Stand up for what is right by setting a good example by just being a good human. To other people, animals and the earth. Christian nationalism is just loud. Doest make them correct.
There's nothing wrong with seeing Christ as a role model, at least in my estimation, and not being Christian. They too often want strings attached to every bit of religion and mostly despise people who do not see the world from their exact point of view.
Jesus's appeals to humility, acceptance, and forgiveness are considered WOKE by the unrighteous who have abandoned those notions and replaced them with selfish pride, spiteful envy, and vengeful wrath.
@@JamesBach-hz1pc People have been conditioned to only respond to appeals to emotions and instinct and to deny appeals to their intellect. Humility, acceptance, and forgiveness require you to deny your darker emotions and have a deeper understanding of people as individuals.
One line from the movie "The Princess Bride" "I have been in the revenge game for so long, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life." Trump promised revenge if elected and he will have it. The people who voted for him want revenge as well. They will tell you that they have been wronged and want retribution. He has validated this hate and need for revenge and they do so in "Jesus' name" and that is the part that angers me.
"They will tell you that they have been wronged and want retribution." This is a core feature of Narcissism, the stubborn insistence that one's own knowledge is correct despite evidence to the contrary. Because they already "know" that they're right and do everything right because they stick to the rules that they've decided are right, they also "know" that any difficulty they face in their life is because of something else victimizing them. The do not accept the Truth of what God spoke during the Six Days of Creation which we still receive to this day, and rather brainwash each other with their own preferred stories.
And yet, those same people, who seem to really like the Old Testament better than the New Testament, seem to have missed "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I shall repay."
I am a new subscriber, and this is the first time I have posted a comment. I came upon your channel at a time when I could not have needed it more. I was raised in the United Church, but found myself feeling empty and confused by the time I was in my teens. I saw so much hypocrisy that I stopped attending and turned away from it. I found myself seeking answers by studying religions at a post secondary level, but although it opened my mind to many faiths, my biggest 'ah ha' moments came when I sat quietly in the middle of a forest. Go figure. What better place to be with God than in all his Creation? What resonates with me about what you speak, is its honesty, and in that, I find clarity. Your words are not filled with anger, retribution or shaming blame, but with such beautiful understanding and peace. It has been my experience too that the most anti-Christians are Christians themselves. That was what I discovered when I was a teen. People who professed to be Christians on Sundays, but would conduct themselves in a most unChrist-like manner the other 6 days of the week by speaking and doing harm to their family's and their neighbors. Thank you for your honesty. With all that is in the world right now, we need someone like you.
Well, it was the pompous Pharisees that Jesus pointed out were more about their own vanity than real faith. IE: the widow gave a penny, all she had quietly while the Pharisee gave a bag of coins loudly from the front of the Temple. Jesus proclaimed hers the greater gift.
Great show! I'm a Roman Catholic priest, I love your reflections and I agree with almost all you say. Thank you! Yes! Now is the time to put a better foot forward!
As a former fundamentalist Protestant, I often argue against current fundies who state as a fact that Catholics aren't Christians at all. #1. Was Christianity extinct between when the disciples died and the 1500's, when Protestantism became a thing? #2. Who complied the Bible, that they now claim is inerrant? The only answer I remember is "Definitely not Catholics."
Rev, great talk! I think, however, you missed a rhetorical opportunity, which would have been to use a great quotation from ye olde print comics (specifically, Pogo): "We have met the enemy, and he is us!" Never more apropos (alas).
Reverend Ed, I was raised secular by a very loving, nurturing pagan-adjacent mom, and an abusive, abrasive dad who was brought up in parochial school. It was a confusing metaphor to a spiritually curious young person. Now that I am on the later side of life I've seen that a lot of the loudest Christians are like my father, while the people who live quiet humble lives as pagans or self described atheists are the most ironically Christ-like. Just my personal observation. I really appreciate your videos, so thank you for taking the time.
I was raised Catholic so I came by my atheism honestly. However I’ve not once proselytized about the benefits of my position. What remains of bible teachings is that my heart and mind is large enough to embrace all peoples and beliefs and to call out indecency. I’ve subscribed to your channel because of the messages you deliver. I (and we all do) want more decency in this world and you are a part of that. Thank you.
My oldest daughter when she was in college had a friend who was lesbian. She told me once that her family had said that she liked Jesus and light the teachings of Jesus but what she had a problem with is Jesus's cheering Squad.😊
Rev. Ed Trevors, I just started following your channel and highly respect your opinion and will support you in everyway. Let me say though, I followed the Christian religion for about 50 years in the Baptist church. As of 2016 I became a very happy Atheist but I do not want to push my non-belief in a God on others. I support ALL Religions out of respect for their culture and the words they believe. Let me clarify, I DO NOT like any person that uses their religion to harm others such as immigrants, any race that is not white or beliefs that do not fall into theirs. Please, Rev. Trevors, keep up your great work to try to bring people back to believing in the words in their Bible, Quran or Torah. Also, I will not ever go back to any religion because of my research where the stories in the Bible came from (Greek, Egyptian and Roman Mythology) and no actual proof of a God, Jesus, Moses or even the 12 disciples. As a former scientist I realized I needed proof and the Bible is no more than a CLAIM of a God that man created to control women and men. I can't accept any religion that does not give women the full rights of men. Thanks and have a great day.
You might be interested in theories regarding the nephilim and ties to various ancient mythologies, as an intellectual discussion if nothing else. It's something my son has an interest in.
I do believe that we are going through a major spiritual awakening. I do remain positive about everything. We will rise above all, the negativity and will band together and help each other through these rather difficult times coming up. I am not giving up, and my faith is strong.
When you say 'we', who do you mean, exactly? Because that was the point of the video. May you remain positive, and truly do unto the least of us as Christ would gave you do.
Every week in my United Methodist church, the minister says, “and pray for the persecuted Christians around the world”. One day, I asked him why don’t you ever say "pray that Christians will stop persecuting other people in America"?
A conversation quote I've run across has becoming increasingly relevant: "I don't understand, why would anyone want to oppress Christians?" "Just wait until they get into power."
AMEN ... Thank you Reverend...... You actually give this PAGAN, hope...As an Ex Christian,,, That Loves Jesus and his Teaching's, but dislike the blasphemous into which many Christian s are walking..
This skeptic agrees with the reverend about atheists. We can live with and get along with Christians just fine. My parents and two of my siblings are Roman Catholic and we have been able to get along just fine. The Christians I have the most trouble with are the ones who insist on forcing everybody else to do things their way. Dealing with them gets old fast.
the allowance of authoritarians to run the show for thousands of years has brought us here to this point. will we as a species turn in the direction Rev Ed is pointing, where Buddha and Yeshua first led, or will we continue to turn our collective backs on the values of love, peace, humility and compassion?
You moved me greatly with this. I say this to all my friends: one day you will have to choose, morality, legality and practicality. The antichrist will deceive using exactly those three. If I remember correctly, he said he will deceive even the righteous. Forgive me if I misquote. So he could appeal to those very same Christians. I’ve noticed something which is very important. I am an adopted woman who has lived through drug addiction as a baby and more in my life, why do I see CHRISTIANS, only caring about a baby who hasn’t been born yet more than the kids forgotten in the streets, in the foster care system, kids growing up with selfish parents, kids who are alone. I don’t care about my life at this point. But I very much care about what we teaching our children. Selfishness, hatred and ego.
@ thank you. I appreciate the clarification. I grew up Baptist and then non-denominational before I lost my way. I recently got back into my faith, so I’m relearning and unlearning. ❤️
I refuse to call myself a Christian any longer. After all the hate spewed over the past year especially by people who claim to be Christians, I just can't. Instead I say I'm a follower of Jesus.
When a villainous movement adopts something seen as "good", they then, no matter how wicked they are, they'll say of anyone who fights back against their abuse, that people defending themselves are against the "good things" they are using as a social shield against criticism and disagreement.
I'd like to offer an anecdotal story. For some background, my Mom is Christian. She was raised Catholic, and converted to a Lutheran when my sister and I were born. Even though she doesn't go to church anymore (too much politics in her opinion), she still believes in the teachings of Christ (which _doesn't_ include needing to be a professed believer in God to avoid Hell, which is how she and I (an Atheist) have been able to maintain as good a relationship as we have). One day, I showed her a picture of a small business vehicle I saw. Despite the business being non-religious in nature (a roofing company), it had John 3:16 written on the back bumper. In response to this, my Mom groaned and mimed gouging her eyes out with silverware. Not because she hates Jesus, but because the display of the Bible verse on the non-religious business vehicle implied to her a _particular_ type of Christian. So I would definitely agree that any Anti-Christian sentiment is not coming about because of the guy who advocated for helping the poor...
Self identifying atheist here I have no problems with people who believe in a higher power. What grinds my gears is people that use religion to take advantage of others. Like the prosperity gospel people. We are not the enemy of religion some would have you believe we are.
Once again, Rev. you hit the nail on the head. As a progressive Christian, your channel is one of only a few places, l feel at home. Thank you for making me feel like l am not alone.
the biggest reason i left my faith was because of the hypocrisy I saw between Christians and their king. I thought if his spirit lives in us and guides us, then how is it his followers are so evil? That started my deconstruction, it didn't finish it. My parents were missionaries and continue outreach in the states after kids. I grew up constantly knowing the bible and spreading the "truth", eventually i started seeing that when i was surrounded by those that "shared" my faith, other Americans in church or youth group or whatever, i was made to feel less than or judged. Yet, when i was with Buddhists from Cambodia or Muslims from Pakistan, while doing outreach, I felt listened to and cared for. I was treated as a honored guest. I felt loved. How is it that the body of Christ (the church members) felt so, bluntly put, evil, when his spirit was supposed to have come upon us? IDK if you read these comments, but i just wanted to say i appreciate your videos. I no longer have a belief in gods, but your sermons (videos) remind me of my parents. They preached a Jesus of love and forgiveness, a Jesus that did not have a kingdom off flesh and blood needing people to take up defense of him. Lately, i have told a Christian that they feel threatened on this earth because their king is under attack, and he is flesh and blood and needs physical warriors to defend his kingdom of earth. That king isn't Jesus. That king has his face on all those little green pieces of paper they hate parting with. Give to caesar what is caesars, and give to god what is gods. MAGA is giving to their god what is his, hate, fear, and selfishness. Why follow a god that needs help defending themselves? Sounds like a pretty weak god, unworthy of worship.
That's the thing about earthly institutions. They let you down, regardless of whether they're liberal leaning or conservative leaning, etc. Some people like Tulsi Gabbard and Robert Kennedy have left the democrats because of a sense of betrayal. But with Jesus, you have no just reason to complain. Search the scriptures for Jesus and see that the faith is true.
There are psychological and history elements involved in this. Suffice it to say that America is a young and insecure culture, still sometimes very fearful of anything unfamiliar.
@AnitaClue you're not wrong. I don't think the reasons you've listed and implied excuse any of the behavior or judgements made by American "christians" though. The faith is supposed to give someone a new life, a new beginning, a rebirth in christ. I have failed to see that in more than a few cases where I now believe, those that did truly change, would have found a new beginning and change in any spiritual new beginning. Not just Christianity.
@@kidcharlamagne I don't think it excuses it either. I'm just a person who tries to understand the hows and whys behind people. Some people make it difficult to love our neighbor. I find that trying to understand how they got to where they are helps me with that.
Anyone who assures others that they are going to "burn in Hell" automatically loses credibility points with me, if for no other reason than they are trying to use fear to control others.
Denominations has been the biggest thing for me in my 20s when my parents stopped going to church after moving to Arizona. So I figured "Ok, I'll find a church myself. ...So which denomination?" I had grown up in a Southern Baptist church without really knowing what a Southern Baptist was. What's a Presbyterian? What's Lutheran? What's Methodist? Is there a correct denomination? I do want to thank RUclipsr Ready to Harvest for spelling out the differences between denominations and their subgroups, but now I don't belong to anyone. I just go about being a good person.
I grew up Catholic, but frequently singing at other churches. My parents were both raised Protestant. They said you choose the church not by what's written on the sign outside, but by who is in the pulpit and what they are preaching. I know people who belong to online churches because none near them are truly preaching the Gospel.
@Kim-bt5tf Once you claim "most," you have the onus of providing supporting statistics. Do you have such statistical evidence? An impression or opinion may or may not be true, but impressions and opinions are not necessarily facts unless proven so.
@NeilDonald-y5h as somebody who had proclaimed myself to be " Christian" for the first fifty something years of my life, I have had a lot of experience with " Christians" , so I believe this sixty something woman can say most that I have met from many different denominations.
I run into far more hateful people who think they are Christians than hateful people who are atheists. My mother always said the devil does some of his best work in the churches. Life has confirmed that for me.
I left monetized religion years ago, and I will never go back. I struggled throughout my childhood and into my late 20's to find a quorum that both taught and lived in accordance with the Jesus that I have known and loved since my earliest memories. I now live a very solitary life for the most part and consider myself to be a sort of modern monk and mystic - living out my faith quietly and faithfully, in fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - and whoever the Lord brings into my path. I am more than happy to share my faith with any who ask, and I try to love others as I learn to love myself through the gracious and kind instruction of the Holy Spirit.
As one raised in a staunch Christian home, who was a devout Christian, loving what I read in the Bible of Jesus’ message, but who became bitterly disillusioned… Disillusioned by the overwhelming focus of the church in my community and in the US… Disillusioned by the fact that my soul -or what some might call The Spirit -protested most of what it heard and saw in church or by the most vocal cherished leaders in this nation, but that the Church told me I was prideful or lacked faith for questioning those words and actions … Disillusioned by the fact that the name of Jesus or his title (Christ) was so frequently used in public discourse to promote agendas that were at best completely unmentioned by the Jesus in the Bible, and at worst contrary to what I read about his message in the Bible; agendas so offensive to my soul, that eventually the very words “Jesus” and “Christ” began to trigger anxiety for me… …as such a person, now an atheist who in theory loves the message of Jesus (and Buddah, and other great wisdom teachers), I wholeheartedly agree with your message, and hope the church, for its own sake, humbly listens, and wrestles in its heart with this message, from you or someone else, so there its own soul can be saved. I don’t think I could ever again be part of the church. The wound is too great, and the name of Jesus too tainted for me. But maybe it can eventually be the force for good it thinks it is, if it repents and reorients.
Christians have the Holy Spirit. It is very difficult to truly hate when one is born of God. Any supposed christian who is acting in a vile manner which is unholy is no christian. They are a deceiver. Please don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Jesus says you will know them by their fruits. The fact that this "reverend" has this sort of fruit in his comment sections speak volumes.
2:11 pst. I just wanted to let you know I find myself listening to you more. Born Christian, tried several sects, if that’s the proper term, and found so much hypocrisy I quit looking at Christianity. I’m agnostic, if I had to label myself. You keep being you! Much respect and love brother
"The people in my estimation who are most likely to be anti-christian are other christians." Like all fruits, that produce after themselves, such people produce other anti-christians, of all faiths and creeds.
It's about control and who has it. Not what they believe. If Christians weren't he'll bent on forcing their beliefs on people who don't believe what they believe, there WOULDN'T BE an anti Christian movement. Whatever it means. Don't double speak, tap dance around that specific problem.
When we realize we are souls living human lives and not separate from each other, that will be the end of suffering. It’s what Jesus tried to teach us. Because Jesus wasn’t a Christian, he was so much more than that. Those who are Followers of Jesus are those who love like him.
the major problem is.. PEOPLE USING THEIR RELIGION AS A WEAPON ..🤦♂. they use Jesus as a stick so they can belittle .and insult others ... preachers having private jets ? preachers committing adultery? what the hell is going on ? how can that be christian ? hypocrisy is what is driving people away from church .. good talk sir have a beer 🍺..
Rev. Ed, this called Christians go around countries that are already 80%+ Christians/catholics is weird or mind bogging. What bothers me is that they gave away money to buy the faith of these poor people. They took advantage of the poorness of this group of people who are already Christians. Good that one priest response was , “It is ok. They will come back.” 🙏🙏🙏
Dear Rev Ed...thank you for keeping calm and secure in Christ Our Lord Jesus. You have a God given gift and attribute which is a shining excellence of Faith and Christ Our Lord!!! God continue to bless you and the work and blessings broadcast to which I am a member even as I live far from you in Seattle and as I plan to relocate to China as I am lead with the gifts Christ has blessed me I am humble and even more Faith Filled of the Lord. I miss eastern Canada after living there is St Andrews, NB for six years and during that time God blessed me which its fruit is more and more ripe fruit of Faith. If God blesses me with a opportunity to return, I will visit you. Keep up the Faithful Good work you do and are absolutely called to be and do. Thank you
Every time a Christian has told me I’m going to hell for XY or Z it’s been someone who was trying to manipulate me to do something I didn’t feel right about. And my response has always been “at least I’ll be warm and away from people like you”. (They usually wanted me to denounce my friends who are LGBTQ which I will never do. Once was my in laws because my youngest wasn’t baptized yet)
Yours is the only Christianity based channel I've found that I can stand. I love everything Jesus has to say and strive to live according to his teachings. I can't find like minded community in any church near me, so I do not consider myself a Christian. So much of Christianity has completely lost sight of Christ. A return to that "wonderfully beautifully simple" doctrine is desperately needed.
You said a magic phrase there... "to get control". So much evil has come about because someone wanted to control others. Most of them seem not interested in controlling themselves, but controlling others?
I know the traditional translation is that the love of money is the root of all evil, but I think it's the love of power. You can only control someone if they let you have power over them, and the only reason to want power is to have control. What was the tempting in the Garden if not an attempt to influence Adam and Eve, to gain power over them? When Jesus is tempted in the desert he is offered power, if he will worship the devil, which in turn would give the devil power over him and thus over the world. It all goes back to that element of control.
@@AnitaClue Exactly. Thank you for adding to this thought. We ought to have learned to take turns, share and play nicely in kindergarten. It feels like so many adults need to retake those classes, as they have forgotten them.
The funniest one I ever heard was from a pseudochristian, who insisted that the King James version of the bible was the language of God, Jesus spoke it, etc. This explained much as to the confusion over the bible, as Middle English wasn't invented yet when the bible was written. I'll not even go into the, ahem, liberal transliteration that was employed in transliterating Hebrew, Aramaic and ancient Greek to Middle English. Or that nary a soul would understand me were I to actually speak in Middle English. OK, I'll dip a little bit in there. The unicorn in Job? That's Hebrew for aurochs, an extinct wild ox that had a disposition that makes the American bison look downright gentle. Infamous for taking a dozen men to slaughter one, inevitably a number of said men experiencing significant injury - think ox that's six feet high at the shoulder and you're 5' something small max and taking on an angry M1 Abrams tank. The behemoth, likely a hippo, again, rather infamous temperament that kills hundreds even today. If I had to swim and wade with crocodiles all the time, I'd be rather short tempered too, It gets worse and worse, but that's God's literal word, incomprehensible to the listener, as God apparently didn't realize that the language was invented yet in their worldview. Usually, I'll eventually mention that they might want to consult a Rabbi in regards to Hebrew transliteration to English for some passages. Then, the antisemitism arrives, which I royally enrage them with, "Jesus was a Jew". They'll inevitably reply in great agitation that Jesus was a Christian, to which my trap springs, "No wonder he got into trouble, worshiping himself, rather than The Father!". Leaving them with ashes upon their heads. Doubt it'll cool them off, ashes tend to insulate... I have a gun and I know how to not grab the end that the glue comes out of. But, I'm incessantly tempted to get it and glue these folks shoes to the floor and leave them there... ;) Save, they're not worth the effort beyond a quick explanation of the above and they'll still insist upon virgins riding unicorns, rather than a plain evil disposition ox that resents puny humans trying to kill it... Lord, save us from the frustration of those incapable of admitting making even the tiniest of errors. Of course, I never make errors. I'm far superior to that and commit outright blunders.
Most KJV-only fans are unaware that the point of the commission by King James was not to create one definitive Bible, but to create one version that would reconcile differing factions within the Church of England.
@@AnitaClue only around 11 versions. Yeah, was quite a big mess. Everyone pretty much claiming theirs was *the* one. Although, the Geneva Bible was the only one fully transliterated from the Ancient Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic to Middle English at the time. I'm fortunate, in that if I need a translation of something from the Tanakh, there is a synagogue next door to my apartments that has a highly helpful staff and Rabbi. What I didn't pick up from the old neighborhood by age 8, when we moved, I get by simply asking nicely. Yeah, my parents were "block busters", as the only Christians that were on the street in a street that was otherwise entirely Jewish. Good cultural experience!
I am not a Christian, I am opposed to Christians; not Jesus. I have had the misfortune of only ever meeting the bigoted followers. I know the faith is a kind and beautiful one, but organized religion/church, I feel, have misused Christ's teachings to foster elitism and hate. It is refreshing to see there ARE good, honest to goodness Christians that actually reflect their faith. I hope in time I can actually meet more of you and hope Christianity can take itself back from all this hypocrisy and hate and desire for control.
Agreed. Our neighbors should be Christian, and white, loyal only to their male, white, idols. It's quite simple. I'm surprised Jesus didn't write that in their Bible. I'm sure it will be written in due time after holy men have interpreted new material found in some tomb or a preacher finds a passage in the Bible he can twist into reality.
I'm what I describe as a Sunday School Christian! Simply taught about right and wrong and the goodness of Jesus ' message before we stopped attending church and it stuck! The only other religious education was Reverend Brigtwell of the Salvation Army who did such a wonderful job in grade seven teaching positively about a number of global religions! But I'm a Boomer and our lives were simpler and we knew and believed in simpler things! We may be the first computer generation but no one realised that the internet was actually Pandora's Box that would burn out right and wrong from the minds of future generations and replace them with all the dark, faithless, sinful thinking of doing as you please! As Jesus said - forgive them for they know not what they do! And they really don't! I read the Bible once and was horrified by the Old Testament! The New Testament did not disappoint!
I see the issue of denominations not getting along in my own family. My mother is (and grew up) Southern Baptist. She has a friend who is Catholic who gave her two books a few years ago as a gift. She refuses to read them because they are by Catholics. I want to ask “But can’t you read them, secure in your own faith, and gain some additional spiritual wisdom from them?” I haven’t because I don’t want to open that can of worms.
Amen Rev. Ed! If i were to claim a Christian heritage..I wouldn't...I am a sinner who is saved by grace through the blood of Christ...Yet I have had dinner at Steve and Joy Strang the publishers of Charisma Magazine (friends of my aunt and uncle). Former member of The Work of Christ Christian Community in East Lansing, Michigan..
I have met a number of people that are atheists, but know only one really well. She is an educated, kind, generous, loving person that would do anything to help someone else. In so many ways, her life mirrors how a follower of Christ should live and so many that call themselves "Christian" do not.
You described me pretty well. Personally, I am against any belief not based on objective evidence, which would of course mean I am against religion itself. However, I am NOT opposed to the things Jesus supposedly said about loving your neighbor and just being an overall good person. I'd go so far as to say that anyone who does oppose that, is not a good person.
Packaging religion with a hateful liar, billionaire, who is boasteful and everything but christ-like, is like pouring a glass of water, dropping in a cube of 💩, and then offering it to everyone.
I am struggling with being a Christian. I have been made to feel like I should choose my church based on my political views. I still believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I am having a hard time calling myself a Christian. I don’t want to go to church with my politics. Feeling very sad.
@@primitivedaisy When a Church is all about politics and that becomes the focus, this is a big red flag not to go. A Church focus should be on the Bible thus the teaching of Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament so I focus on the New Testament which helps me to live according to how Jesus lived. He is my example. I am also having a hard time finding a Church that is not judgemental, hypocritical and non-political. Can we not go back to simpler times?
![Twenty One Pilots - “The Line” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Rj2gQAyPA/mqdefault.jpg)
So much hate in people who claim to be Christian. It’s a sad thing.
I, too, have found the least Christian like folks I have met - claim to be Christian. I'm not religious, but I'm more Christian like than 99% of the Christians I know - who look down on me with their righteousness. So refreshing to hear a true Christian say this out loud.
30,000 Christian denominations can't be wrong
I expect that to continue
@@murrayc9615 And 80,000 versions of the Bible.
@@murrayc9615 Hey, there is only one church. /s
I’m an atheist, but I don’t care if someone has faith so long as they aren’t using it as an excuse to hurt someone. Today Christians have so much money and power that Solomon would blush, yet they seem to always want more and complete domination. If you want to convert people, show the love that Jesus speaks of rather than the hatred of Christian Love.
As a Christian, I wholeheartedly agree with you! We’re supposed to be changed by Christ and go out and be gentle in this world. Not dominate and force people to think the way we do.
#theygiveusabadname
Christians... problem is you're doing a bit of a generalization there. Just because it's happening in the US doesn't mean it's happening elsewhere. But to my alarm, I've seen a candidate to the presidency in my country, adopt American habits and use Christianity to promote himself. And what a coincidence, his party is the branch of the US Republicans over here. I can't call them a party, considering they're copy-pasting American rhetoric over here, in Eastern Europe. I think their party should be banned and they should be arrested for treason and espionage, as they're clearly working for foreign interests against our national interests.
The ikntention and purity of the original folloers of "the Way" Had the spirit of love and peace. Prosperity wealth and power, political correctness has all been humanities attempt to make the Divine more relatable, more like us.
Wonder why church attendance is down? No Jesus..all us.
That is quite a generalization. In many countries, Christians and other religious minorities are persecuted and have little or no power. Secondly, the Christians of whom you speak are often the ones who get the most attention, such as Greg Locke, Charlie Kirk, and other MAGA type "Christians". The Christians who donate to and assist at missions, support orphanages in third world countries, and serve their neighbour's unselfishly get scant attention, as do those who oppose Christian Nationalism and such distortions of Christ's teachings.
I was raised Pentecostal and now atheist; it was the ppl in the church that drew me away and not the teachings of Jesus. I could honestly say I love Jesus and his love.
I have a long journey to reconnect with my spirituality/God, and ppl like Pastor Ed draw me in closer, it seems like…
In my experience, those Christians that live most like the good Jesus are those that you could talk to for a while without knowing their faith.
As an atheist I enjoy (sometimes after years) being told "I had no idea you're an atheist"
@jonnanderson6489 exactly!
Yes.
I agree with you that the “Christians” are the ones who are turning away anyone who is not blindly following them. It’s the same group who will not do anything to assist anyone because you are not a part of their religious beliefs. In some of the churches, you are not accepted because as a stranger, you do not fit their profile of what a Christian is supposed to look like. If anyone is destroying Christianity, it’s that sorry bunch of fakers!!!! 0:11
Any person, really...
I am Lakota and my family and all Native people who are part of 570 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. were forcibly converted until 1978 when the American Indian Religious Freedom Act became law. All along my family continued to practice traditional ceremonies in secret and my paternal great-grandfather was even an ordained Methodist minister to keep the Indian agents and non-Lakota ministers out of the reservation community. So I will never be a "Christian church goer" but I do respect people who live and behave like Jesus told his followers to spearate themselves from the Pharisees, who were the Christian nationalists and megachurch pastors of today, because he did address hypocrisy which is practically ignored today. He als told his followers to love their neighbor as themselves, another thing that gets ignored. So for those embodying the teachings of Jesus, I enjoy listening and learning from.
👏👏💐💖👏👏
As a non- native who is blessed with having indigenous friends, I can say that I see indigenous people as living the values espoused by Christ more fully than non- indigenous people who claim to be Christian.
@auntiebobbolink exactly. And just imagine how much different (better) things could be if "we" learned, participated (with permission) and followed their lead instead of what we did to them. Omg. 😞
I mean if you look far enough back in most nations history. we all have a story in our history's that recognizes Genesis up to the Tower of Babel, when we all spoke the same language.
Just saying...love my indigenous brothers and sisters
I think many of the indigenous spiritual traditions/stories/symbols/medicine have very much to teach modern north American culture and spirituality. I'm happy that a good deal of that survived and is passed on. It took me years to de-program myself.
Growing up Catholic, then going to a nondenominational church, I would always bristle as I heard people say all Catholics are going to hell. My response? "When we stand before God, He won't look at our labels, He will look at our hearts and whether or not we love Jesus."
I am an atheist. Is it right for me to go to hell? Do agree with me going to hell?
@@jamesparsonalways a hard question for me to give anyone that says they're atheist because I love you all just like all humans. If you haven't accepted Jesus as your savior and put your trust in him...and accepted him trying for our sins. It's a good possibility you will end up there....I dont want that and neither does Jesus.
AntiCatholic bigotry is on the rise in Europe and in the US. Catholic Churches have been vandalized and desecrated. Some churches have been burned to the ground. It's shocking and scary to see so much hate in our World.
@@Mandalorian_of_Christ Are people you loved being tortured right now? Do you find that moral?
@jamesparson I dont think anyone is there yet...I don't think we're sent until Judgment time and we stand in front of Jesus for Judgment personally. Sadly, if they never accepted Christ before they died I can only think where their Judgment will lead to. Again, I want everyone that was born to sin to repent and return back to Christ. And if they end up "suffering " it's sad bit they were given everyy chance to avoid it since God gave us Free will. He wants us to chose him, not him forcing us to believe and accept him
I no longer refer to myself as a Christian. I’m now a Follower of Jesus.
Probably a good thing, for many who say they are Christian are not.. they follow the motions.. most have never opened a Bible.
As a Christian, I’ve been saying for years we are over complicating our faith so bad. It has brought nothing but trouble.
It has brought money to certain people.
Christianity would survive best if it was singularly the book of Matthew.
@ In English, Latin, or Greek?
I have been saying for a long time that it is Christ we should be following and not all the church teachings, but I just get pushed aside and laughed at, even by the ministers. I gave up going to church and now my faith is even stronger.
@@heliandme Are some religious beliefs held by Christians dumb?
Honestly Rev Ed if every pastor or reverend was like you I wouldn't consider myself anti christian. You speak about kindness, compassion and love and that's something that seems to have been lost with Christianity.
Yep, I have never heard another Christian speak like this man. I don't think he can heal my hatred and fear of Christians, but it is incredible and soothing to hear this one.
It's not lost, those who live like that know Him not, according to 😊 His word. There are many practicing Christians still around.
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.” G.K. Chesterton
"There has only been one Christian in history, and he died on the Cross" - Friedrich Nietzsche
That would be one Perfect Christian, the rest of us are not, Nietze misunderstood.
@@williammartinez840
To be Christian is to be Christ-like. So Nietzsche was right.
I wish people, *all* people, would stop hating and turn to love instead. I'm so tired of all the hate, it's exhausting...
It certainly is exhausting.
Me too!
I agree. I hate fights, but I love seeing people loving one another. When people love one another, I rejoice. I don’t care who they find it with, either.
I'm tired
If we’re talking about love then we have to speak to the one who loves us so much that he died on a cross for our sins. Our culture promotes that “love is love” and is focused on sin, not Jesus. Without Jesus, love is relative and defined by each person. Jesus offers objective love, for everyone if we just simply accept him.
i am an atheist... i say live and let individuals believe what they want...i don't hinder anybody.. and I completely enjoy your teachings
When I read Anti-Christian, I immediately thought of some judgmental people who are Christian in name only. Didn’t think of atheists or agnostics at all. Agree with you, Rev. Ed, & Jesus rocks! 😊 Thank you.
I had the exact same thought.
Hammer hitting the nail right on the head, bud. I’m there. My grandparents were founding members of the little Lutheran church in my tiny town. I no longer go there. When the christian church got into nationalism I’m done.
Good for you, Lee. If you are not welcomed, appreciated, & celebrated, I believe they have not earned your presence among them. Be well.
Grew up in a Lutheran church that had an all black congregation. I moved on, as an adult, but I still have love for my roots.
In the course of my volunteer work, I once had someone say to me, "I didn't know Christians could be kind." I found that heartbreaking but also understandable, because the followers of a faith that should bring only love, acceptance and service to others are too often associated with the opposite: hate, judgment, rejection and attempts to control those who don't agree with their exact version of Christianity.
A lot of the time I really struggle to have faith or to feel God's love . Most of the true pain in my life, and in the lives of too many people I've met, has come from Christians and the church, to the point that I've had PTSD since my early teens. Back in the 80's I volunteered at a hospice for AIDS patients. Basically my job was just to be a loving, comforting presence, a surrogate for the families that wouldn't accept and didn't visit, and every single time the reason for that estrangement was that the parents or siblings were devout Christians. Despite all that, I've never stopped believing in the teachings of Jesus.
My atheist husband does love Jesus. Does he believe he's the son of God? He doesn't know and he doesn't care. He just loves the teachings and the way of life.
Luke 6:46 and on maybe he is better off?
Yeah I mean what's not to like? Jesus was a chill dude.
@@idontwantahandlethough Winston in Ghostbusters " I like his style "
That's a low bar. Romans like Pilate claimed to have nothing against Jesus. Didn't stop them from eventually going after His followers.
@@williamfinch9858 when he said to act like him, he meant the forgiveness and love.
I have no idea how your channel ended up in my feed, but I am glad it did. I was raised as a devout Muslim and am now an Atheist. I am pleased to see some rational and thoughtful consideration to your commentary and arguments. I may not believe in god, but I do believe in good people. Keep up the positive contributions.
I agree with your perspective 100 %. I haven’t sat in a pew in 33 years. due to the christian nationalism.
The stuff Jesus actually said is way more in line with eastern faiths like Bhudism and Hinduism. Christianity makes alot more sense to me after learning about those faiths. You definatly get the message and not everyone does I appriciate your channel.
I had a comparative literature teacher in college who claimed that the story of Jesus in the Bible was when Eastern ideas came to the West.
@KabobHope I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way
It has been claimed that the missing years of Jesus were spent in India and Tibet. There's some evidence to back that up.
There are claims that he traveled in India and Tibet.
No one seems to acknowledge that Alexander's conquest actually linked the Buddhist and Greek worlds, and most of what is called "Persian" or "Babylonian" in the gospels is actually referring to Greco-Buddhist kingdoms that existed between the Levant and the Mauryan empire based in Maghada, and it is at that time that the name "Mariamne" started showing up in Greek contexts (distinct from the semitic name "Miriam" and the Greek is also the name of a couple of Herod the Great's wives, especially Mariamne I 'the Hasmoneon' who was suspected of adultery with Herod's advisor and Salome I's husband named "Joseph" and whose first generation of children were ordered executed by Herod).
Frankly the neverending martyrdom complex that justifies christian hate is a problem of their own creation.
Absolutely. Most of the people in that group have some form of narcissistic personality disorder, in my opinion. They actually have very low self-esteem and a lot of doubts, so in their fear they double-down trying to put on this fake showing of virtue they think will get them into Heaven. I’m not a believer, but if I were I would say their souls are weighed down more than anyone else with sin, and they know it.
I think "we" (Christians) should be more Christlike & less "Christian."
Then we might perceive a lot less "anti-Christian" opposition.
Quietly do good! Stand up for what is right by setting a good example by just being a good human. To other people, animals and the earth. Christian nationalism is just loud. Doest make them correct.
I find atheists are nicer people than so called Christians. Is this sad or what?
I'm an atheist, but I firmly believe the world would be a better place if all of us thoroughly emulated Christ .
There's nothing wrong with seeing Christ as a role model, at least in my estimation, and not being Christian. They too often want strings attached to every bit of religion and mostly despise people who do not see the world from their exact point of view.
Jesus's appeals to humility, acceptance, and forgiveness are considered WOKE by the unrighteous who have abandoned those notions and replaced them with selfish pride, spiteful envy, and vengeful wrath.
How can a thing go completely inside out
Without noticing it?
@@JamesBach-hz1pc People have been conditioned to only respond to appeals to emotions and instinct and to deny appeals to their intellect. Humility, acceptance, and forgiveness require you to deny your darker emotions and have a deeper understanding of people as individuals.
And they don't even know what "woke" actually means. They're using it for something entirely different than what the term was coined for.
One line from the movie "The Princess Bride" "I have been in the revenge game for so long, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life." Trump promised revenge if elected and he will have it. The people who voted for him want revenge as well. They will tell you that they have been wronged and want retribution. He has validated this hate and need for revenge and they do so in "Jesus' name" and that is the part that angers me.
"They will tell you that they have been wronged and want retribution."
This is a core feature of Narcissism, the stubborn insistence that one's own knowledge is correct despite evidence to the contrary.
Because they already "know" that they're right and do everything right because they stick to the rules that they've decided are right, they also "know" that any difficulty they face in their life is because of something else victimizing them.
The do not accept the Truth of what God spoke during the Six Days of Creation which we still receive to this day, and rather brainwash each other with their own preferred stories.
And yet, those same people, who seem to really like the Old Testament better than the New Testament, seem to have missed "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I shall repay."
I am a new subscriber, and this is the first time I have posted a comment. I came upon your channel at a time when I could not have needed it more. I was raised in the United Church, but found myself feeling empty and confused by the time I was in my teens. I saw so much hypocrisy that I stopped attending and turned away from it. I found myself seeking answers by studying religions at a post secondary level, but although it opened my mind to many faiths, my biggest 'ah ha' moments came when I sat quietly in the middle of a forest. Go figure. What better place to be with God than in all his Creation? What resonates with me about what you speak, is its honesty, and in that, I find clarity. Your words are not filled with anger, retribution or shaming blame, but with such beautiful understanding and peace. It has been my experience too that the most anti-Christians are Christians themselves. That was what I discovered when I was a teen. People who professed to be Christians on Sundays, but would conduct themselves in a most unChrist-like manner the other 6 days of the week by speaking and doing harm to their family's and their neighbors. Thank you for your honesty. With all that is in the world right now, we need someone like you.
I couldn't have said it better. Same here
Well, it was the pompous Pharisees that Jesus pointed out were more about their own vanity than real faith. IE: the widow gave a penny, all she had quietly while the Pharisee gave a bag of coins loudly from the front of the Temple. Jesus proclaimed hers the greater gift.
Great show! I'm a Roman Catholic priest, I love your reflections and I agree with almost all you say. Thank you!
Yes! Now is the time to put a better foot forward!
As a former fundamentalist Protestant, I often argue against current fundies who state as a fact that Catholics aren't Christians at all. #1. Was Christianity extinct between when the disciples died and the 1500's, when Protestantism became a thing? #2. Who complied the Bible, that they now claim is inerrant? The only answer I remember is "Definitely not Catholics."
"And they will know we are Christians by our love"
Nothing shows contempt like Christian love.
Rev, great talk! I think, however, you missed a rhetorical opportunity, which would have been to use a great quotation from ye olde print comics (specifically, Pogo): "We have met the enemy, and he is us!" Never more apropos (alas).
Reverend Ed, I was raised secular by a very loving, nurturing pagan-adjacent mom, and an abusive, abrasive dad who was brought up in parochial school. It was a confusing metaphor to a spiritually curious young person. Now that I am on the later side of life I've seen that a lot of the loudest Christians are like my father, while the people who live quiet humble lives as pagans or self described atheists are the most ironically Christ-like. Just my personal observation. I really appreciate your videos, so thank you for taking the time.
I think you are spot on. Most antipathy toward Christians is brought upon ourselves.
reminds me of the bumper sticker; "God, save me from your followers."
😂😂😂 if He's gotta save you from them , They ain't following.
@@williammartinez840
you see the point
Brian's gleanings? 🥴
I was raised Catholic so I came by my atheism honestly. However I’ve not once proselytized about the benefits of my position. What remains of bible teachings is that my heart and mind is large enough to embrace all peoples and beliefs and to call out indecency. I’ve subscribed to your channel because of the messages you deliver. I (and we all do) want more decency in this world and you are a part of that. Thank you.
My oldest daughter when she was in college had a friend who was lesbian. She told me once that her family had said that she liked Jesus and light the teachings of Jesus but what she had a problem with is Jesus's cheering Squad.😊
Rev. Ed Trevors, I just started following your channel and highly respect your opinion and will support you in everyway. Let me say though, I followed the Christian religion for about 50 years in the Baptist church. As of 2016 I became a very happy Atheist but I do not want to push my non-belief in a God on others. I support ALL Religions out of respect for their culture and the words they believe. Let me clarify, I DO NOT like any person that uses their religion to harm others such as immigrants, any race that is not white or beliefs that do not fall into theirs. Please, Rev. Trevors, keep up your great work to try to bring people back to believing in the words in their Bible, Quran or Torah. Also, I will not ever go back to any religion because of my research where the stories in the Bible came from (Greek, Egyptian and Roman Mythology) and no actual proof of a God, Jesus, Moses or even the 12 disciples. As a former scientist I realized I needed proof and the Bible is no more than a CLAIM of a God that man created to control women and men. I can't accept any religion that does not give women the full rights of men. Thanks and have a great day.
Amen😊
Love this, Richard. Thx
You might be interested in theories regarding the nephilim and ties to various ancient mythologies, as an intellectual discussion if nothing else. It's something my son has an interest in.
I do believe that we are going through a major spiritual awakening. I do remain positive about everything. We will rise above all, the negativity and will band together and help each other through these rather difficult times coming up. I am not giving up, and my faith is strong.
When you say 'we', who do you mean, exactly? Because that was the point of the video.
May you remain positive, and truly do unto the least of us as Christ would gave you do.
Thank you for your testimony. 🙏
@@heidim7732 all of us here...
To the original poster: I hope you're right.
@@heidim7732 we will all be okay. Just chill and take it all in
Every week in my United Methodist church, the minister says, “and pray for the persecuted Christians around the world”. One day, I asked him why don’t you ever say "pray that Christians will stop persecuting other people in America"?
Do not grow weary in well-doing. I appreciate your thoughtful opinions. Thank you
A conversation quote I've run across has becoming increasingly relevant:
"I don't understand, why would anyone want to oppress Christians?"
"Just wait until they get into power."
AMEN ... Thank you Reverend...... You actually give this PAGAN, hope...As an Ex Christian,,, That Loves Jesus and his Teaching's, but dislike the blasphemous into which many Christian s are walking..
Unfortunately Jesus is not all good. A critical reading of the Bible does not land one on that conclusion.
@@TheWordOfGodIsFictionProveIt i try to take the kjv teaching's with a grain of salt...diluted down to save the masses..
This skeptic agrees with the reverend about atheists. We can live with and get along with Christians just fine. My parents and two of my siblings are Roman Catholic and we have been able to get along just fine. The Christians I have the most trouble with are the ones who insist on forcing everybody else to do things their way. Dealing with them gets old fast.
the allowance of authoritarians to run the show for thousands of years has brought us here to this point. will we as a species turn in the direction Rev Ed is pointing, where Buddha and Yeshua first led, or will we continue to turn our collective backs on the values of love, peace, humility and compassion?
You moved me greatly with this. I say this to all my friends: one day you will have to choose, morality, legality and practicality. The antichrist will deceive using exactly those three. If I remember correctly, he said he will deceive even the righteous. Forgive me if I misquote. So he could appeal to those very same Christians. I’ve noticed something which is very important. I am an adopted woman who has lived through drug addiction as a baby and more in my life, why do I see CHRISTIANS, only caring about a baby who hasn’t been born yet more than the kids forgotten in the streets, in the foster care system, kids growing up with selfish parents, kids who are alone. I don’t care about my life at this point. But I very much care about what we teaching our children. Selfishness, hatred and ego.
Jesus said IF it were possible, he would deceive even the elect. Not that he will deceive them. But he's going to get everybody else believing him.
@ thank you. I appreciate the clarification. I grew up Baptist and then non-denominational before I lost my way. I recently got back into my faith, so I’m relearning and unlearning. ❤️
I refuse to call myself a Christian any longer. After all the hate spewed over the past year especially by people who claim to be Christians, I just can't. Instead I say I'm a follower of Jesus.
I say I am a red-letter Christian. What did Jesus say? What did Jesus do? Everything else is compared to that and evaluated.
I know I don't want to be around anyone who has to tell me about it all the time. Do it, not tell it.
You always make the best points, thank you.
When a villainous movement adopts something seen as "good", they then, no matter how wicked they are, they'll say of anyone who fights back against their abuse, that people defending themselves are against the "good things" they are using as a social shield against criticism and disagreement.
They wield as both shield and sword. They are the aggressors playing victim
When Anything defines itself too narrowly
It will find itself being eroded by Infinity.
The ego will possibly consider this as an attack
As an atheist, I love your content. You hit the nail on the head. I don't really care if you're a believer just don't force me to be Christian.
I'd like to offer an anecdotal story.
For some background, my Mom is Christian. She was raised Catholic, and converted to a Lutheran when my sister and I were born. Even though she doesn't go to church anymore (too much politics in her opinion), she still believes in the teachings of Christ (which _doesn't_ include needing to be a professed believer in God to avoid Hell, which is how she and I (an Atheist) have been able to maintain as good a relationship as we have).
One day, I showed her a picture of a small business vehicle I saw. Despite the business being non-religious in nature (a roofing company), it had John 3:16 written on the back bumper. In response to this, my Mom groaned and mimed gouging her eyes out with silverware. Not because she hates Jesus, but because the display of the Bible verse on the non-religious business vehicle implied to her a _particular_ type of Christian.
So I would definitely agree that any Anti-Christian sentiment is not coming about because of the guy who advocated for helping the poor...
I know that type! My mom called them Mr. & Mrs. Church, because they often come in pairs.
Once again, you nailed it. Keep preaching truth good sir.
Self identifying atheist here I have no problems with people who believe in a higher power. What grinds my gears is people that use religion to take advantage of others. Like the prosperity gospel people. We are not the enemy of religion some would have you believe we are.
Once again, Rev. you hit the nail on the head. As a progressive Christian, your channel is one of only a few places, l feel at home. Thank you for making me feel like l am not alone.
the biggest reason i left my faith was because of the hypocrisy I saw between Christians and their king. I thought if his spirit lives in us and guides us, then how is it his followers are so evil? That started my deconstruction, it didn't finish it. My parents were missionaries and continue outreach in the states after kids. I grew up constantly knowing the bible and spreading the "truth", eventually i started seeing that when i was surrounded by those that "shared" my faith, other Americans in church or youth group or whatever, i was made to feel less than or judged. Yet, when i was with Buddhists from Cambodia or Muslims from Pakistan, while doing outreach, I felt listened to and cared for. I was treated as a honored guest. I felt loved. How is it that the body of Christ (the church members) felt so, bluntly put, evil, when his spirit was supposed to have come upon us?
IDK if you read these comments, but i just wanted to say i appreciate your videos. I no longer have a belief in gods, but your sermons (videos) remind me of my parents. They preached a Jesus of love and forgiveness, a Jesus that did not have a kingdom off flesh and blood needing people to take up defense of him. Lately, i have told a Christian that they feel threatened on this earth because their king is under attack, and he is flesh and blood and needs physical warriors to defend his kingdom of earth. That king isn't Jesus. That king has his face on all those little green pieces of paper they hate parting with. Give to caesar what is caesars, and give to god what is gods. MAGA is giving to their god what is his, hate, fear, and selfishness.
Why follow a god that needs help defending themselves? Sounds like a pretty weak god, unworthy of worship.
That's the thing about earthly institutions. They let you down, regardless of whether they're liberal leaning or conservative leaning, etc. Some people like Tulsi Gabbard and Robert Kennedy have left the democrats because of a sense of betrayal. But with Jesus, you have no just reason to complain. Search the scriptures for Jesus and see that the faith is true.
There are psychological and history elements involved in this. Suffice it to say that America is a young and insecure culture, still sometimes very fearful of anything unfamiliar.
@AnitaClue you're not wrong. I don't think the reasons you've listed and implied excuse any of the behavior or judgements made by American "christians" though. The faith is supposed to give someone a new life, a new beginning, a rebirth in christ. I have failed to see that in more than a few cases where I now believe, those that did truly change, would have found a new beginning and change in any spiritual new beginning. Not just Christianity.
@@kidcharlamagne I don't think it excuses it either. I'm just a person who tries to understand the hows and whys behind people. Some people make it difficult to love our neighbor. I find that trying to understand how they got to where they are helps me with that.
Anyone who assures others that they are going to "burn in Hell" automatically loses credibility points with me, if for no other reason than they are trying to use fear to control others.
I have met fellow atheists, pagans, catholics, recovering catholics and others on your channel
❤ Thank you. God Bless.
Thank you for that message we all need to hear. Amen.
Denominations has been the biggest thing for me in my 20s when my parents stopped going to church after moving to Arizona. So I figured "Ok, I'll find a church myself. ...So which denomination?" I had grown up in a Southern Baptist church without really knowing what a Southern Baptist was. What's a Presbyterian? What's Lutheran? What's Methodist? Is there a correct denomination? I do want to thank RUclipsr Ready to Harvest for spelling out the differences between denominations and their subgroups, but now I don't belong to anyone. I just go about being a good person.
I grew up Catholic, but frequently singing at other churches. My parents were both raised Protestant. They said you choose the church not by what's written on the sign outside, but by who is in the pulpit and what they are preaching. I know people who belong to online churches because none near them are truly preaching the Gospel.
Most Atheist know the Bible better than the Church going "Christian". They also practice more of Jesus teachings than most Christians that I know.
@Kim-bt5tf Once you claim "most," you have the onus of providing supporting statistics. Do you have such statistical evidence? An impression or opinion may or may not be true, but impressions and opinions are not necessarily facts unless proven so.
@NeilDonald-y5h as somebody who had proclaimed myself to be " Christian" for the first fifty something years of my life, I have had a lot of experience with " Christians" , so I believe this sixty something woman can say most that I have met from many different denominations.
I run into far more hateful people who think they are Christians than hateful people who are atheists. My mother always said the devil does some of his best work in the churches. Life has confirmed that for me.
I left monetized religion years ago, and I will never go back. I struggled throughout my childhood and into my late 20's to find a quorum that both taught and lived in accordance with the Jesus that I have known and loved since my earliest memories. I now live a very solitary life for the most part and consider myself to be a sort of modern monk and mystic - living out my faith quietly and faithfully, in fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - and whoever the Lord brings into my path. I am more than happy to share my faith with any who ask, and I try to love others as I learn to love myself through the gracious and kind instruction of the Holy Spirit.
"monetized religion" is a great phrase, and perhaps even more accurate than organized religion.
As one raised in a staunch Christian home, who was a devout Christian, loving what I read in the Bible of Jesus’ message, but who became bitterly disillusioned…
Disillusioned by the overwhelming focus of the church in my community and in the US…
Disillusioned by the fact that my soul -or what some might call The Spirit -protested most of what it heard and saw in church or by the most vocal cherished leaders in this nation, but that the Church told me I was prideful or lacked faith for questioning those words and actions …
Disillusioned by the fact that the name of Jesus or his title (Christ) was so frequently used in public discourse to promote agendas that were at best completely unmentioned by the Jesus in the Bible, and at worst contrary to what I read about his message in the Bible; agendas so offensive to my soul, that eventually the very words “Jesus” and “Christ” began to trigger anxiety for me…
…as such a person, now an atheist who in theory loves the message of Jesus (and Buddah, and other great wisdom teachers), I wholeheartedly agree with your message, and hope the church, for its own sake, humbly listens, and wrestles in its heart with this message, from you or someone else, so there its own soul can be saved. I don’t think I could ever again be part of the church. The wound is too great, and the name of Jesus too tainted for me. But maybe it can eventually be the force for good it thinks it is, if it repents and reorients.
I'm a recovering Catholic. I fully agree with Rev's sentiment.
Beautifully well spoken & straight forward. Thank you ❤
All of us should take a look at our own lives before we start trying to tear someone down. None of us are perfect, we need to uplift all, if possible.
We have imputed our character to Christ rather than adopting his.
I sooooo look forward to your 10 minutes of truth every day!
Thank you❣️
"There is no hate quite like Christian love."
Christians have the Holy Spirit. It is very difficult to truly hate when one is born of God. Any supposed christian who is acting in a vile manner which is unholy is no christian. They are a deceiver. Please don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Jesus says you will know them by their fruits. The fact that this "reverend" has this sort of fruit in his comment sections speak volumes.
2:11 pst. I just wanted to let you know I find myself listening to you more. Born Christian, tried several sects, if that’s the proper term, and found so much hypocrisy I quit looking at Christianity. I’m agnostic, if I had to label myself. You keep being you! Much respect and love brother
"The people in my estimation who are most likely to be anti-christian are other christians."
Like all fruits, that produce after themselves, such people produce other anti-christians, of all faiths and creeds.
You speak the truth Fr. Ed. And that is so sad, that fellow Christians are sometimes so mean.
Hi Rev, I am an atheist raised Baptist but appreciate your channel.
It's about control and who has it. Not what they believe. If Christians weren't he'll bent on forcing their beliefs on people who don't believe what they believe, there WOULDN'T BE an anti Christian movement. Whatever it means. Don't double speak, tap dance around that specific problem.
Sometimes you really make me think, and that is very good! Thank you.
The long suffering Christians here in Texas are so oppressed! They have had to pass laws to make sure atheist are not allowed to hold public office .
When we realize we are souls living human lives and not separate from each other, that will be the end of suffering. It’s what Jesus tried to teach us. Because Jesus wasn’t a Christian, he was so much more than that. Those who are Followers of Jesus are those who love like him.
Or try their best to love as he did. I fall short myself. But I keep trying!
Thank you Thank you Thank you
the major problem is.. PEOPLE USING THEIR RELIGION AS A WEAPON ..🤦♂.
they use Jesus as a stick so they can belittle .and insult others ...
preachers having private jets ? preachers committing adultery?
what the hell is going on ? how can that be christian ?
hypocrisy is what is driving people away from church ..
good talk sir have a beer 🍺..
Rev. Ed, this called Christians go around countries that are already 80%+ Christians/catholics is weird or mind bogging. What bothers me is that they gave away money to buy the faith of these poor people. They took advantage of the poorness of this group of people who are already Christians. Good that one priest response was , “It is ok. They will come back.” 🙏🙏🙏
Dear Rev Ed...thank you for keeping calm and secure in Christ Our Lord Jesus. You have a God given gift and attribute which is a shining excellence of Faith and Christ Our Lord!!! God continue to bless you and the work and blessings broadcast to which I am a member even as I live far from you in Seattle and as I plan to relocate to China as I am lead with the gifts Christ has blessed me I am humble and even more Faith Filled of the Lord. I miss eastern Canada after living there is St Andrews, NB for six years and during that time God blessed me which its fruit is more and more ripe fruit of Faith. If God blesses me with a opportunity to return, I will visit you. Keep up the Faithful Good work you do and are absolutely called to be and do. Thank you
Amen. Beautiful message today
Amén🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Every time a Christian has told me I’m going to hell for XY or Z it’s been someone who was trying to manipulate me to do something I didn’t feel right about. And my response has always been “at least I’ll be warm and away from people like you”.
(They usually wanted me to denounce my friends who are LGBTQ which I will never do. Once was my in laws because my youngest wasn’t baptized yet)
Grateful!❤
🫶 👍
I could not agree more!!
Very well thought out words, thank you.
Yours is the only Christianity based channel I've found that I can stand. I love everything Jesus has to say and strive to live according to his teachings.
I can't find like minded community in any church near me, so I do not consider myself a Christian. So much of Christianity has completely lost sight of Christ. A return to that "wonderfully beautifully simple" doctrine is desperately needed.
❤️🕊✨️ vs. 💔🌀🌪
We are responsible for the outcome of our choices in every decision we make. I choose love and light... not darkness and misery!
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❤
@kelly - I agree completely, which is why I'm an atheist.
You said a magic phrase there... "to get control". So much evil has come about because someone wanted to control others.
Most of them seem not interested in controlling themselves, but controlling others?
I know the traditional translation is that the love of money is the root of all evil, but I think it's the love of power. You can only control someone if they let you have power over them, and the only reason to want power is to have control. What was the tempting in the Garden if not an attempt to influence Adam and Eve, to gain power over them? When Jesus is tempted in the desert he is offered power, if he will worship the devil, which in turn would give the devil power over him and thus over the world. It all goes back to that element of control.
@@AnitaClue
Exactly. Thank you for adding to this thought.
We ought to have learned to take turns, share and play nicely in kindergarten. It feels like so many adults need to retake those classes, as they have forgotten them.
The funniest one I ever heard was from a pseudochristian, who insisted that the King James version of the bible was the language of God, Jesus spoke it, etc.
This explained much as to the confusion over the bible, as Middle English wasn't invented yet when the bible was written.
I'll not even go into the, ahem, liberal transliteration that was employed in transliterating Hebrew, Aramaic and ancient Greek to Middle English. Or that nary a soul would understand me were I to actually speak in Middle English.
OK, I'll dip a little bit in there. The unicorn in Job? That's Hebrew for aurochs, an extinct wild ox that had a disposition that makes the American bison look downright gentle. Infamous for taking a dozen men to slaughter one, inevitably a number of said men experiencing significant injury - think ox that's six feet high at the shoulder and you're 5' something small max and taking on an angry M1 Abrams tank. The behemoth, likely a hippo, again, rather infamous temperament that kills hundreds even today. If I had to swim and wade with crocodiles all the time, I'd be rather short tempered too,
It gets worse and worse, but that's God's literal word, incomprehensible to the listener, as God apparently didn't realize that the language was invented yet in their worldview.
Usually, I'll eventually mention that they might want to consult a Rabbi in regards to Hebrew transliteration to English for some passages. Then, the antisemitism arrives, which I royally enrage them with, "Jesus was a Jew". They'll inevitably reply in great agitation that Jesus was a Christian, to which my trap springs, "No wonder he got into trouble, worshiping himself, rather than The Father!".
Leaving them with ashes upon their heads. Doubt it'll cool them off, ashes tend to insulate...
I have a gun and I know how to not grab the end that the glue comes out of. But, I'm incessantly tempted to get it and glue these folks shoes to the floor and leave them there... ;)
Save, they're not worth the effort beyond a quick explanation of the above and they'll still insist upon virgins riding unicorns, rather than a plain evil disposition ox that resents puny humans trying to kill it...
Lord, save us from the frustration of those incapable of admitting making even the tiniest of errors.
Of course, I never make errors. I'm far superior to that and commit outright blunders.
Most KJV-only fans are unaware that the point of the commission by King James was not to create one definitive Bible, but to create one version that would reconcile differing factions within the Church of England.
@@AnitaClue only around 11 versions. Yeah, was quite a big mess. Everyone pretty much claiming theirs was *the* one. Although, the Geneva Bible was the only one fully transliterated from the Ancient Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic to Middle English at the time.
I'm fortunate, in that if I need a translation of something from the Tanakh, there is a synagogue next door to my apartments that has a highly helpful staff and Rabbi. What I didn't pick up from the old neighborhood by age 8, when we moved, I get by simply asking nicely. Yeah, my parents were "block busters", as the only Christians that were on the street in a street that was otherwise entirely Jewish. Good cultural experience!
I am not a Christian, I am opposed to Christians; not Jesus. I have had the misfortune of only ever meeting the bigoted followers. I know the faith is a kind and beautiful one, but organized religion/church, I feel, have misused Christ's teachings to foster elitism and hate. It is refreshing to see there ARE good, honest to goodness Christians that actually reflect their faith. I hope in time I can actually meet more of you and hope Christianity can take itself back from all this hypocrisy and hate and desire for control.
I am opposed to hypocrisy. I have seen it since I was a young child in those who profess to be Christian.
We have made something so simple love your neighbor so complicated and messy!
So true. 🙏🙏🙏
Agreed. Our neighbors should be Christian, and white, loyal only to their male, white, idols. It's quite simple. I'm surprised Jesus didn't write that in their Bible. I'm sure it will be written in due time after holy men have interpreted new material found in some tomb or a preacher finds a passage in the Bible he can twist into reality.
@Angelica-n6e8h and we all know that Jesus was white! Haha and not poor! Haha
I'm what I describe as a Sunday School Christian! Simply taught about right and wrong and the goodness of Jesus ' message before we stopped attending church and it stuck! The only other religious education was Reverend Brigtwell of the Salvation Army who did such a wonderful job in grade seven teaching positively about a number of global religions! But I'm a Boomer and our lives were simpler and we knew and believed in simpler things! We may be the first computer generation but no one realised that the internet was actually Pandora's Box that would burn out right and wrong from the minds of future generations and replace them with all the dark, faithless, sinful thinking of doing as you please! As Jesus said - forgive them for they know not what they do! And they really don't!
I read the Bible once and was horrified by the Old Testament! The New Testament did not disappoint!
I see the issue of denominations not getting along in my own family. My mother is (and grew up) Southern Baptist. She has a friend who is Catholic who gave her two books a few years ago as a gift. She refuses to read them because they are by Catholics. I want to ask “But can’t you read them, secure in your own faith, and gain some additional spiritual wisdom from them?” I haven’t because I don’t want to open that can of worms.
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I listen to Andrew Farley on Sundays. The author of Jesus plus nothing. It’s awsome. you are spot on.
Amen Rev. Ed! If i were to claim a Christian heritage..I wouldn't...I am a sinner who is saved by grace through the blood of Christ...Yet I have had dinner at Steve and Joy Strang the publishers of Charisma Magazine (friends of my aunt and uncle). Former member of The Work of Christ Christian Community in East Lansing, Michigan..
I have met a number of people that are atheists, but know only one really well. She is an educated, kind, generous, loving person that would do anything to help someone else. In so many ways, her life mirrors how a follower of Christ should live and so many that call themselves "Christian" do not.
You described me pretty well. Personally, I am against any belief not based on objective evidence, which would of course mean I am against religion itself.
However, I am NOT opposed to the things Jesus supposedly said about loving your neighbor and just being an overall good person. I'd go so far as to say that anyone who does oppose that, is not a good person.
Once again, good message.
Packaging religion with a hateful liar, billionaire, who is boasteful and everything but christ-like, is like pouring a glass of water, dropping in a cube of 💩, and then offering it to everyone.
Amen, Brother! I agree with you 100%
I am struggling with being a Christian. I have been made to feel like I should choose my church based on my political views.
I still believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I am having a hard time calling myself a Christian.
I don’t want to go to church with my politics. Feeling very sad.
Just look to Jesus. Look for the church that focuses on Jesus.
@@primitivedaisy When a Church is all about politics and that becomes the focus, this is a big red flag not to go. A Church focus should be on the Bible thus the teaching of Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament so I focus on the New Testament which helps me to live according to how Jesus lived. He is my example. I am also having a hard time finding a Church that is not judgemental, hypocritical and non-political. Can we not go back to simpler times?