Why Do So Few Christians Follow The Teachings Of Jesus?

[birdie1971]

In a rather belated response to a thread started by Goodlife, I would like to pose the question:

* Why do so few Christians follow the actual teachings of Jesus? *

You'd think they'd be falling over themselves to emulate Him and carry out His wishes. However, this would appear not to be the case. In particular, why do most Christians in western societies:

1. Not sell all their worldly goods and live in poverty (Mark 10:17-25, Luke 18:18-25, Matthew 19:16-24);
2. Not go out of their way to hate their mothers and fathers (Matthew 10:35);
3. Not abandon and leave their families (Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:29-30, Luke 18:29-30 & 14:26).

Of course there are many more examples of quite specific instructions that Jesus gave to his followers that hardly anyone today takes any notice of. In fact, the modern Church often teaches the exact opposite of what Jesus actually said and believed.

Isn't it far more true and honest to admit that secular thinking has shaped the societies of today far more than Christianity has and it is, in fact, Christianity that has adapted its teachings to conform to secular norms often at the expense of rejecting Jesus' teachings?

[beso]

andy-hughes //Absolutely beso - if you can't get on the golf club committe, and you failed your doctor's receptionist exams, there is always a Christian clique to feel superior in.

Any when the religious oligarchy refuses to accept your epileptic raving as evidence of being the latest prophet you simply start a new religion.

[birdie1971]

andy-hughes - "... I always imagine goodlife in conversation to behave like the late Michael Foot used to, when being interviewed. Before answering, he would give a little humourless laugh which non-verbally communicated his general attitude to being asked to explain or justify his views - that is probably the most fatuous naiive and ignorant question I have ever heard..."

Well observed; I could not agree more. Goodlife takes arrogance to quite dizzying heights. Heights matched only by his quite obvious ignorance of the very scriptures he endlessly quotes.

[joko]

have to say this is probably the most feeble reaction i have ever seen from goodlife ...

at least he knows when he's beat

[modeller]

I think the answer is we are Christians in name only. Like most people in the world we are born into a culture . We don't chose it by any conviction at birth.
It's only as we grow up that the norms of our society are absorbed and imposed on us. We in the UK are among the least believers in the world but most people still think of themselves as sort of Christians but it's more IMO a way of saying we are not extremists. It's got little to do with religion.

[modeller]

goodliffe Your arrogance is that you presume to know the mind of a fictional character . You can't prove the existence of God . It is only in your mind.
That's not say he/it does not exist in some form of power. but every attribute you attribute to it is created in your mind because you, like millions of others have a need to believe. But just because you have that Need does not make it true.