How Should a Christian Act?

Ok, I really would like to hear (mostly) from those that do not believe in the Christian faith.

Can you tell me how you feel a Christian should act and why you feel this way? I am really trying to understand others about this and this seems to be the best way ~ just ask! :wink:

Why do you care? What's the difference how non-Christians think Christians should act? Is this fodder for some weekly Christian discussion group or something? I can just see you and your fellow christians gathered around the living room talking about how the world is going to hell in a handbasket and how it would be so much better if we could just understand the thinking of the non-believers, in order to save them...

Of course, that whole scenario could be just my imagination, runnin' away with me...

As a non-believer who has read The Bible, I would expect a Christian who is true to the teachings of Jesus to...

Value the spiritual rather than the material.

Be pacific rather than belligerent. Gentle and forgiving rather than judgemental and vengeful.

Make helping others less fortunate than themselves, in practical ways, an everyday part of their life.

To pray and worship in private, making it a communion between themselves and God, and not a public display.

Why? Because my reading of The New Testament is that those are the essential teachings of Jesus.

Whether doing those things is morally right or wrong, and to what extent self-professed Christians do them, are of course separate questions.

Uh, I can't remember exactly. I guess it's been a while. I know they're supposed to obey the Ten Commandments, and then there's also the Golden Rule (isn't that a Christian thing?). Oh, I have a cousin who is Christian (he's also gay...how 'bout that!). He told me once that a Christian must... umm....something about Jesus, and then do unto others and all that (sorry...can't quite remember). Just as well. He was probably making up his own "gay rules", anyway.
So you tell me Momma. What's a good Christian supposed to do?

I'd add be inclusive, rather than exclusive.

Demonstrate love for one's fellow man.

I can clearly see that, in honesty, men must either give up war, or else they must confess that the words of the redeemer are too lofty for them, and that there is no longer any use in pretending that His teaching can be reduced to practice. I have seen a Christian minister blessing a cannon which had just been founded, and another blessing a warship as it glided from the slips. They, the so-called representatives of Christ, blessed these engines of destruction which cruel man has devised to destroy and tear his fellow-worms. What would we say if we read in holy writ of our Lord having blessed the battering-rams and catapults of the legions? Would we think that it was in agreement with his teaching?

A true christian, one that held true to all biblical scripture, would have to act contradictory and paradoxical to the point you would suspect they were actually discordian.

M A, you're asking a broad question. (no puns intended ) not being Christian, i shouldn't expect them to act in any way different from non-Christians, but i can hope that they act in a similar way to how i would act, and it would take a long post to fully specify my personal ethics, so i'll just mention a few key things:

nothing in excess
observe the golden rule (which is not unique to Christianity, in case you didn't know)
ends don't justify the means, until you've tried all other means
practice what you preach
acknowledge mistakes instead of rationalizing them.

Good morning, Momma. I suspect that all people should try and adhere to their inner beliefs whatever they are. I still contend that one should never wound another's soul, and that we should WANT to help those in need without expecting praise and tax breaks. <smile>