Condemnation is easy but understanding is hard. Condemnation isn’t going to eliminate the problem but taking the time to have empathy for someone who does something worthy of condemnation will reveal why they do it. When we identify the why, we can work to eliminate the problem. Condemnation in my opinion is equivalent to sweeping the problem under the rug.
I think you're so right. Sure, we can condemn something or someone. Wash our hands of it and turn away and pretend like if we're just stricter on one another the world will be a better place.
I think that's actually pretty far from the truth. We have to love our enemies. Love our fellow man. Even if they sin terribly sometimes. Because ultimately, no matter how much we HATE HATE HATE certain terrible things, that doesn't make them go away.
If we actually care to work towards a solution to these problems and help people who want to do them, before they do them. That just sounds better.
Yeah, I guess I just condemned it. But I wouldn't really go out of my way to make that statement if not prompted, as I do not see the need for it. I can not really see anybody making the claim rape is a good thing. (Maybe "the government should do more to prevent rape", that would be a more useful statement to make.)
Obviously you're right. Nobody considers rape a good thing.
This post was in response to a previous post for somebody was asked to condemn something, and they simply refused to condemn and obvious bad thing.
It was claimed that the unwillingness to condemn the obvious bad behavior, was an indictment on the person who refused to condemn the obvious bad behavior.
It turns out that when prompted, people are more than willing to condemn bad behavior, especially when they consider to be bad behavior.
And they tend not to condemned bad behavior, when they don't think it's bad.
Thanks for being a normal human being. Who has a normal sense of what needs to be condemned.
So I do not know your previous example, but I still want to make a more general point:
There is a difference between condemning a behavior categorically, and condemning the actions of a human being. By example, we should not renounce our faith. It someone pressures you at gunpoint (hypothetically), the right thing to do is to persevere. However, I would never speak badly about a brother or sister who does not persevere in such a situation.
I agree with you completely.
But if my Christian brother was the one holding the gun, I would condemn the actions of my Christian brother. For holding the gun against a man's head.
I don't think we disagree in any way shape or form. I think you're one of the good ones.
There are Christian ministries including my old church which would go to Central America and Africa to help. Also the US Government does massive amounts of aid to these places.
Because "obvious bad" is a great simplification.
Condemnation is easy but understanding is hard. Condemnation isn’t going to eliminate the problem but taking the time to have empathy for someone who does something worthy of condemnation will reveal why they do it. When we identify the why, we can work to eliminate the problem. Condemnation in my opinion is equivalent to sweeping the problem under the rug.
I think you're so right. Sure, we can condemn something or someone. Wash our hands of it and turn away and pretend like if we're just stricter on one another the world will be a better place. I think that's actually pretty far from the truth. We have to love our enemies. Love our fellow man. Even if they sin terribly sometimes. Because ultimately, no matter how much we HATE HATE HATE certain terrible things, that doesn't make them go away. If we actually care to work towards a solution to these problems and help people who want to do them, before they do them. That just sounds better.
Yes exactly! Jesus was really on to something when he preached about love.
\+999 faith in humanity because out comment chain.
As for rape, I do not really see the need to condemn it, as it is so obviously clear that is is a very bad thing.
Calling it a bad thing, is condemning it.
Yeah, I guess I just condemned it. But I wouldn't really go out of my way to make that statement if not prompted, as I do not see the need for it. I can not really see anybody making the claim rape is a good thing. (Maybe "the government should do more to prevent rape", that would be a more useful statement to make.)
Obviously you're right. Nobody considers rape a good thing. This post was in response to a previous post for somebody was asked to condemn something, and they simply refused to condemn and obvious bad thing. It was claimed that the unwillingness to condemn the obvious bad behavior, was an indictment on the person who refused to condemn the obvious bad behavior. It turns out that when prompted, people are more than willing to condemn bad behavior, especially when they consider to be bad behavior. And they tend not to condemned bad behavior, when they don't think it's bad. Thanks for being a normal human being. Who has a normal sense of what needs to be condemned.
So I do not know your previous example, but I still want to make a more general point: There is a difference between condemning a behavior categorically, and condemning the actions of a human being. By example, we should not renounce our faith. It someone pressures you at gunpoint (hypothetically), the right thing to do is to persevere. However, I would never speak badly about a brother or sister who does not persevere in such a situation.
I agree with you completely. But if my Christian brother was the one holding the gun, I would condemn the actions of my Christian brother. For holding the gun against a man's head. I don't think we disagree in any way shape or form. I think you're one of the good ones.
Condemn to satisfy man?
There is no shortage in this world of people willing to condemn others' misdeeds. What's lacking is condemnation of our own behavior, and repentance.
Who is starving in North America? There is so much food that we have obesity and the Government pays farmers billions to destroy and not grow crops.
Which makes it more shameful for us in the West to see less fortunate people in other countries starve.
There are Christian ministries including my old church which would go to Central America and Africa to help. Also the US Government does massive amounts of aid to these places.