Maybe because belief doesn't really change who you are, or because their attempts to stick their noses in everyone's business have possibly been rebuffed. Certain kinds of believers can seem to get themselves tied in knots when their attempts to control the lives of others doesn't go the way they wanted.Q: Why are some Christians so grumpy? We have some neighbors like this -- always complaining about something and making life difficult for everyone around them. I'm sure they're sincere about their faith, but I wish they weren't so unpleasant. -- Mrs. R.G.
What an absurd standard! Billy says that Christians should be joyful just because the word 'joy' is used 'hundreds of times'? The number of times a word is used means nothing without also considering the context. Leviticus 9:24 uses the word 'joy' when talking about God receiving a burnt sacrifice. 1 Samuel 18:6 talks of joy in celebration after murder. Many verses speak of joy after battle. Jon 3:7 says "May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it." Joy is used describing an ostrich in Job 39:13 for crying out loud! But the vast majority of the appearances of the word 'joy' are not about simply living a joyous life, but about worshiping God.A: I wish they weren't so unpleasant, either, because that's not the way Christians ought to be! Words like "joy" and "joyful" occur hundreds of times in the Bible, and a grumpy Christian is a contradiction in terms. The Bible says, "Rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
But since Billy puts so much stock in the number of times 'joy' is printed in the Bible, lets see just how many times it's in there. I'll use the New International Version since it's the best selling version here in the USA...
Joy: 242 times
Hate: 127 times
Slave: 181 times
Anger: 268 times
Evil: 430 times
Kill: 445 times
Death: 465 times
Destroy: 504 times
Sin: 1,346 times
So if word count means anything, Christians should be angry evil killer sinners. Especially since 'forgive' (121 times) is used less than hate or slave...
Billy loves talking about Christ making everything all better when he comes back, but if that's the case, what the hell is he waiting for?! As for them thinking the world is in a sad state... Many Christians feel that not being able to force everyone to be Christian and be governed by a world-wide Christian theocracy is the world going to Hell in a hand basket. Ironically, these are usually the same people who decry Sharia law (as do I) while wanting to institute the Christian equivalent.I don't know why your neighbors are this way; it simply may be part of their personality. But it also may be because they see the sad state the world is in, and they no longer believe it's going to get better. I understand this; God hasn't promised that the world will ever be perfect -- not until Christ returns and God makes all things new.
Yup, nothing says love in action like holy wars and being a broken record of telling everyone they are terrible sinners that deserve Hell. Oh, and trying to withhold rights from people just because of your ancient religious opinion...But we aren't called just to complain about what's happening in the world. Instead, we're to do all we can to make the world a better place -- and over the centuries Christians have done exactly that. God calls us to love others for Christ's sake -- and then to put our love into action.
No, the key is to focus on yourself and not the beliefs of others. If you are a Christian, worship Christ. But stop peering into the lives of others and wondering if they are doing the same. If Christians (and other religions to varying degrees) would just stop the constant proselytizing the world would instantly become a much more harmonious place.How can we be joyful, no matter what's happening to us, or to the world? The key is to focus on Christ, not on our circumstances.
-Brain Hulk
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