when is it ok to yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater

"I have friends who say that it offends them when Christians talk about their faith. It offends them when Christians say that Jesus Christ is the only true religion, that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven."

A proper reply: It's freedom of religion, not from it. And it's freedom of speech, not freedom from being offended.

It is up to us to let others know. Thanks for your post.

Why do so many people not want to hear the Truth? Because they'd have to admit they've been stupid, mislead into believing lies, and they've done stupid things. They'd rather die than be "shown up." Worse, they're terribly afraid they'd have to give up their self-centered worldviews. A large part of the reason for this is that as children, they had Christian beliefs stamped on them ad nauseum and couldn't fight back.

It isn't as if the rest of us haven't done some truly stupid things ourselves. The only difference is that we know we are forgiven forever as we accept the reality of God and our place as His Children under the blood of Jesus as His firstborn Son.

I started out in life as a Unitarian-Universalist, but left because of the emptiness of spirit. These people are truly Hollow Men, because there's nothing inside. They've chosen to deny the existence of Reality, and therefore their own existence. How could they do anything but choose to walk on the dark side of the Golden Rule? True, they aren't thirsting for our blood the way the Muslims are--but they're the ones out there fighting for social justice and peace with the ACLU and the rest of the left wingnuts. They're the worst of hypocrites and have no clue, because they refuse to look inside.

I've not read Ann Coulter's "Godless," but she's right, secular humanism is a religion--a worldview to which these people cling with everything in them. And they thump their tubs for it so hard because way down deep, they know they're wrong. But if they can just get everyone to believe them, they'll be able to believe it themselves.

Sigh! The problem we really have is that these people will not listen to our standard arguments, which they see as an attack on their very worldview and identity. I know, because I spent two years arguing with an avowed atheist (via letters, some of them 40 pages long). We have to find other ways of reaching them.

It's been my observation that the resistance these people have to the Truth as commonly spoken is a result of bad experiences as a child, particularly with people who tried to convince them they were evil and were going to be horribly punished if they didn't repent of all their sins and be baptized. And then even when they were baptized, they were still told they were evil and would be horribly punished if they didn't keep repenting of all their sins. To a kid, that is frightening, quite apart from the fact that it doesn't make sense.

Worse, the people telling them they were evil often considered any questioning of that statement to be evidence of evil. That really puts the child in a bind. Perhaps the child will go along with this for a while if those telling him or her he or she is evil are his parents, but as soon as he grows enough to be able to stand up to his parents, that's it. He will refuse Jesus because he's been so terrified all his life by his parents twisting Christianity into a control mechanism.

The point is, maybe we need to look at the logs in our own eyes. Have we raised our children in the fear of God or to love God? Yes, God is awesome, in that He is infinite and eternal. But if He loved us enough to show us through the sacrifice made on our behalf by Jesus that we are forgiven forever, can't we learn to love Him back, especially by accepting each other as equals before Him, and loving our children as He loved us?

Sorry, didn't mean to go on this long. I'm copying this to my blog. Check it out (I've added you to my Blog Roll).

It's one for Christians to say Jesus is the Light and Savior of the World. But when they don't tell their indended listeners or readers where they are specifically coming from, the whole truth is left out.

I'm Catholic and I can remember how often Protestants would raise their hackles at the "no salvation outside the church," especially if it wasn't explained fully.

We don't hold that Protestants can't be saved, nor do we believe that a person who's never heard of Jesus or His teachings and salvific sacrifice and resurrection, can never make it to heaven either.

We do teach that if a person recognizes that the Church is indeed THE Church directly founded by God and Her teachings are correct, and turns his back on Her, he takes a considerable gamble with his soul.

I have a big problem with the so-called "Bible CHurch" concept because it elevates the Book into a paper pope -- but a paper pope without a teaching magisterium to explain the many complexities which can arise from the Bible.

What I find amusing is how so many non-Catholic Christians find papal infallibility or the Church's claim of infallibility so hard to grasp.

Catholicism teaches that the CHurch was founded by CHrist, directly and His authority was given directly to Peter and the other apostles to teach, forgive sins, etc and what they bound or loosed on earth would be bound and loosed in Heaven as well.

Now, would Jesus create a Church that would not be infallible in matters of faith and morals?

Yet, Protestants, especially the more evangelical Protestants, hold tight to their Bibles and what their preacher says every week. Fine, but isn't the preacher claiming the same authority claimed by the Catholic Church and the Pope (on only two limited occasions, no less!)?

Some Protestants teach that the Bible is THE infallible and perfect word of God. C'mon now...
how can that be since ever since the time of the Reformation many different kinds of Bibles have been published and thousands of splinter denominations have arisen simply because of differing views on what they believe to be God's one single truth?

Let's be careful with how we approach non-Christians or lapsed Christians about the Gospel Truth. Let's also be careful about the notion that people who haven't "accepted Jesus" and been baptized are "evil."

After all, God didn't send His Son into the world to judge us. Why do some people judge the conditions of others and consign them to h-ll without even getting to know them in the first place?

Limbo's gone according to reports from the Vatican, but where do some Protestants get off thinking even young kids who haven't embraced Jesus yet and were baptized are going to hades?

Hmmmmm, time to reflect.

It's one for Christians to say Jesus is the Light and Savior of the World. But when they don't tell their indended listeners or readers where they are specifically coming from, the whole truth is left out.

I'm Catholic and I can remember how often Protestants would raise their hackles at the "no salvation outside the church," especially if it wasn't explained fully.

We don't hold that Protestants can't be saved, nor do we believe that a person who's never heard of Jesus or His teachings and salvific sacrifice and resurrection, can never make it to heaven either.

We do teach that if a person recognizes that the Church is indeed THE Church directly founded by God and Her teachings are correct, and turns his back on Her, he takes a considerable gamble with his soul.

I have a big problem with the so-called "Bible CHurch" concept because it elevates the Book into a paper pope -- but a paper pope without a teaching magisterium to explain the many complexities which can arise from the Bible.

What I find amusing is how so many non-Catholic Christians find papal infallibility or the Church's claim of infallibility so hard to grasp.

Catholicism teaches that the CHurch was founded by CHrist, directly and His authority was given directly to Peter and the other apostles to teach, forgive sins, etc and what they bound or loosed on earth would be bound and loosed in Heaven as well.

Now, would Jesus create a Church that would not be infallible in matters of faith and morals?

Yet, Protestants, especially the more evangelical Protestants, hold tight to their Bibles and what their preacher says every week. Fine, but isn't the preacher claiming the same authority claimed by the Catholic Church and the Pope (on only two limited occasions, no less!)?

Some Protestants teach that the Bible is THE infallible and perfect word of God. C'mon now...
how can that be since ever since the time of the Reformation many different kinds of Bibles have been published and thousands of splinter denominations have arisen simply because of differing views on what they believe to be God's one single truth?

Let's be careful with how we approach non-Christians or lapsed Christians about the Gospel Truth. Let's also be careful about the notion that people who haven't "accepted Jesus" and been baptized are "evil."

After all, God didn't send His Son into the world to judge us. Why do some people judge the conditions of others and consign them to hades without even getting to know them in the first place?

Limbo's gone according to reports from the Vatican, but where do some Protestants get off thinking even young kids who haven't embraced Jesus yet and were baptized are going to hades?

Hmmmmm, time to reflect.

I thought the Article When It's Ok To Yell Fire, was great. Most people do act weird when they hear Jesus mentioned by Christians. (most don't mind offending Him by using His name in a foul way.It seems most either find Him offensive or they think He 'was' a great, 'role model' for all of us to follow, a great philosopher. They seem to think he was a wimp or a peacenik. Notice I used the word 'was' in the past tense?

They don't realize HE LIVES!! I Do sort of wonder about the above comments tho. I grew up Catholic and believed, but until 8 yrs ago, I had no relationship with Jesus. I know Him now and wouldn't trade that for anything. But I have never heard many Catholics talk about a relationship with Jesus, why do think that is??

I am a Protestant, but before I am anything--I am a CHRISTIAN! I go to a Baptist Church, but that is where God lead me. I do not say Catholics cannot be saved,but I do think that they want to believe that they can somehow earn their way to Heaven, or maybe that they feel they need to do something to appease God. Protestants believe Jesus Paid the Entire Price with the giving of His Life for us on the Cross at Calvary. (Please read the book of Hebrews). But the confusion can be straightened out when we realize that God gives us everything, we are SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, IT IS A GIFT OF GOD, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST. He also gives us a new heart, new life and strength and hope in order to live the life and do His will. We, need only offer back what He gave us. Those who do not , do not know and love Him. And we need to Question whether they are truly His.
Lord Bless all who read the above Article, that they should understand, why we 'offend' others.
In Christ
Janet