I'm Just Sayin’...

[creekdipper]

I agree with you bro.....many people are turned off and pushed away from Christianity (Which simply means Christ follower) because of "Church hurt" (just a term i use). Ive seen it over and over and its usually because of something that was said to them or done to them by another broken human. Or you're right, maybe they delve into science or various education and it changes their view. So I 110% agree with you that a lot of people have heard or been raised in a church setting to be pushed away.

But the beauty of being a Christ follower is it's a 1 on 1 relationship. Not a family, not a church, not a religion, etc, etc will stand before God.......only me and me alone. ORGANIZED religion and church BUILDINGS were made by man to get closer to God. God got closer to us by sending his son. So what I say to "church hurt"......seek for yourself. All those things can be good tools, but theyre tools. Seek and make your own decision.

The problem with the "church hurt" excuse is that the principle rarely seems to carry over to other institutions. People don't give up on education because they had a bad experience with a teacher. They don't stop eating at public restaurants because they got a bad meal somewhere, or five up on medicine because of a bad encounter. They generally don't give up on relationships due to a bad date, or even a failed marriage.

I suppose I've heard people saying they quit playing organized sports due to a bad experience or maybe have up on politics after being disappointed by someone they supported. But usually it just seems like an excuse when there are so many alternatives. After all, church members put up with a lot of "imperfections" from each other ..which is a big part of the mission.

 

[NATHAN05]

The problem with the "church hurt" excuse is that the principle rarely seems to carry over to other institutions. People don't give up on education because they had a bad experience with a teacher. They don't stop eating at public restaurants because they got a bad meal somewhere, or five up on medicine because of a bad encounter. They generally don't give up on relationships due to a bad date, or even a failed marriage.

I suppose I've heard people saying they quit playing organized sports due to a bad experience or maybe have up on politics after being disappointed by someone they supported. But usually it just seems like an excuse when there are so many alternatives. After all, church members put up with a lot of "imperfections" from each other ..which is a big part of the mission.

I totally get what you're saying.......bad drs. but you still go to the doc, bad lawyers, bad cops, bad apples everywhere but you still use the services. What I was saying with @Vfl2407 in terms of church hurt is the long lasting drawn out pains. i.e. growing up in habitual abuse from a church leader/authority figure, parents or grandparents putting on the fake Christian on a Sunday and then a habitual and dangerous devil on the weekdays. Basically a long lasting / PTSD /on-going volatile situation that involves "christian" masking and thus when you see these things it drums up pain and anguish. You're right, if its an unkind word or a couple of church gossip queens, church cliques, etc that turn you away, then you were looking for a reason to be your own god anyways. Or looking to let something else be the god of your life (i.e. money, sex, drugs, power, work, etc). So I absolutely agree with you.

As for the last part, some of the most disgusting people I know have their name on a pew spot every Sunday. But I always remember, satan isn't trying to win people OF the world (people with little "g" gods) he already has them. He's after the people who are trying to do their best to be Christ followers and trying to help others to salvation. So he's going to plant as many of his "followers" (for lack of a better word) to create as much havoc and craziness within bible following congregations as possible. So everything you said is spot on.

 

[Carl Pickens]

As much as I'm supposed to not like him because he played for the bad guys..........Tim Tebow gave a great prayer yesterday at the game. All credit to God and Christ and his rescue mission for man kind. I was impressed to be honest. (But on that front, Danny Wuerffel was one of my favorite athletes because of his faith also.....guess, I'll give them a smile and a nod on the streets of gold one day.......wearing my Tennessee gear of course though)

Danny Wuerffel was an incredible college QB. System or not, the dude put up big numbers and won a ton of games

 

[Tombo7]

It’s just so interesting what we cling to.
What if you found out that your favorite player was an atheist, or gay, or a democrat, or all three? Heavens to Betsy.

He would still be my favorite player; so what's your point?

 

[camp_steveo]

Just an fyi, many atheists (who turned away from religion for their own reasons) consider being told that “I’ll pray for you” to be insulting. Since they don’t believe in prayer, they don’t want your prayers. I’m just sayin…

Not to sound rude, but I didn't ask. I pray for God's mercy for myself and for anyone that in my mind needs it. The rest is up to God.

 

[Vfl2407]

Not to sound rude, but I didn't ask. I pray for God's mercy for myself and for anyone that in my mind needs it. The rest is up to God.

Glad you know what everyone else needs.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

He’s married to a former Miss Universe.

He could be bi then ….

 

[kcvols1]

This country has turned into a bunch of wussies. A majority of people run around looking for something to be offended by. There is a bunch of stuff that I don't agree with. But, I realize it is a free country, and if you want to believe the world is flat, have at it. Just don't try to force me to agree with you or tell you that you are right.

So are people wussies for being mad that we booed Tebow, or for being mad at Christian messaging?

Or both?

I am also tired of people thinking you can only get along with people that agree with you about everything.

I mean, I’m pretty sure Tebow has been booed while praying before.

Also probably while shopping at Publix, getting gas in Jacksonville, playing golf at Sea Island, etc.

 

[kcvols1]

Just an fyi, many atheists (who turned away from religion for their own reasons) consider being told that “I’ll pray for you” to be insulting. Since they don’t believe in prayer, they don’t want your prayers. I’m just sayin…

What if I asked what I could do for them, but really meant it?

 

[camp_steveo]

Glad you know what everyone else needs.

We all need salvation. No doubt

 

[volmoon]

Jesus is Lord! Philippians 2:8-10

 

[onevol74]

Yeah......that was pretty classless......especially because the announcer even said he was giving the invocation. If he was coming to flip the coin or be an honorary Capt? Fine......but it was announced he was coming to pray and we still booed.

Totally classless. No wonder we have a poor reputation as a fan base.

 

[SN-A-C Orange]

Would you allow an opposing viewpoint.
Many people are raised in religious homes and are Christian, get baptized, attend church regularly, etc.

Some then go on in adulthood to change their thinking.
Education, logic, science, a deep dive into religious inconsistency, etc. turn some into atheists or agnostics.
Doesn’t make them bad people.
They just don’t believe in an afterlife.
They don’t want to turn back to religion and are quite content without having it in their lives.
It is a common fallacy that many believers think that non believers just haven’t been exposed to Christianity.
In fact, quite the opposite is true.
They’ve been exposed and do not choose to believe.

Sure. Can do.
Agree with you on this point, a non believer can be an outstanding person.
And I've also known some religious (christian) people do some really bad things.
Whatever, the reason a person might have for ... departing from a Christ/God way of life, or why Jeffrey Dahmer chose to become a christian after a bad way of life .....it is their right to choose their preferred way of life.
But let me ask you this ... IF there definitely is an afterlife and judgment, do you really want to be left alone to sleep when your house is on fire or do you want someone to try and wake you up with their best effort of banging down your door?

 

[Vol524]

So are people wussies for being mad that we booed Tebow, or for being mad at Christian messaging?

Or both?

I am also tired of people thinking you can only get along with people that agree with you about everything.

I mean, I’m pretty sure Tebow has been booed while praying before.

Also probably while shopping at Publix, getting gas in Jacksonville, playing golf at Sea Island, etc.

No, you aren't being a wuss. You are being RUDE. You seem to think you have a right to boo and yell over him. But, you aren't respecting his right to free speech. Freedom of speech is a two-way street. When you boo someone for their free speech you are not trying to get along with them. You are just being disrespectful. There is nothing wrong with being SILENT while others are talking. Heck, you might actually learn something. At the very least, the person sitting two seats away from you might need to hear what is being said. The world is a big place and it does not revolve around you.

 

[Behr]

So?

Nevermind. Shouldn't be discussed here. But dumb response.

 

[ConantheVolbarian]

I suspect Tebow is gay and that’s why he leans so hard into the religious aspect.

He does give those vibes

 

[WillisWG]

this thread has taken a weird turn

 

[Jxn Vol]

this thread has taken a weird turn

A lot of projecting going on.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I would do the same thing I do for family, friends and other non believers:

1. Don’t judge them
2. Pray for them to find Christ

it's easy to judge Tebow bc of the plasticness of his persona, the fame, money, and Osteenish life he lives. Then I see him at an event lifting up folks who are less fortunate, praying with others. I'm kind of on the fence here, I personally have to remind myself constantly. Its not my job to judge. So i'm thankful he's out there teaching. As long as he stays apolitical.

 

[jvols1999]

As much as I'm supposed to not like him because he played for the bad guys..........Tim Tebow gave a great prayer yesterday at the game. All credit to God and Christ and his rescue mission for man kind. I was impressed to be honest. (But on that front, Danny Wuerffel was one of my favorite athletes because of his faith also.....guess, I'll give them a smile and a nod on the streets of gold one day.......wearing my Tennessee gear of course though)

That was way over the top. People who want that should go to church. Those of us who just want to watch football shouldn’t have to be subjected to a 3 minute Christian sermon before a game. Having a minister type say a prayer for the players before a game, even if they finish with something like “in Jesus name we pray” is one thing. That was way too much. This isn’t Liberty University.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

Totally classless. No wonder we have a poor reputation as a fan base.

We don’t have a poor reputation as a fan base. Overall our rep is good. All fan bases have bad apples. I have seen classless acts by nearly all of them, I simply don’t have time to go into all of them. So quit that lie that we have a poor reputation as a fan base. Your are so flat wrong on a historical level it’s sickening.

 

[Vfl2407]

This is a fan forum not a religious or political one.
Not sure why people want to make it one.
There are all types of Vols.
Not all are religious or political of only one stripe.

 

[SN-A-C Orange]

This is a fan forum not a religious or political one.
Not sure why people want to make it one.
There are all types of Vols.
Not all are religious or political of only one stripe.

But we all have bias and viewpoints and that colors our conversationsand our perspectives.
I, for one, am not trying to make it political ... but I am an independent thinker. Biden was my president and now Trump is my president and there were and are things I disliked about both. But I was and am still a Vol fan.
But by arguing that we should remove both political points of view and religious convictions from our discussions, doesn't that mean you are espousing an apolitical and antireligious point of view that you are asking us to adopt. Isn't that the same thing that others are doing ... expressing their point of view????

 

[zeppelin128]

this thread has taken a weird turn

Everyone offended for wildly different reasons lol.

I'm not a religious person, and I didn't boo Tebow (I was at the game). I did what I always do during an invocation; stand there quietly and look around at the crowd. One can be respectful and not participate, I've been doing it for years.

 

[WillisWG]

Everyone offended for wildly different reasons lol.

I'm not a religious person, and I didn't boo Tebow (I was at the game). I did what I always do during an invocation; stand there quietly and look around at the crowd. One can be respectful and not participate, I've been doing it for years.

right there with you