I apologize on behalf of Christians who come across that way or honestly those who are rude. We are to speak the truth in love...we aren't called to sugarcoat things, but at the same time we aren't called to ram religion down peoples throats. So often Christians are providing another way to connect with other people, to follow a list a rules, and give the 3 easy steps to get saved. Honestly they leave out the hard times, the discipline and the problems it has. Christians are suppose to offer encouragement to have a relationship with a loving God, even if that means shutting up and walking away from a debate. I hope that you find more humble Christians in the future. I believe Christians are only suppose to rebuke other Christians and not be condescending to nonbelievers.

Perhaps the condescension you see is a reflection of the way you talk to people. It's easy to see other's shortcomings while being oblivious of your own.

Either way, everyone has moral failings and it's kind of naive to think that religious beliefs would make a person perfect.

...no you do not and it is incredibly arrogant to think that you do . You also stepped into a trap that you clearly did not see by reinforcing a ridiculous stereotype that a Christian must play the role of docile lamb in all discussions . This is also a political discussion forum and have had my Christianity thrown back in my face for topics that are not even related to my faith . If I think someone is being a hypocrite or posting political nonsense I get responses like " how can you call yourself a Christian and talk to me that way boo hoo hoo " . And now you have just reinforced their delusional expectations .

I will leave you with this to ponder -

◄ Matthew 23:33 ►

New International Version

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? "

I appreciate your responses Widowmaker because you do challenge me.

to Apologize: to express or make an apology; acknowledge failings or faults

I am declaring in front of this entire forum that Christians have faults. Would you care to deny that? Furthermore I would say that many Christians do come across as pompous and arogant. Part of that is because we have the truth to guide us and a powerful God to defend us, but that does not mean we should go around pointing out everyone's faults.

"Let he who is without sin throw the first stone"

Notice that "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" was talking to the Pharisees. Those who were the religious elite who believed their righteousness would save them.

Mathew 10:16 ""I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Another example of the disciples getting to hasty was in Luke 9:
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[b]?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

Furthermore:
1 Corinthians 13
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love is patient: We are to be patient with those who don't believe the same as we do. Therefore we aren't suppose to be demanding.
Love is Kind: we are not suppose to be rude. We can come across rude, but we are suppose to be as kind as possible.
Love does not envy: not really related to this topic; but not wanting what the rich have i guess is a plus.
Love does not boast: we can only boast in Jesus and nothing else. to boast in our knowledge is pointless.
Love is not proud: as a Christian we lose our right to be proud of ourselves. we declared bankruptcy and therefore can make claims on our lives or on our forturnes.
Love does not dishonor others: This includes tearing down one just to prove a point. It is better to guide someone to Jesus through questions then to destroy all hope in their lives. Remember the end goal is to have everyone to come and see the joy and freedom in Jesus.
Love is not self seeking: This sometimes means to walk away from an argument.
Love is not easily angered: When Jesus is angered it involves hypocritical people and/or people blaspheming God.
Love keeps no records of wrongs: This includes keeping records of what people believe. there is no room for "I told you so's" in the kingdom.

Now we are to in all things love. For even if we win over 10,000 souls with our words, even if we call down fire from heaven and part the seas, even if we can speak every tounge and know everything...if we do not love, then it is pointless.

Now I never said that we aren't suppose to stand by our believes but we are suppose to be loving to those who don't share them. We are to show people what righteousness in God is.

...no , you were not . You were castigating your fellow Christians to placate a non-believer who insults Christianity whenever the opportunity arises . You should have picked that up from his post where he is literally holding the behavior of other religious over that of Christians . How can you miss something so obvious ? You are also committing a grievous error by tossing out citations completely out of context .

um I believe I placed mine in context.

...oh really ? Let's look at your first mistake -

"Let he who is without sin throw the first stone"

1 Who was Jesus speaking to ?

2 What was He really telling them and the woman ?

3 In what role ?

4 What is the recorded word for " sin " that Jesus used in this citation...do you know what it means ?

...when you understand the answers to these questions you will never again try to use it so universally .

Off the top of my head?

Jesus was speaking to a female who was just caught in adultery. He was telling the pious men about to stone her that if anyone of them where without sin then they could legally cast judgement and stone her. Since none of them where without sin except for Jesus, they couldn't cast the first stone. Jesus having not sinned, then spared her life and told her immediately go and sin no more.

Now I don't know the answer to question 4. I am currently looking it up.
In that scripture he uses the word anamartEtos which means one is unmissing...
So he uses the word "hamartane" meaning missing the mark. literally meaning "go and no longer miss the mark or choose the wrong road".

So what about my other ones? are they out of context?

Furthermore lets examine yours shall we?

Mat 23:33
"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? "

Who is Jesus talking to?
Are these people religious or not?
Is he speaking to Jews or Gentiles?
Is he speaking to those inside the house of David or outside?

So now I ask should words like these be used to describe people who don't claim to be religious?

Too much real life.

I love this thread. It's humors me that two self-proclaimed Christians can have such heated discussions over the same belief.