Is it fair to have higher expectations of people who are professed Christians?

I didn't really get that straight, did I? If you expect higher standards of Christians, then that means your own standards must be lower. IOW a non-Christian judging a Christian is self-contradictory. deprecatory. This post was edited by Not Sure at April 23, 2018 5:46 AM MDT

No, I don't think you did. 

This question wasn't meant to be biased in any way. I know Christians who most certainly have higher expectations of Christians than they do of non-Christians. I'm not judging or not judging anyone.

Please do answer the question now, if you wish. 

The problem is that people think Christians are supposed to be nice, and that is not so. Christians are people who believed the gospel: behavior has nothing to do with it. 

Same problem with people trying to understand God: He is not the god of niceness, He is the God of rightness. Sometimes rightness is not nice at all, and then people flip out because God has failed to comply with their expectations. They just can't understand that they were wrong.

Please clarify about not being nice.

(1 Peter 3:15) But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep respect.
(2 Timothy 2:24, 25) For a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, showing restraint when wronged, 25 instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth,
(Titus 3:1, 2) Continue reminding them to be in subjection and to be obedient to governments and authorities, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak injuriously of no one, not to be quarrelsome, but to be reasonable, displaying all mildness toward all men.
(1 Peter 2:12) Maintain your conduct fine among the nations, so that when they accuse you of being wrongdoers, they may be eyewitnesses of your fine works and, as a result, glorify God in the day of his inspection.
(1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12) Make it your aim to live quietly and to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk decently in the eyes of people outside and not need anything.
(Romans 12:17-21) Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” 20 But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” 21 Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.
(Hebrews 12:14) Pursue peace with all people and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord.
(James 3:18) Moreover, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peaceful conditions for those who are making peace.

Tex, why do you spend so much effort to quote verses that do not say what you say?

Just asked for your clarification as you haven't given any scriptures that say the opposite. 

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/nice
pleasing; agreeable; delightful:

(Colossians 4:5, 6) Go on walking in wisdom toward those on the outside, making the best use of your time. 6 Let your words always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should answer each person.

Still didn't answer the question, but that's okay. I'm inferring from your responses that you don't think it's right or fair. 

Your response has reminded me that at that same church camp we saw a film that told the parable of the good Samaritan. I believe that the bible does teach that Christians are supposed to be kind. 

The parables told by Jesus have no relation to Christianity. Christ was not a Christian. He was a Jew, speaking to Jews.

The reason you can't get the point of my posts is that you twist the scriptures to fit your own interpretation, same as most people do. There are people who claim to be members of this or that denomination and have no idea what they are supposed to believe, but by God they are willing to die for it!

Okie Dokie. 

I've read plenty of your posts, I believe I understand well enough, Mr. Vern. My original question quoted a song, and in this post I mentioned a film. I'll leave the scripture twisting to those members you speak of. 

I don't disagree with you. 

I like that quote a lot. 

"The overemphasis on love is a cancer on Christianity" - I take it you're one of those "Old Testament only" brand of Christians? John 13:34-35

Per chance to you run or belong to the Westboro Baptist Church? 

Do you actually know what the word overemphasis means? I have plenty of belief in love, but there is far more to Christianity than that. What most churches do today is like taking a prism, splitting white light into a rainbow and declaring that red is what light is all about.

I don't go to church. I've never liked organised religion. I find most churches leftist, or nuts, or both. This post was edited by Zeitgeist at April 26, 2018 3:44 PM MDT

LOL. 

Sometimes you can 'galvanize' people by showing you have higher expectations of them, I did that a lot, for many years.  It is tricky, probably impossible to do standing on a pulpit and talking to many. It has to be carefully measured and personal, else it is unlikely to work. And really amazing every time it does work


And never in the shape of a rebuke. eg: "You could do it if you really tried", that one is sure to backfire This post was edited by JakobA the unAmerican. at May 20, 2022 8:24 PM MDT

Low expectations guarantee low performance. 

That is not Christianity but secular psychology.  Christianity depends on the Holy Spirit, not on social pressure. 

I'm always curious about why people respond to questions without answering them. 

I'll hope the spirit moves you to have a pleasant day.  :)

Do you think they know they're false?

I think that most don't but some do.

(John 16:1-3) “I have said these things to you so that you may not be stumbled. 2 Men will expel you from the synagogue. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he has offered a sacred service to God. 3 But they will do these things because they have not come to know either the Father or me.
(Romans 10:2, 3) For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge. 3 For because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
(Matthew 7:21-23) “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’
(2 Timothy 4:3, 4) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled. 4 They will turn away from listening to the truth and give attention to false stories.

Unfortunately due to their misunderstanding of the bible they don't. Even sadder most ignore what the bible says because they don't respect its contents.

Especially JWs