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The answer to why not all Christians who disagree with (insert name of Christian political figure here) say so openly:
From Matthew 6:
1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
If someone's understanding of Christianity is incorrect, rather than shout at them from afar, is it not more reasonable to ask that the One Whose understanding is, by His nature, most correct, shall enlighten them?
And, that given, how are we directed to make such a request? In front of God only, or in front of everyone?
You may say, how then are we supposed to ask others to pray or to do good works, if we aren't allowed to talk about what we do? I believe there is a division laid-- we are allowed to suggest to others that they ought to do something for their own good, in relation to their own position with the Divine, or offer to do something with them-- yet we are not allowed to challenge them to do "better than me." I can ask my neighbor to come to church, but I should not do so by pointing out how much more I pray.
Now, of course, I'm going to go off and ponder how much more this applies to.
From Matthew 6:
1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
If someone's understanding of Christianity is incorrect, rather than shout at them from afar, is it not more reasonable to ask that the One Whose understanding is, by His nature, most correct, shall enlighten them?
And, that given, how are we directed to make such a request? In front of God only, or in front of everyone?
You may say, how then are we supposed to ask others to pray or to do good works, if we aren't allowed to talk about what we do? I believe there is a division laid-- we are allowed to suggest to others that they ought to do something for their own good, in relation to their own position with the Divine, or offer to do something with them-- yet we are not allowed to challenge them to do "better than me." I can ask my neighbor to come to church, but I should not do so by pointing out how much more I pray.
Now, of course, I'm going to go off and ponder how much more this applies to.
