Non-Christians: Have you ever met a Bible-believing Christian whose life you were impressed by?

Question

What was this person like? Why were you impressed?

I am not asking this to people who stereotype all Bible-believing Christians. I mean, if you can't acknowledge that there are at least some good, well meaning Bible-believers, then you are stereotyping in an extreme way.

(Please answer the question and don't just use this as a soap box to preach against Christianity. I am asking a specific question here).

Answer 1

in my personal life, no...good people, yes but they're not that impressive. maybe my standards are just too high.

Answer 2

nope

Answer 3

To be perfectly honest with you, no, I have not.  It's a big world and I don't think it's impossible to ever be impressed by a Bible-believing Christian, but I so far have not been totally wowed by any of them.

Let me qualify this by explaining that I take "Bible-believing" to mean "Biblical literalist" and that I have so far invariably found all Biblical literalists to be severely lacking in thinking skills.  I am never impressed by people who can't think well, although they may be kind and good people in other ways.  I am just not able to feel a sense of awe or overwhelming admiration for people who can't think for themselves.

I mean, my brother-in-law who has Down syndrome figured out on his own that God is unlikely to exist.

Answer 4

Yeah, my father at my boarding school Father Crews did a lot for the boys there and taught them a lot of skills. Even father chin- a vietnam run-away was a very good man who both loved the Bible

They did a lot for us kids that didn't have anyone to look up to. He even made sure we alll had jobs (120) kids and learned how to live life without our parents.

Answer 5

In R&S - 3.

In Life - many.  

I am impressed by their ability to be kind and loving and never ONCE talk to me about Jesus or God, but respect my views.  I do the same.

Answer 6

HONESTLY?   NO!    Said without prejudice.

Answer 7

Whoa, back up there Jesus of Nazareth. I'll answer you specifically after I slam the wording of your question. By asking Non-Christians this question, aren't you in fact being stereotypical against Non-Christians? You've also made a comment, "I am not asking this to people who stereotype all Bible-believing Christians," which means that not only have you put limitations on who can answer and how they answer, but have yet again added stereotypical notions on a set of people you don't even know. I think you're being a bit hypocritical.

Answer:

No, I have never met a person who has impressed me. You are a great example of why I am not impressed.  

Answer 8

Not a one. I view "most" Christians as babbling bookworm idiots who know nothing about the REAL Lord in heaven. The Bible is nothing more than a compiled work of the Roman Empire, it's church, and vain MEN, and has nothing to do with "truth."

Answer 9

Completely honestly (and without ill-will), I can't say I have.

The very best, and most wonderful people in my life are kind-of-Buddhist and Atheist, respectively.

Answer 10

I have met some very intelligent Religious people, not only Christians.  Indoctrination is hard for even some very intelligent people to get over.  

Answer 11

Yes Barack Obama. Did you here his nomination acceptance speech?

He was fantastic I have an enormous amount of respect for him. He is a christian that has the ability to see beyond he own religion, and find common ground with people of all walks of life. He doesn't care if you are a christian, Muslim, or atheist or even homosexual. He cares for you all the same, regardless of who you are or how different you are.

Edit: I agree once we atheist become just as bigoted toward Christians as they are toward us, we are no different than them.

Answer 12

Plenty.

A couple on this forum as well.

I was impressed by the way they lead their lives.

The same way somebody who does not follow the Bible impresses me.

Answer 13

I don't see how anybody would be 'impressed' by any christians life. All I see in it is a false sense of security and needless fear.

Answer 14

Yes, of course. I used to spen time with them once a week for a group thing. They prayed, and did devotions, and I just didn't partake. The kids are INCREDIBLY well behaved, and they actually respect their parents. The lady is quite a bit older than me (about 35 years x]) but she's really nice, and she's always drive me home when my mom was watching the kids. Her family uses the bible as a way to help others.

Answer 15

well yeah. wasn't MLK christian? there are good people out there and some of them happen to be christian

Answer 16

I have very high standards. That said, yes, there have been a number over the years. Since there were more than just one or two, I will share what they appeared to have in common, which is also what impressed me.

Intelligence.

A quiet confidence

Respect for others.

Apparent self-respect.

Modesty, but not unbecoming modesty.

An good and honest attempt to live their faith.

Even though many times I disagreed with their beliefs, I seldom found them unable to give rational answer to why they believed what they did.

And last but not least, a strong faith that in my view was in many ways anything but blind. That said, I found several what I would call major blind spots, but over-all their faith was not a blind one.

May I add that though that is true, in both actual numbers and percentages, I have found many, many more members of the Baha'i Faith that fit all the above except I have yet to find a Baha'i who had any blind spots at all in their faith. I am not going to drop any names, but I am personal friends with several celebrities who are also Baha'is. What I have heard about them is what I have heard about Baha'is in general, "They really live their faith." The pressures lived under and the life styles of many celebrities I think makes that one especially telling.

One is too many and there have been numerous ones I have met and known that claimed to be Christian that I said these words to their face, "If you were the only example of Christianity I knew, I would want nothing to do with Christianity." May we all, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha'i or Atheist endeavor to live lives that that can never be said about us. Were we all to do that, this world would be a much nicer place in which to live.

Peace, my friend.

Answer 17

I certainly have. Christians who actually follow Jesus' teachings are almost invariably wonderful, awesome people.

Answer 18

Im Christian ,but my Father

tGod bless

Answer 19

Yes, my friend is a Jehovah's Witness and I was very impressed of how she lived in her life despite so much hardship with her family and stuff because of her close relationship with a higher power. I wanted to have something like that too so I went with her to her Christian services and realized how brainwashed these people are. I mean they HAVE to go to services like three times a week for three hours at a time. I had a math final and I was studying the night before and one of my JW friends called me up and kept pushing me to go with her to services even though it was the night before my math final. I was like I think God will understand if I need an A on this. I managed to get an A but she, who also had a final that day too, did poorly. Go figure. And you should see how they talk about other people! Especially Catholics! Everyone who is not a JW looks like the devil to them! And they despise Harry Potter!! I mean it's just a book people. I mean I looked at her life and I'm glad she has faith because that's what keeps her strong and happy and nice. But to me it's a delusion that people have used to control her mind. But it keeps her happy so I don't force her to be atheist.  

Answer 20

Tim Phelps, the son of Fred Phelps.  I didn't meet him but I heard an hour long interview.  I was expecting him to be very emotional, he wasn't emotional at all, he believed he was doing what the Bible told him and surprisingly didn't hate homosexuals.  He said he would take a bullet for one.  His sense of morality was also quite different as he was a Calvinist.

Answer 21

Yes, my best friend.

I don't think she follows any particular religion, but her father is an officer of the Salvation Army. She knits blankets and booties for the special care unit of our local hospital. She treats everyone the same regardless of their religion. I have never once heard her preach about religion. Her daughter is a devout catholic, and one of the sweetest teenagers you could ever meet.

Answer 22

well I am lucky enough to be Australian where religion is not a big deal!!  I have beautiful friends that are Christian and Muslim and Buddhist and well the list goes on!   All of them impress me so much every time I see them....this is part of why they are my friends!!   it seems so odd to me that people are only friends or in relationships with only people of the same religion or non religion!!!    Its pretty sad actually that people would judge you based on your religion if any!!!

Answer 23

I'm impressed by Mormons I know personally. They walk their talk, live honorably, and treat all people decently. Some will dispute whether or not they are Christian; it doesn't matter to me. I have a lot of respect for anyone of any religion who lives it every day, and doesn't just pay it a lot of lip service.

Answer 24

No

Im never impressed by people who think the earth is flat and donkeys can talk.

Answer 25

Billy Graham..

Answer 26

My grandpa. Best man I ever knew.

He was a chaplain in 2 wars. He came home and worked 'circut churches'--preaching at 5 churches every week for 10,200.00 per year. He never complained a day in his life and he never judged another man or woman...at least not openly. He thought I was the most precious thing in the world and taught me to ask questions and taught me that 'God' cannot be put into a box. He was the catalyst for me going into the ministry and for me to get my MDiv. I came home from school and questioned numerous things with him...and he would discuss it with me rationally. In the end, I think he, too, questioned some things..or at least looked at things in a slightly different light. Regardless, he absolutely never attacked me or told me I was wrong...he simply listened and asked questions and told me his thoughts. Great man.