Ostentatious Christianity

[Anonymous]

I actually find it more weird to say "my faith is very personal to me and I discuss it with no one." What is that about? And what is so damn private about it, it's not your sex life. If you read the Bible, Jesus went around talking to everybody and anybody who would listen to him, as did the disciples. That is what Christianity is about- talking about it. Yes, Evangelicals are annoying for lots of different reasons, but I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about Jesus if you want to. It's a free country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evangelicals are supposed to evangelize…spread the good word. It’s just embedded in their daily language.

Speaking as a Christian who attends an evangelical church (which, in theory, all Christian churches should be), it's my opinion that most of us (myself included) don't know how to live out our faith in a secular environment, such as the workplace. Some don't say anything at all and hope their actions speak for themselves. Others, like your co-worker, OP, rely upon speaking in a sort of "Christianese" language that's meant to signal to those arond her that she is a Christian and that speaking like this allows her to check the "evangelize" box on her to-do list. If I were her co-worker, even I would probably cringe whenever she opened her mouth.

The frequent boasting about her husband is also not helping her, nor is boasting of any kind. Humility is a key Christian virtue and it isn't practiced nearly enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every fundie I’ve ever known has always been a preachy-humblebragger. The whole thing is creepy and gross. It attracts the worst types of people, and the most gullible.

Unlike people such as yourself, who are obviously so non- judgmental and kind, right?

I only judge hypocrites - which includes all evangelicals. And I’m pretty kind, yes.

Jesus was an evangelical.

Jesus was a liberal.

[Anonymous]

Quote her Matthew 6:5. It applies not only to literal prayer, but also to using your faith to self-aggrandize and draw attention to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evangelicals are supposed to evangelize…spread the good word. It’s just embedded in their daily language.

Speaking as a Christian who attends an evangelical church (which, in theory, all Christian churches should be), it's my opinion that most of us (myself included) don't know how to live out our faith in a secular environment, such as the workplace. Some don't say anything at all and hope their actions speak for themselves. Others, like your co-worker, OP, rely upon speaking in a sort of "Christianese" language that's meant to signal to those arond her that she is a Christian and that speaking like this allows her to check the "evangelize" box on her to-do list. If I were her co-worker, even I would probably cringe whenever she opened her mouth.

The frequent boasting about her husband is also not helping her, nor is boasting of any kind. Humility is a key Christian virtue and it isn't practiced nearly enough.

I work with a lot of aggressive atheist types who love to mock Christianity. In the past I would stay silent but now I say in a pleasant tone that I can't agree with them because I am Catholic and my faith means a lot to me. I don't suppose this counts as evangelizing but I hope it's enough.

[Anonymous]

She doesn't know any better as she was raised in a cult. Just like you don't know any better by gossiping about her.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who brags about how good their faith makes them is gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quote her Matthew 6:5. It applies not only to literal prayer, but also to using your faith to self-aggrandize and draw attention to yourself.

I was going to say this, but then I remembered that quoting the Bible to people like your co-worker has always been totally ineffective for me. I would just try to ignore her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually find it more weird to say "my faith is very personal to me and I discuss it with no one." What is that about? And what is so damn private about it, it's not your sex life. If you read the Bible, Jesus went around talking to everybody and anybody who would listen to him, as did the disciples. That is what Christianity is about- talking about it. Yes, Evangelicals are annoying for lots of different reasons, but I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about Jesus if you want to. It's a free country.

I don’t think the OP is Christian. But even if she is, many Christians are private about their faith. It’s like the difference between extroverts and introverts. Everyone is different and allowed to practice their faith however they wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it weren’t Jesus, it would be whatever else she felt strongly about, like a new diet or GoT or how you really have to go to Germany if you really want to experience Oktoberfest. Some people think they know better and feel more strongly about things than others, and they need to share that with everyone to make the world a better place.

+1

Doesn’t “being on the board” = free labor (volunteer)

+2. This reminds me of a lot of vegans/vegetarians that I know.

[Anonymous]

The Southern Baptists I know believe that interracial marriage is wrong. I can’t get on board with that.

I also can’t get onboard with any religion that believes that women are inferior… which means all of them! All are stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually find it more weird to say "my faith is very personal to me and I discuss it with no one." What is that about? And what is so damn private about it, it's not your sex life. If you read the Bible, Jesus went around talking to everybody and anybody who would listen to him, as did the disciples. That is what Christianity is about- talking about it. Yes, Evangelicals are annoying for lots of different reasons, but I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about Jesus if you want to. It's a free country.

I don’t think the OP is Christian. But even if she is, many Christians are private about their faith. It’s like the difference between extroverts and introverts. Everyone is different and allowed to practice their faith however they wanted.

I wish everyone would shut up about it. No one cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Southern Baptists I know believe that interracial marriage is wrong. I can’t get on board with that.

I also can’t get onboard with any religion that believes that women are inferior… which means all of them! All are stupid.

True, biblical Christianity doesn’t believe either of these things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To begin with, just know that I have faith. My faith is very personal to me and I discuss it with no one. I do not believe that it's necessary to clue people in on my faith. I don't think that's how faith works (unless you are in an environment - eg a house of worship - where faith is integral to your experience/belonging there).

I work with a woman who's annoying in some ways - always trying to one-up others, says "I don't really tell people this but my husband's on the board" (you actually do tell us this all the time), and generally sucks the air out of the room. Self-involved is a good descriptor. Something she does frequently is talk about how much she loves Jesus, how she's praying for us, etc etc. I notice this kind of behavior generally from (white, evangelical) Christians. I find it extraordinarily grating. We get it. You're a Christian. It's as though the person - and I'm not just referring to my colleague - is trying to gain kudos for proclaiming their faith. It feels tacky and superficial. Anyone else have this observation?

No. I think people are much less likely to be overtly religious these days. A person like her is rare in my experience, especially in the workplace.

[Anonymous]

I live in an area utterly swamped with Southern Baptists. The people here are extremely committed to their faith. They put signs in their yards that say “Need Prayer? Stop here 7-9 tonight!” FCA is dominant in all schools.

Nobody here is ostentatious or tries to convert people. They live as they feel they should to be an example to others and have a personal relationship with Jesus, that many feel is the most important thing in their lives.

Also yes they do mission trips constantly. They love the people they try to help and stay in contact with them as much as possible. They don’t do “fun” vacations. They save their money and fundraise to get the money they need to go on mission trips. They feel it’s so important to help others and be an example of God’s love in the world they use personal time and money to go on mission trips.

Your co-worker just sounds loud and extroverted. It’s her personality, not religion.

The most religious man I know, I have never heard him mention the name of God.

Threads like this are just personal vents and do not apply to general Christians. Op should complain to HR, tell her coworker that she isn’t interested in her religion, frankly, or just ignore the coworker. One of my coworkers won’t shut up about a very uninteresting subject and I auto communicate with her and show minimal attention to her during conversations.