Christians doing bad things?

It has often been pointed out that Christians do bad things, which are at times much worse than those that would not identify as Christians. This is then used to discredit Christianity.

A survey of church history shows us that a lot of atrocities were committed by the church. There were many false doctrines, practices, persecutions and killings. These are totally contradictory to the teachings of Jesus and stand condemned.

There are several aspects to this.

There were many Church leaders that were more interested in their own power and status than following the teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures.
When Christianity became the state Church of the Roman empire in 380 AD, it created many problems as Christianity was inappropriately used by the Emperors and other rulers and also as the Church leaders tried to exercise control over the Emperors and other rulers.
The Roman Catholic Church also persecuted and killed many believers that did not accept their false teachings.
There are people that identify as Christians or that go to church that are not actually believers.
There are Christians that, though they are saved, do not exhibit much if any fruit in their behaviour.
There are very committed Christians that at times fall into sin.

The apostle Paul talks about this struggle:

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. (Rom 7:14-21)

In a sense, the church is a hospital where people come to get well. Those that truly repent and want to follow Jesus will strive to deal with their sinful desires and love God and others.

The important thing to remember is that we should not allow the actions of people discourage us from accepting the truth about God and the salvation that He provides so that we can have eternal life.

Christians doing bad things

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (Joh 3:16)