Persectued for His Name's Sake
Matthew 24:9 (NIV)
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."
(Jesus speaking of the end times.)
Some people do not agree with Christianity, for a number of reasons. Some people do not believe that there is a God. Some people believe in other gods. Some people have philosophical objections with "religion" in general, such as, "Why does God care about how people behave sexually?" or "Doesn't the Bible contradict itself? I think it does, and therefore I don't believe in it."
As Americans living in a democratic-republic with equal protection under the law, this is fine. People are entitled to their own opinions, and although I don't personally accept all of those opinions, I do respect them, because they are held by people. We have chioce; it is our God-given gift. I believe that whole-heartedly.
But, in regards to certain professions and people, there is a line. A line can be drawn around people who bend scripture to their own wills, stating that, "God hates fags," as they brandish their hate posters at the funerals of homosexuals, later to count how many days those deceased people have been burning in Hell.
The same can be said for many people who hold to the relativst/new-age belief systems. It is supposed to be a philosophy of tolerance and understanding; of embrace for all ideas. Yet, many of the pracitioners of this philosophy have strongly-skewed "leftist" or "liberal" points of view, which is basically the political equivalent of affirming relativism. It is some of these very same people, who preach tolerance and embrace, that voraciously attack Christianity (usually, in this culture) and Christiants. They not only attack the beliefs--which they, by free will are allowed to do, but also the PEOPLE who hold those beliefs. This is where the line is crossed.
The same people who preach tolerance and embrace are also, in a lot of cases, the people branding Christians as intolerant bigots with no thoughts in their own mind except those which are written in the Bible. As foolish, bug-eyed monotone clones, standing on soap boxes, and telling the people of the world what horrible sinners they are, and how they are going to burn in Hell for all eternity unless they immediately repent. Branding them as immoral hypocrites, who like to talk to the talk, but not walk the walk.
And you know what the sick thing about this is? Most of the people saying this don't even KNOW the people or person that they are talking about. They speak in illogical assumptions, based on presupposition and past experience rather than with knowledge of whom they speak. I'm going to quote myself regarding this one: "Assumptions are illogical without logic." And isn't that true?
There is of course a reason as to why I write this.
Over the past two years, I have had the explicit pleasure of being able to attend many classes of a certain Philosophy Doctor at PHCC. At the beginning of my current class with her, Applied Ethics, everyone had to introduce themselves and give some brief information. When it was my turn, I did my introduction, and also mentioned that I would be going into ministry. And I remember the look on her face when I said that. She was utterly shocked, and her mouth hung open for a few seconds. She collected herself and said, "Well, that makes sense. You're a very caring person." And I said thanks, and that was that. I did expect her to be surprised, since she did not know I was Christian until then.
A few days ago, I turned in a paper regarding a code of ethics that had to do with my future career. Since my future career is in ministry, I had to get a ministry code of ethics, and obviously talk about the Bible, since all ministry codes of ethics are based in the Bible (or should be.)
Now, when I wrote the paper, I was not preachy or anything of the like, and I only once cited that if we can't handle a problem, we need to seek the face of God (talking about a girl who's mother was a lesbian-witch.) And the verse I quoted was James 1:5. From this ONE example for an EXCEEDINGLY TOUGH SITUATION she replied with:
"I found this paper too reliant on Biblical passages that just say some version of 'pray and God will solve whatever problem arises.' Most people I know run in the other direction when they encounter someone who salts his conversation with Biblical passages and feels 'called' to correct or proselytize friends, neighbors & acquaintances."
Two days later, we had a debate in class. I ended up being on the "con" side of the same-sex marriage issue. I completely avoided religion in the debate, since, being a government not based on religion, we can't really use that as a reason to make our laws (not that that's necessarily good.) At the end, she asked everyone to talk about their real opinions on the issue. I answered and said that I believed homosexuality was a sin as defined by God in his Word, even though I didn't hate homosexuals or anything like that. The doctor's response was covering her face with both hands and asking me, "Why would God or any being worthy of worship care about our sexuality or where we attain our sexual gratification?" And I said that I believed God cared about everything we do. She looked like she was annoyed, like she had somehow "lost" me to Christianity. If only she knew that I had been Christian years before she even met me.
Then today, I was speaking with another professor about the college's arts & literary magazine: Mobius. My other professor asked me if I would take a submission (for the magazine) home. I said, jokingly, "Well, my room looks like Mr. Sadusky's cubicle, so I don't think that's a good idea." This was funny because Mr. Sadusky's cubicle is absolutely in disarray. The people there all laughed and my philosophy professor, who was also there, said: "You must be seeking solace in religion because your room is messy." What does that have to do with ANYTHING? Seeking solace in religion? Why? Because my room is messy? That is grossly disrespectful, as well as grossly irrelevant.
We continued talking (my other professor) and it was mentioned that we would be going to Daytona for a conference. Then my philosophy professor said that some time in the secular world would do me some good. And I was just thinking, "I need to spend some time in the secular world? Do you even know me outside of school? No. How can you make a statement like that without even knowing me? I live in a secular world, and am very aware of what goes on in it. I am not a sheep, led to the slaughter, without free thought or ideas of my own. What a ridiculous assumption, speaking as though I only live in church and do nothing but church-related activities."
Needless to say, this cannot continue. I'm already seriously considering saying something about it this week, and will DEFINITELY say something if it happens again.
A teacher is allowed to have his or her beliefs, but when they start making derrogetory statements toward their students simply because they disagree with something, a problem arises.
Above all, this only proves the claims that many people who believe in relativism/new-age beliefs are very hypocritical (although it would be hypocritical of me to say that all people under those beliefs behave like that. Which is exactly why I'm not going to [aside from the fact that it's most likely not true, anyway.])
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."
(Jesus speaking of the end times.)
Some people do not agree with Christianity, for a number of reasons. Some people do not believe that there is a God. Some people believe in other gods. Some people have philosophical objections with "religion" in general, such as, "Why does God care about how people behave sexually?" or "Doesn't the Bible contradict itself? I think it does, and therefore I don't believe in it."
As Americans living in a democratic-republic with equal protection under the law, this is fine. People are entitled to their own opinions, and although I don't personally accept all of those opinions, I do respect them, because they are held by people. We have chioce; it is our God-given gift. I believe that whole-heartedly.
But, in regards to certain professions and people, there is a line. A line can be drawn around people who bend scripture to their own wills, stating that, "God hates fags," as they brandish their hate posters at the funerals of homosexuals, later to count how many days those deceased people have been burning in Hell.
The same can be said for many people who hold to the relativst/new-age belief systems. It is supposed to be a philosophy of tolerance and understanding; of embrace for all ideas. Yet, many of the pracitioners of this philosophy have strongly-skewed "leftist" or "liberal" points of view, which is basically the political equivalent of affirming relativism. It is some of these very same people, who preach tolerance and embrace, that voraciously attack Christianity (usually, in this culture) and Christiants. They not only attack the beliefs--which they, by free will are allowed to do, but also the PEOPLE who hold those beliefs. This is where the line is crossed.
The same people who preach tolerance and embrace are also, in a lot of cases, the people branding Christians as intolerant bigots with no thoughts in their own mind except those which are written in the Bible. As foolish, bug-eyed monotone clones, standing on soap boxes, and telling the people of the world what horrible sinners they are, and how they are going to burn in Hell for all eternity unless they immediately repent. Branding them as immoral hypocrites, who like to talk to the talk, but not walk the walk.
And you know what the sick thing about this is? Most of the people saying this don't even KNOW the people or person that they are talking about. They speak in illogical assumptions, based on presupposition and past experience rather than with knowledge of whom they speak. I'm going to quote myself regarding this one: "Assumptions are illogical without logic." And isn't that true?
There is of course a reason as to why I write this.
Over the past two years, I have had the explicit pleasure of being able to attend many classes of a certain Philosophy Doctor at PHCC. At the beginning of my current class with her, Applied Ethics, everyone had to introduce themselves and give some brief information. When it was my turn, I did my introduction, and also mentioned that I would be going into ministry. And I remember the look on her face when I said that. She was utterly shocked, and her mouth hung open for a few seconds. She collected herself and said, "Well, that makes sense. You're a very caring person." And I said thanks, and that was that. I did expect her to be surprised, since she did not know I was Christian until then.
A few days ago, I turned in a paper regarding a code of ethics that had to do with my future career. Since my future career is in ministry, I had to get a ministry code of ethics, and obviously talk about the Bible, since all ministry codes of ethics are based in the Bible (or should be.)
Now, when I wrote the paper, I was not preachy or anything of the like, and I only once cited that if we can't handle a problem, we need to seek the face of God (talking about a girl who's mother was a lesbian-witch.) And the verse I quoted was James 1:5. From this ONE example for an EXCEEDINGLY TOUGH SITUATION she replied with:
"I found this paper too reliant on Biblical passages that just say some version of 'pray and God will solve whatever problem arises.' Most people I know run in the other direction when they encounter someone who salts his conversation with Biblical passages and feels 'called' to correct or proselytize friends, neighbors & acquaintances."
Two days later, we had a debate in class. I ended up being on the "con" side of the same-sex marriage issue. I completely avoided religion in the debate, since, being a government not based on religion, we can't really use that as a reason to make our laws (not that that's necessarily good.) At the end, she asked everyone to talk about their real opinions on the issue. I answered and said that I believed homosexuality was a sin as defined by God in his Word, even though I didn't hate homosexuals or anything like that. The doctor's response was covering her face with both hands and asking me, "Why would God or any being worthy of worship care about our sexuality or where we attain our sexual gratification?" And I said that I believed God cared about everything we do. She looked like she was annoyed, like she had somehow "lost" me to Christianity. If only she knew that I had been Christian years before she even met me.
Then today, I was speaking with another professor about the college's arts & literary magazine: Mobius. My other professor asked me if I would take a submission (for the magazine) home. I said, jokingly, "Well, my room looks like Mr. Sadusky's cubicle, so I don't think that's a good idea." This was funny because Mr. Sadusky's cubicle is absolutely in disarray. The people there all laughed and my philosophy professor, who was also there, said: "You must be seeking solace in religion because your room is messy." What does that have to do with ANYTHING? Seeking solace in religion? Why? Because my room is messy? That is grossly disrespectful, as well as grossly irrelevant.
We continued talking (my other professor) and it was mentioned that we would be going to Daytona for a conference. Then my philosophy professor said that some time in the secular world would do me some good. And I was just thinking, "I need to spend some time in the secular world? Do you even know me outside of school? No. How can you make a statement like that without even knowing me? I live in a secular world, and am very aware of what goes on in it. I am not a sheep, led to the slaughter, without free thought or ideas of my own. What a ridiculous assumption, speaking as though I only live in church and do nothing but church-related activities."
Needless to say, this cannot continue. I'm already seriously considering saying something about it this week, and will DEFINITELY say something if it happens again.
A teacher is allowed to have his or her beliefs, but when they start making derrogetory statements toward their students simply because they disagree with something, a problem arises.
Above all, this only proves the claims that many people who believe in relativism/new-age beliefs are very hypocritical (although it would be hypocritical of me to say that all people under those beliefs behave like that. Which is exactly why I'm not going to [aside from the fact that it's most likely not true, anyway.])