(no subject)
Lately in church the services have been focusing on a book called "Unchristian". I am in the process of reading it, but what I've read so far has challenged my way of thinking and therefore I recommend at least what I've read of it.
I've grown up in the church and have been a "Christian" for a long time. It seems lately that the world's view of Christianity is anything but positive. While the church seeks out potential believers, it seems that they may be missing their true opportunity for greatness.
Let me go back a few years.....I remember when I was 8 years old and i went to summer camp for the first time. At the end of the week I met with a counselor and she asked me if I wanted to accept Jesus as my Savior. I said, "sure' and she prayed with me and *poof* at that moment I was no longer damned to hell. Man was I relieved. My simple 8 year old mind is what current churches are clinging to. Alter calls... anyone? I remember listening to a pastor proudly exclaim that over 100 people got saved during one of his church's alter calls. Saved from eternal damnation? Not bad for simply going up to the alter.
Ok so in the past and currently it's become this oversimplified question or prayer. I wonder if God is weeping at this. Watching Christians go to church every Sunday living in their spiritual deadness yet banking on the prayer that they prayed so many years ago.My guess is that He is weeping.
Now moving on to the question of how did Christianity transform into what it is today? i can't help but compare the modern day American conservative church to the Pharisees during the time of Jesus. Out of touch, self- righteous, untouchable.
"The premise of Christianity is not a mystery because the vast majority of outsiders have been to Christian churches and have heard the message of Christ. The primary reason outsiders feel hostile toward Christians, and especially conservative Christians, is not because of any specific theological perspective. What they react negatively to is our “swagger,” how we go about things and the sense of self-importance we project. Outsiders say Christians posses bark - and bite." - Unchristian
I can't help but think a part of this has been closely tied with politics. During his 8 years of his presidency, George Bush seemed to have really cemented the connectedness of hatred and Christianity. How did he become the face of Christianity anyway? Because he's anti-gay and anti-abortion.... does that make him fit the bill. Regardless the conservative Christian demographic held him up as righteous. Being a Christian means that you're against same sex marriage and against abortion, right? People who claim to be Christians seem to be obsessed with these two elements. It's as if they're in a pissing contest to see who can be the most self-righteous. They're using all this energy to denounce homosexuality while gay people are dying of meth overdoses by astounding numbers. Where is Jesus in all of this? In a country where people think Christianity is synonymous with George Bush instead of Jesus.
We've really missed the mark. It's no wonder why my generation and younger generations are turned off by church. I have missed the mark. I have been spiritually dead, self-righteous, and way off point. I hope to have a new start and a renewed mind starting today.
I've grown up in the church and have been a "Christian" for a long time. It seems lately that the world's view of Christianity is anything but positive. While the church seeks out potential believers, it seems that they may be missing their true opportunity for greatness.
Let me go back a few years.....I remember when I was 8 years old and i went to summer camp for the first time. At the end of the week I met with a counselor and she asked me if I wanted to accept Jesus as my Savior. I said, "sure' and she prayed with me and *poof* at that moment I was no longer damned to hell. Man was I relieved. My simple 8 year old mind is what current churches are clinging to. Alter calls... anyone? I remember listening to a pastor proudly exclaim that over 100 people got saved during one of his church's alter calls. Saved from eternal damnation? Not bad for simply going up to the alter.
Ok so in the past and currently it's become this oversimplified question or prayer. I wonder if God is weeping at this. Watching Christians go to church every Sunday living in their spiritual deadness yet banking on the prayer that they prayed so many years ago.My guess is that He is weeping.
Now moving on to the question of how did Christianity transform into what it is today? i can't help but compare the modern day American conservative church to the Pharisees during the time of Jesus. Out of touch, self- righteous, untouchable.
"The premise of Christianity is not a mystery because the vast majority of outsiders have been to Christian churches and have heard the message of Christ. The primary reason outsiders feel hostile toward Christians, and especially conservative Christians, is not because of any specific theological perspective. What they react negatively to is our “swagger,” how we go about things and the sense of self-importance we project. Outsiders say Christians posses bark - and bite." - Unchristian
I can't help but think a part of this has been closely tied with politics. During his 8 years of his presidency, George Bush seemed to have really cemented the connectedness of hatred and Christianity. How did he become the face of Christianity anyway? Because he's anti-gay and anti-abortion.... does that make him fit the bill. Regardless the conservative Christian demographic held him up as righteous. Being a Christian means that you're against same sex marriage and against abortion, right? People who claim to be Christians seem to be obsessed with these two elements. It's as if they're in a pissing contest to see who can be the most self-righteous. They're using all this energy to denounce homosexuality while gay people are dying of meth overdoses by astounding numbers. Where is Jesus in all of this? In a country where people think Christianity is synonymous with George Bush instead of Jesus.
We've really missed the mark. It's no wonder why my generation and younger generations are turned off by church. I have missed the mark. I have been spiritually dead, self-righteous, and way off point. I hope to have a new start and a renewed mind starting today.