release the Deity
I was thinking about Jesus earlier. Yes, profound. But before you start thinking I've turned to the light side of the force, the only reason I was thinking about Jesus was because I was pissed at His followers. I was so tired of the typical trite evangelical BS: Pray and you'll feel better. Jesus loves you as long as you fit into our box. God is only happy with carefully organized services in shiny big buildings on designated days of the week. Use the same old hymns, say the same old things, preach and yell and thump your big old Bible because that's how Jesus whoops it up, y'all. Good Christians are conservative Republicans. They salute the Bible and the American flag with the same gesture. We're just all Good Christian Soldiers in a war I only hear about on certain Sundays in certain churches. Don't touch the opposite sex, boys and girls, because you never know when today's handshake can turn into tomorrow's abortion.
Ridiculous. I swear to you, on my honor as a hell-bound liberal, that the Christians I know are more obsessed with clothing, music and sex (or the lack thereof) than any atheist I have ever met. And what good does that preoccupation do? Create a generation of young adults who are more disturbed by the sight of a misplaced piercing or NIV Bible but don't flinch when they hear about the latest violence overseas? Or if they do flinch, it's only because they think it's their patriotic duty. Who cares about the Iraqis killed? Who cares about the families of dead insurgents? Yes, let's support Israel (cue special music here) but who gives a damn about the Palestinians?
I bet that Jesus would--or does, actually. I bet that Jesus doesn't care what Bible version you use or how many metal studs you stick in your nose. Can you name the 20 different people groups in Afghanistan? Do you know the difference between Sunnis and Shiites? Jesus does. Do you know the name of the bag lady on the corner? Jesus does. Do you want to know why people get piercings, or cut themselves, or drink? Jesus does. What's your excuse?
It's time to release the Deity from the box He's been squeezed into. He's not a tame lion, after all. He doesn't give a rip about romances between fictional Amish girls and city boys. He doesn't care about the difference between a Baptist and a Methodist. He doesn't have a denomination. He doesn't a version. He's God, and He's above all that. Why aren't we? Why aren't you, Cedarville?
Ridiculous. I swear to you, on my honor as a hell-bound liberal, that the Christians I know are more obsessed with clothing, music and sex (or the lack thereof) than any atheist I have ever met. And what good does that preoccupation do? Create a generation of young adults who are more disturbed by the sight of a misplaced piercing or NIV Bible but don't flinch when they hear about the latest violence overseas? Or if they do flinch, it's only because they think it's their patriotic duty. Who cares about the Iraqis killed? Who cares about the families of dead insurgents? Yes, let's support Israel (cue special music here) but who gives a damn about the Palestinians?
I bet that Jesus would--or does, actually. I bet that Jesus doesn't care what Bible version you use or how many metal studs you stick in your nose. Can you name the 20 different people groups in Afghanistan? Do you know the difference between Sunnis and Shiites? Jesus does. Do you know the name of the bag lady on the corner? Jesus does. Do you want to know why people get piercings, or cut themselves, or drink? Jesus does. What's your excuse?
It's time to release the Deity from the box He's been squeezed into. He's not a tame lion, after all. He doesn't give a rip about romances between fictional Amish girls and city boys. He doesn't care about the difference between a Baptist and a Methodist. He doesn't have a denomination. He doesn't a version. He's God, and He's above all that. Why aren't we? Why aren't you, Cedarville?