originally posted by Hangtime
I challenge any man who would claim his religion as the 'one true faith' and challenge any man who would hang the tag of 'sinner' upon another
Hangtime, I think i see better where you're coming from now. I've noticed in the few threads in which we've both posted that "religious" stuff brings out an almost visceral reaction. (My sample size is small, so forgive me if I'm wrong -- I've only recently been visiting O'Club.) I'd gotten the impression that you...ummmm... had strongly negative feelings about anything to do with God stuff.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it now occurs to me that maybe the issue is something different -- with the self righteous, self satisfied, superior attitudes many religious people unfortunately carry?
At the risk of setting up a straw man jsut to knock it down, let me say that many Christians have the same reaction. In our household, we call it "being churchie." The subculture of (for want of a better image) Bible belt, church going, polyester wearing, dark sedan driving, Holy-on-Sunday but like-everybody-else-otherwise people sticks in my craw.
And judging from what the Bible says, it pretty much sticks in God's figurative craw as well. If interested, I can throw some references at you -- but I'll let it suffice to say that the book is chock full of tidbits addressed to such folk like "brood of serpents," and my personal favorite image "whitewashed tombs" full of death inside. Jesus specifically taught that the religious guy who could think "Thank God I'm not like that sinner over there" was in serious trouble, probably in more trouble than the sinner in question. Jesus consistantly gave more respect to the honest than the pretentious.
What you're giving Seagoon credit for -- the evidence of his life -- is what christians SHOULD be all about. Like this:
Matt:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' .Not that religious people are supposed to do this stuff to earn "God points", but that when our innermost people become what we were made to be, good stuff jsut flows out as expression of character. Notice in the snippet above that the people in question didnt even think what they were doing was related to Jesus.
When the Life is inside, people jsut seem like good folk -- more interested in others than in their own stories, willing to go out of the way to help, understanding that even if they disagree with your choices YOU are an infinitely worthwhile person.
Christianity is absolutely NOT about the buildings and the glitter of gold, it's not about looking religious or holy or better than sinners; it's about people becoming the hands and feet of GOd on earth.
I guess I'm saying that it might be worth trying to see the Church -- and the people who act like they're fixtures in the "sanctuary" -- as less representative of christianity, and to see the people of faith like Seagoon (sorry bro, I know that'll give you the willies) are maybe more what Jesus had in mind...
