HAIKU #345
Christianity
Teaches that we need saving
And we're worth saving
Friday, May 26, 2017
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Friday, May 12, 2017
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Sunday, May 7, 2017
ANNOYED BY CHRISTIANS
Hello, friends!
Recently I've shared several thoughts which are, shall we say, directly and unabashedly religious. Perhaps the biggest reason for this is that I've only recently begun to understand and internalize what Christianity is all about. And I was raised Christian.
Have you ever been annoyed by Christians? I sure have. If you're like me, you've been annoyed by a certain kind of Christian: the self-satisfied kind that looks down their nose at other people who are less moral, less disciplined, less religiously refined. Did you know that in the Bible, Jesus warns against being that kind of Christian?
It's natural for people to want to be their own master. There are two different, and opposite, ways of attempting this. One way is to ignore God, to break his rules, and do whatever you want. The other way is to obey God's rules and behave so well that you see yourself as better than other people and you feel that God has no choice but to be pleased with you.
A good number of Christians (and religious people in general) fall into this second group. They tend towards moralism and elitism, and so it is natural that many of us are annoyed by them and have become resistant to religion as a whole.
But again, Jesus specifically warns against that kind of self-righteous behavior. What Christianity actually teaches is different from what many Christians mistakenly believe.
Is it important to behave morally? Yes. But why is it important? If we're behaving morally to earn acceptance from God, we don't understand the Gospel. The Gospel teaches that acceptance from God cannot be earned; it can only be received as a gift. We receive God's acceptance when we acknowledge our own smallness, our inability to control things or be pleasing to a perfect God whose standards are infinitely greater than our own. In other words, God accepts us when we stop trying to be our own master and submit to our need for a savior.
Jesus teaches that religious people who try to be their own savior are even more lost than irreligious people who try to do the same thing. Because, although both ways lead to bitterness and death, at least the defiant people who intentionally break God's laws realize what they are doing.
So, if you're like me, and you've been annoyed by Christians or followers of any religion who are separatist and moralistic, what's the best way to avoid becoming like those people? If we resist religion altogether, we'll find that we share more in common with those people than we think. In my experience, the best way to break apart from all that, to become universally hospitable and humble, is to become a follower and a student of Jesus Christ.
Hello, friends!
Recently I've shared several thoughts which are, shall we say, directly and unabashedly religious. Perhaps the biggest reason for this is that I've only recently begun to understand and internalize what Christianity is all about. And I was raised Christian.
Have you ever been annoyed by Christians? I sure have. If you're like me, you've been annoyed by a certain kind of Christian: the self-satisfied kind that looks down their nose at other people who are less moral, less disciplined, less religiously refined. Did you know that in the Bible, Jesus warns against being that kind of Christian?
It's natural for people to want to be their own master. There are two different, and opposite, ways of attempting this. One way is to ignore God, to break his rules, and do whatever you want. The other way is to obey God's rules and behave so well that you see yourself as better than other people and you feel that God has no choice but to be pleased with you.
A good number of Christians (and religious people in general) fall into this second group. They tend towards moralism and elitism, and so it is natural that many of us are annoyed by them and have become resistant to religion as a whole.
But again, Jesus specifically warns against that kind of self-righteous behavior. What Christianity actually teaches is different from what many Christians mistakenly believe.
Is it important to behave morally? Yes. But why is it important? If we're behaving morally to earn acceptance from God, we don't understand the Gospel. The Gospel teaches that acceptance from God cannot be earned; it can only be received as a gift. We receive God's acceptance when we acknowledge our own smallness, our inability to control things or be pleasing to a perfect God whose standards are infinitely greater than our own. In other words, God accepts us when we stop trying to be our own master and submit to our need for a savior.
Jesus teaches that religious people who try to be their own savior are even more lost than irreligious people who try to do the same thing. Because, although both ways lead to bitterness and death, at least the defiant people who intentionally break God's laws realize what they are doing.
So, if you're like me, and you've been annoyed by Christians or followers of any religion who are separatist and moralistic, what's the best way to avoid becoming like those people? If we resist religion altogether, we'll find that we share more in common with those people than we think. In my experience, the best way to break apart from all that, to become universally hospitable and humble, is to become a follower and a student of Jesus Christ.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
IF...
I believe Christianity is true, but I'm not going to tell you what to believe.
What I will tell you is that, if Christianity is true, it means that no matter who you are, no matter what you've done, no matter what you believe, God does exist and he loves you far more than you can possibly imagine. I daresay that anyone who claims otherwise doesn't understand Christianity.
If Christianity is true and you sincerely invite God into your heart, he will find you. He will accept you completely as you are right now because of the sacrifice his son Jesus Christ has already made on your behalf.
If Christianity is true and you accept Jesus's sacrifice, it will change the way you think, feel, and behave. Little by little, it will make you more joyful, more satisfied, better rested, kinder, stronger, gentler, and more loving towards others and yourself.
If Christianity is true and you accept Jesus's sacrifice, you will also enjoy an eternal life after death, a life that will be far greater than anything we can in this life fathom.
As far as I can see, if we understand what Christianity really is, the only reason to reject it is because we are cynics and it sounds way too good to be true.
I believe Christianity is true, but I'm not going to tell you what to believe.
What I will tell you is that, if Christianity is true, it means that no matter who you are, no matter what you've done, no matter what you believe, God does exist and he loves you far more than you can possibly imagine. I daresay that anyone who claims otherwise doesn't understand Christianity.
If Christianity is true and you sincerely invite God into your heart, he will find you. He will accept you completely as you are right now because of the sacrifice his son Jesus Christ has already made on your behalf.
If Christianity is true and you accept Jesus's sacrifice, it will change the way you think, feel, and behave. Little by little, it will make you more joyful, more satisfied, better rested, kinder, stronger, gentler, and more loving towards others and yourself.
If Christianity is true and you accept Jesus's sacrifice, you will also enjoy an eternal life after death, a life that will be far greater than anything we can in this life fathom.
As far as I can see, if we understand what Christianity really is, the only reason to reject it is because we are cynics and it sounds way too good to be true.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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