Categories: uncategorized
Date: 25 November 2004 21:11:56
I understand you don't like my style of Christianity. Well, I'm sorry, but I'm sick of hearing it rammed down my throat at every verse end how Christians shouldn't be "nice". Apparently, because I don't swear, I am less honest than real Christians. I am not being honest because I try to phrase my words in a way that will not antagonise or deliberately hurt another. Well where precisely do you get off questioning whether I am being honest or not? I'd be more honest, would I, to act against my nature and mouth off at someone.. slip a few swear words in here and there for good measure? I'm sorry, but I just don't see it. You're like you are, I'm like I am, but both of us can be being honest before God and true to ourselves.
Apparently the trouble with us "nice" Christians is that we're judgemental. We're far more judgemental than the "real" Christians. Our faith is sickly sweet and not real... certainly not in touch with the real world. We should roll our sleeves up and not be afraid to get our hands dirty in the muck and grime that is life. Oh yes, I'm with you on that one. I'll roll my sleeves up and I'll be in there with the rest of you, but forgive me if I don't believe anyone would thank me for not washing my hands afterwards. When my son was throwing up (ugh, remind me never to give him a mug of hot chocolate just before he vomits next time!) into my hands in the bathroom sink and I had to finger out the bits that blocked the drain, he appreciated me being there and not afraid to get my hands dirty, but I don't think he thought any the less about how much I cared that I washed my hands before putting him to bed.
So what if it is "more honest" to express the anger one feels with someone else - "I felt like saying it so it was more honest to say it". Hmmm.... interesting one this. Does honest always equate with right? When my son told me he'd speak to me how he jolly well liked, I felt like smacking him repeatedly until he cried. He made me angry and I definitely wanted to make sure he knew that. Would the "honest" way also have been the right way? I don't even have to answer that. I don't always take the right way, I sin and ask forgiveness and sin again. But don't question whether I'm a Christian or not or whether I am honest with God, thank you very much, as that's between me and God. My reading of the Bible, especially the beatitudes, and my prayer life makes me content with the way I interpret God's rules for me (even if I am not always content with the way I put that into practice) .... as long as your reading of the Bible and your prayer life makes you content with the way you interpret God's rules for you, can you not rest confident in that faith?
Why can you not accept it? There are people who are at their best early in the morning, and people who are definitely night-birds. There are people who learn best when the material is presented in an auditory way, others who respond better to visual input, others who are more practical. There are people who are left handed and people who are right handed. There are people who are extrovert and others who are introvert. There are people who speak and people who listen and people who do. There are people who worship charismatically, and those who are more conservative in their worship. There are people who believe the Bible is the infallible word of God and those who believe it is God inspired but man-written. There are those who prefer to deal in a non-antagonistic and quieter way with their fellows and those who enjoy a good argument. There are those who are at home in a drinking, smoking, swearing environment and those who prefer to avoid those situations. Who is right and who is wrong? Who is the Christian and who is not? Whom does God love best? Easy answer - God loves all equally and the world would be a much less interesting place without all of them.
Can you not respect me for what I am? Please God, make me willing to do the same.
Sorry, rant over - normal service will be resumed shortly.