A New Kind of Christian for the World
Enough with the fundamentalism; bring on His love.
Hey guys, it’s been awhile since I last blogged about something but I’m gonna try and get back into this thing because I miss it WAY too much. Anyway, let me get right into the issue of the day. Religion in today’s world. Regardless of whether you believe in a deity, a spirit, or the flying spaghetti monster, everyone has their own theory on how the world was created, why we are here, and where we are going.
Most of you know I goto a Christian liberal arts college and so, one would assume, I am a Christian; and this assumption is true. Therefore I, like many other Christians across the world, were “flabbergasted” to see how the media seemed to lump the likes of Harold Camping, our modern-day Nostradamus whose failed prediction of Judgment Day shook the paranoid realms of society last Saturday, with the rest of us Christians. In our current era of mass media, its pretty clear that our society has an affinity for the unusual; how often do you see superlative words like the “biggest”, the “worst”, or the “craziest” in our media? The problem is that when applied to religion, it shows the “crazies”; Middle Eastern terrorists, Fred Phelps, or even Glenn Beck.
Anything to success is a bad thing, especially religion since it is such a powerful and illogical force. I can tell you from experience that my faith is not logical; there are very few things about Christianity that are completely logical; but that does not mean that all the good that it can bring is for naught. People like Harold Camping destroy the very fabric of what being a Christ-follower means. We cannot know what God plans for this world; it is our job to do our best to love God and love others because, in the end, that is all we can do.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Rob Bell, a prolific, “postmodern” Christian writer puts it best when he says that “you rarely defend the things you love. You enjoy them and tell others about them and invite others to enjoy them with you.” I suggest that Camping, and many other Christian “apologetics”, or “defenders”, take a step back and use their time, money, and energy, for things that can help bring the kingdom of God here to Earth. CBS News reported that Family Radio, the company that Camping is a part of, spent over $1 Million on billboards all over the world, and that is a conservative estimate. Think about how many charities could have benefited from all that money? Its sickening.
Regardless, the only way to truly be “Christ-like” is to extend His love to all around you. Don’t be arrogant, judgmental, or fake; instead, act like a true messenger of God by helping others. Be the new, the true Christian for the world.
Annie
Matt
Ryan
YRP Community
very well said Matt.
I agree with everything -the Glenn Beck being a crazy part. lol
p.s. I like the flying spaggeti monster thing.
Also, i agree with Billy, well said.
pastafarianism ftw!
exactly. Loved the part about “defending the faith” If we believe God needs our defense, then we do not actually believe that they are a powerful God.
Matt, Fraternal Greetings my friend. Your attack on Camping was rather harsh. I know nothing of the man except his prediction about the end but, again without knowing his dogmas or doctrines, this doesn’t make him un Christian.
God IS love, it is intrinsic to Him. When we get those who claim that they know Him and profess to love Him then talk how the queers, Muslims and Buddhist are doomed to hell, how the United States must pick up the White Man’s Burden and conquer in the name of Jesus or sanction assassinations in His Holy Name…this mocks God. God will not be mocked. The Bible Belt is in a lot of trouble. Fascist scum like Fawell, Robertson, Beck, et al are the ones bringing God’s wrath to the U.S. Phelps is correct, God is angry but it’s for these reasons and not the homosexuals which are initiating this wrath. Jesus liberated men he did not shackle them to dogmas and doctrines.
No one I know personally, even the most anti-religion atheists I know, would put all well-meaning mainstream Christians in the same group as Harold Camping or Phelps. Nor have I seen any such accusation in the many articles I have read about this topic. Rather, it is a telling example of what religion (that is in your words, not mine, “not logical”) can truly do to people when a charismatic leader preys on the weak. Forget Harold, mainstream Evangelicals say and do enough stupid crap every day as a lifestyle to warrant their stereotypes without needing a few caricatures from the fringe to solidify it. Most evangelicals believe in the exact same “end times” teaching that Camping does, they just don’t make the news because they don’t have the balls to set a date.
In fact, fringe groups like this are great PR for mainstream evangelicalism because it gives them all a chance to point and laugh at those crazies and make them feel real good about themselves for being so “enlightened.”
Well, I think its commendable that you do not know any anti-religion atheists that do not lump all Christians together. Perhaps fortunately, you haven not noticed the hundreds of news articles written on the subject where the “comment box” is full of people who have decided to use CAmping as an excuse to throw all religion under the bus. I’ll give you a few…
http://abcnews.go.com/US/may-21-2011-end-world-judgment-day/story?id=13570426
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/05/15/judgment-day-no-way-what%E2%80%99s-behind-the-may-21-2011-end-of-the-world-rumors/
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/149038/20110520/harold-camping-doomsday-may-21-21st-2011-end-of-the-world-apocalypse-earthquake-rupture-atheists-bib.htm
If you want I can quote you some of the comments…
Nostromo says, “”making Christians like me look stupid” .. yes an a lot of effort that takes…. he didn’t make you Christian dont blame the old addled geezer on that.. you decided not to use your brain for anything but muttering silly prayers … Good thing god loves you, everyone else just laughs behind your back”
Here’s a good one… Brianisha said that “Ive been hearing the Not a true christian line a lot lately. Just because Scotsman A doesnt do what Scotsman B does it doesnt make them any less a scotsman.”
It might not influence educated people as much but there are a lot more people out there who are heavily influenced by mass media who are only exposed to this.
And its pretty clear that religion is illogical… Why would someone “believe” or have “faith” in something they can not empirically study? That is “illogical”. That does not make it any less legitimate… Postmodernism FTW. =P