Let me explain:
If being a Christian means that I must be a Republican, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I am required to believe in the complete 'inerrantness' and infallibility of the "Word of God", i.e., the Bible, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to believe that the "Holy Canon" is the last word on what God's word is, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe that homosexuality is wrong, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe in the "doctrine of authority," I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe in hell as eternal damnation in a lake of fire, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe that the only way to God is to believe in Jesus Christ, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to "check in" with God for every decision on every detail in my life, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to know all there is to know about God, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I completely understand who God is, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must have all the answers to all spiritual questions, I am lost.
If I cannot say, "I don't really care about that," when asked my opinion on, or interpretation of, a spiritual question, I am lost.
If I cannot say, "I just don't know," when asked my opinion on, or interpretation of, a spiritual question, I am lost.
If, to be a Christian, I must settle on whether I am pre-trib, mid-trib, sort-of-mid-trib, post-trib, or no-trib, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to settle on the question of eternal security, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to believe in exclusivity of a certain creed or message, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe that people are predestined to go to heaven or hell, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must agree with all confrontations our military engages in, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must require my wife to be in submission to me and my children to obey me at all times, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to beat my children so that they learn to love God, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must pray and read my Bible, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must be at peace with all men and ignore blatant indiscretions against the "least of these," I am lost.
If being a Christian means I must submit myself to any earthly authority rather than God himself, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I must school my own children, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I cannot immunize my kids, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires a diet of organic foods, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must reject the mainstream medical field, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I cannot listen to secular music, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I cannot disagree with any writers of the collection of books, letters, and historical documents that have been concatenated by men into what we know today as The Holy Bible, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I cannot view many of the stories in the Bible as man's best interpretation of the events, using the limited knowledge of the period, I am lost.
If I cannot laugh at some of the foolish conclusions of the writers of the Bible, I am lost.
I am very happy to be a Christian. But, none of the above "requirements" reflect who I am. I believe in Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit. I am very far from a final conclusion on anything spiritual, including who God is, but I have thoroughly rejected the narrow bounded "faith" I grew up with. I am still working out my faith in fear and trembling, as I write. I hope that when I pass from this life, I can still say the same. I attempt, as best I can, to love God with all my heart and love all people. I never could do that when I adhered to the above rules.
If I have missed any foolish definitions, please feel free to add them to the comments below.
Update 3/7/2012 12:28 AM: Since writing this post, I have left the Christian faith and am now an undefined agnostic. Regardless of who I am, I am convinced that the above words will still be very meaningful to people of faith at any level. I know for a fact that the most conservative of Christians identify wholeheartedly with this post.
If being a Christian means that I must be a Republican, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I am required to believe in the complete 'inerrantness' and infallibility of the "Word of God", i.e., the Bible, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to believe that the "Holy Canon" is the last word on what God's word is, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe that homosexuality is wrong, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe in the "doctrine of authority," I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe in hell as eternal damnation in a lake of fire, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe that the only way to God is to believe in Jesus Christ, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to "check in" with God for every decision on every detail in my life, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to know all there is to know about God, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I completely understand who God is, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must have all the answers to all spiritual questions, I am lost.
If I cannot say, "I don't really care about that," when asked my opinion on, or interpretation of, a spiritual question, I am lost.
If I cannot say, "I just don't know," when asked my opinion on, or interpretation of, a spiritual question, I am lost.
If, to be a Christian, I must settle on whether I am pre-trib, mid-trib, sort-of-mid-trib, post-trib, or no-trib, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to settle on the question of eternal security, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to believe in exclusivity of a certain creed or message, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must believe that people are predestined to go to heaven or hell, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must agree with all confrontations our military engages in, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must require my wife to be in submission to me and my children to obey me at all times, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires me to beat my children so that they learn to love God, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must pray and read my Bible, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must be at peace with all men and ignore blatant indiscretions against the "least of these," I am lost.
If being a Christian means I must submit myself to any earthly authority rather than God himself, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I must school my own children, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I cannot immunize my kids, I am lost.
If being a Christian requires a diet of organic foods, I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I must reject the mainstream medical field, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I cannot listen to secular music, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I cannot disagree with any writers of the collection of books, letters, and historical documents that have been concatenated by men into what we know today as The Holy Bible, I am lost.
If being a Christian means I cannot view many of the stories in the Bible as man's best interpretation of the events, using the limited knowledge of the period, I am lost.
If I cannot laugh at some of the foolish conclusions of the writers of the Bible, I am lost.
I am very happy to be a Christian. But, none of the above "requirements" reflect who I am. I believe in Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit. I am very far from a final conclusion on anything spiritual, including who God is, but I have thoroughly rejected the narrow bounded "faith" I grew up with. I am still working out my faith in fear and trembling, as I write. I hope that when I pass from this life, I can still say the same. I attempt, as best I can, to love God with all my heart and love all people. I never could do that when I adhered to the above rules.
If I have missed any foolish definitions, please feel free to add them to the comments below.
Update 3/7/2012 12:28 AM: Since writing this post, I have left the Christian faith and am now an undefined agnostic. Regardless of who I am, I am convinced that the above words will still be very meaningful to people of faith at any level. I know for a fact that the most conservative of Christians identify wholeheartedly with this post.
Interesting post! After reading it through twice, I think that I only have one major disagreement with you. Homosexuality, I would argue, is wrong, right along with lying, theft, murder, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'd change it to say, would be this:
If being a Christian means that I must believe that homosexuals are less deserving of God's grace and mercy, and my own personal respect for their person, then I am lost.
You go, Incongruous! I walked the same walk you are now, and it was not easy! Having to rethink everything you were ever taught sucks. I'd actually like to recommend a couple of books, if I may. First and foremost, Jesus Interrupted, by Bart Ehrman. Next, The Bible Unearthed, by Finkelstein and Silberman, and Who Wrote The Bible? by Friedman. These books helped me sort through what I believed - and what I absolutely didn't.
ReplyDeleteMost of all, though, don't ever be afraid to ask questions. Put everything on the table! And don't be afraid of not having all the answers right away! The road ahead is hard but liberating, and oh so much better than what came before!
Also, I disagree with Brian and instead agree with you - there is nothing sinful about being gay. It's like being black or being female or being short: it just is.
I'll stand my ground on that point, however. Its not the "being" gay thats at issue, its the practice of it that is.
ReplyDeleteI often see something I want. It might even run through my mind to take it, while nobody is looking. But I don't take it. If I haven't taken it, I haven't sinned, right?
Um, Brian, I still disagree. It's like telling a black man that it's not being black that's the problem, it's having an afro. Or like telling a woman that it's not being a woman that's the problem, it's having breasts. It's people like you who make things so hard for gay people in this country - you are telling them that for them, love is sinful. I think that's profoundly unfair and I profoundly disagree.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I don't think Incongruous wanted this thread to turn into a debate on the rightness or wrongness of gayness, so I'm going to stop at this and wish you the best.
And that is the color of life. People that disagree. Vehemently or otherwise. Precisely my point in writing this.
ReplyDeletePretty much just stating that I may or may not be settled on one thing or anything, but my reasoned approach is no better or worse than the approach of another. Unless of course, someone is being hurt. Then, I will not allow any dissension on the matter whatsoever.
Thank you Brian for reading and I really do respect your view, though I cannot agree. We can still be friends too.
And Liberty, always a pleasure. Looking forward to your next post.
Keep learning, reading, researching, and seeking. In the end, we all need to be darn sure we're loving God and others in the best way we know how or using the means we have at our disposal.
People are more beautiful if they just grow and live as they were designed rather that being twisted and broken into someone else's idea of how they should be.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree...but not with everything you said.
I agree in the sense that being a Christian is believing in God...In Jesus, that He came lived died...sinless for us, God in the flesh took our sins.
I believe the only question that will be asked on 'that' day is "what did you do with My Son?"
LOL but the only one I disagree with is
ReplyDeleteIf being a Christian means that I am required to believe in the complete 'inerrantness' and infallibility of the "Word of God", i.e., the Bible, I am lost
I think God is big enough to watch over His word, to make it say what He NEEDS it to say.
Its our job to figure out... (pray and seek God about) the meaning...and IF you come up with a meaning the equals less than love...try again!
I'll take issue with that one im4everHis. God doesn't have to watch over his word. It is a part of him. We see that stated in the book of John. Insert the word "Bible" in the first chapter in the place of "The Word" and the whole passage falls apart.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe God much cared for or even expected us to write it all down. That we did write some stuff down is good. But, in my view, our relationship with God is very experiential and based on the Holy Spirit, who cannot be found in print.
That counsels of men put together what we call the Bible makes me suspicious enough that I must weigh every word with what I know of God, which arguably isn't much.
Do you get where I'm coming from now?
Thanks for reading!
Ask questions, as Liberty said. And allow Christianity to also be one of the sources which you consider for answers.
ReplyDeleteIf, for example, you check out data presented by Ehrman on the gospels, also check out data by William Lane Craig.
Some atheists tell me that they loved God with heart and soul before becoming atheists. None say they loved God with their minds.(Matt 22:37)
I believe Christianity - not all the rules that man make and call Christianity - is objectively true, and that the resurrection of Jesus is one of the best attested facts in history. But as for the rules you mention above, I have to agree that most are nonsense, and a few I don't know how much value they have.
(Retha)
He says He watches over His word to perform it
ReplyDeleteJer 1:12
I know a guy who believe that God is giving Him scripture...that not everything God said was written down..
can you even imagine where this is going!
I was in an abusive church for 10years, and I have to say Im glad He decided to write it, cause when I decided to REALLY find out who God is...what He's like, I didn't find it in people/pastors...
The written Word keeps us on track...without it we make up our own rules...were human we love being our own god, we love making up our own rules, and deciding whats good for us.
I do understand what you are saying, but The written Word of God is a standard He wrote ...so we have no excuses
Blessings Laura
There are too many viewpoints from various people on what it means to be a Christian. It can be very confusing. This is why I usually just get lost in the shuffle behind the entire matter. Regarding Christianity, there seems to be too many rules and not enough love, or too much love and not enough rules. No one seems to know how to be balanced anymore. This is why Christianity can be a murky mess.
ReplyDeleteCan I just give you a gigantic hug for articulating almost *exactly* what I've wanted to say for so long? You've covered all the bases I would have, except a few:
ReplyDeleteIf being a Christian means that I must treat every non-Christian as either an enemy or potential convert, then I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I have to believe in "prosperity theology," or in in unfettered capitalism, low taxes, and no restrictions on personal property or trade, then I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I have to be more concerned about protecting a child still in the womb than protecting that same child when he or she grows up to be impoverished and under-educated, then I am lost.
If being a Christian means that I have to believe in a morally black-or-white, good-or-evil, you're-with-us-or-you're-against us world, then I am lost.
-----
My own personal crisis in faith began because I thought that patriarchal Christianity was all that there is, and any system that diminished and degraded the person whom I love wasn't worth believing in. So I didn't believe for a time, with disastrous consequences.
It took me time, much prayer, and much help to find out that version of Christianity was not only one of many viewpoints, it's completely FALSE, in my opinion, and its practitioners are either deceivers (Billy G., D. Phillips, et. al.) or just outright deceived themselves. I have some degree of contempt for the former and just pity for the latter.
I too am working out my faith with fear and trembling, and it's comforting to hear that I'm not alone.
Thanks, Retha. I really appreciate your response. Frankly, the only people I don't give a chance are those that have hurt me in the past and those that give deference to those that hurt me in the past. And then, forgetting about me, those that portend to be helpful and yet hurt others, especially the "smallest of these."
ReplyDeleteI have no time of day for them.
Again, thank you. I will do as you ask. Can you repeat that suggestion on my post about books to read?
Thanks!
Again, Laura, I can't fully agree with you. If you look at all the references in the Bible that you defend, on the Holy Spirit, you will see that the Christian life is very experiential. Guided by the Holy Spirit within us.
ReplyDelete(Liberty...I am a very thought-FULL individual and understand that I cannot see, feel, hear, or sense the Holy Spirit, but rather, I just choose to have faith that He exists. If that makes me a fool, I'm willing to be that way. In my opinion, much of the idea of Christianity is foolishness, anyway. After all, God can be un-proven in 30 seconds flat.)
Thus, Laura, I don't believe the Jeremiah reference is talking about the canon we have with us now. In fact, Jeremiah was not written down to chat about much of what we now know as the Bible. I'm convinced that verse was merely speaking to the fact that God expected Jeremiah to tell His word to His people and God would then perform what was proclaimed. I don't think it had any prophetic meaning about the printed document we have today.
Over the past year or so, I have come to see much of the Bible as written by men, which it was. And men have a funny way of interjecting their thoughts and style into their work. Sure, some of the writing may have been guided by God, but it had to have been based on their own uneducated understanding of current events and most definitely culturally current for their era.
I see Paul as a very wise man, as do I see people like C.S. Lewis, Thomas Obermeyer (my architecture professor from 1998 - 1999), and my wife, as being wise. I hold as much weight to their words as I do to Paul's. In my view, if their words disagree with my interpretation of the historically documented words of Christ, I disagree, as well.
A very simplistic explanation and most definitely not the final word on the matter in my life.
Violet, any ideas on how to mitigate that problem?
ReplyDeleteMr. Green Eyes. Thank you so much. I'm glad that my writing could encourage just one person in life. I am happy now.
ReplyDeleteKeep letting me know how your journey s going. I'm, really very interested.
Also, I must add one thing:
If tithing is required, I am lost.
Yep. That should be obvious that I think the idea of tithing is nothing more than a scam to keep the business of church buildings humming along.
I recommend Matthew Narramore's "Tithing, Low-Realm, Obsolete, and Defunct". It created such a "DUH!" moment for me when I read it. You can find it at http://www.tithingdebate.com/
Thank you so much for writing this. Not sure how I missed it before, but I swear I am dealing with this right now. If this is what it means to be a Christian, I don't want it. And this is all part and parcel of what I've been told shows "fruit" in the lives of Christians. So... now what? I want to reject it all, honestly. It would be easiest to just throw it all out.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's just refreshing to read this. :)
Most early heresies had to do with your beliefs about the precise state of the divine and human nature/s of Christ within himself and in communion with the Father and the Spirit, as told in terms of Aristotelian metaphysics. Now the worst thing you can get wrong is judging which social liberties are good and which are bad.
ReplyDeleteTimes change in a couple of thousand years. Seems like our theological priorities change to fit the social/political environment in which we exist. That's not wrong; it's just important to note that maybe God's priorities for all people for all eternity don't fit this year's party-line bullet list.
I understand what you're saying, Ouisi, except for the party-line part? I hold no party-line and would be an outcast in any socio-political group, as well as any religious group other than one who is seeking the truth about freedom in Christ, as well as who God is.
ReplyDeleteI am always searching and studying. My favorite pastime is to look deeper into what people consider as heresy. That is much of what I write about.
Also, the promises of God are the promises of God - not necessarily what we have read on a printed page. So, what those promises are, I am not entirely sure. Not to mention, that the promises of God are interpreted quite differently from person to person, group to group.
Thanks for your comment and for reading. I am trying, very carefully, to navigate the fine line you speak of.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteFound you via a comment you left at Permission to Live.
I like this post ... probably because I've written a list similar to this one ... but haven't shared it publicly yet. Maybe I will one of these days ...
I look forward to exploring the rest of your site.
Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to you're insight, as well.
ReplyDelete"You're". Doh! My English is having issues today.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that I might be a bit "lost" myself....and quite honestly, I'm liking it that way!
ReplyDeleteCindy@Baptist Taliban Memoirs
Wow! This is so much of what I've been processing over the past few years and some of it since I fled the movement 14 years ago. Thank you so much for writing this!
ReplyDeleteWow indeed. That's quite a list of negative definitions. With a denial to negate each as well! Nicely thought-provoking. Has me wondering though: what does it mean "to be a Christian" to you? You state: " I believe in Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit. " What do you mean by "believe in"? Believe in the existence of? Believe in them to take some action your behalf? Believe that they have already done something of significance? What type of entity(-ies) to you consider Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit to be?
ReplyDeleteLove, love. LOVE this!! Wanna come write my blog for me?? Once again, you put into words what I have been struggling to verbalize! Keep it up!
ReplyDelete