Maybe The Worst of the Worst
04/30/2005
While taking a survey tonight, I began to think I’m the worst of christians.
See, I realized that I really don’t like most christians. I find religious posturing sickening. The choice of which "laws" to follow unpalatable.
I find the way the current government administration prostitutes the name of Christ for it’s benefit repulsive.
My stomach turns at the way people have been brainwashed to believe that ALL christians believe the same way about every single subject under the sun (Son).
And, I despise the bouffant headed, fake eyelash wearing, Jeeeeeeee---susssss singing, 1950’s clothes wearing image that has predominated the portrayal of christians in today’s society.
Maybe I’m really sick of the american portrait of what christianity is. Maybe that’s really the shit that has me in a bond.
Maybe it’s the way I see the people who claim to be God’s people closing the gates to those not in the "club". Maybe I’m really disgusted of how many christians I know who don’t make friends with anyone who does not believe the same way they do, go to the same church they do, think the same way they do…
There seems to be a proliferation of christians who inoculate themselves from the world at large by working for christian owned companies, only using christian mechanics, shopping at the christian bookstore, seeking out the christian clothier, only going to christian concerts. Nauseated by those who act as if being in the same space as non-believers is going to contaminate them.
I have found that my non-christian friends challenge my faith more than my christian friends do. I have had to figure out why I believe as I do without using book and verse to explain it. And truly, as a whole, my non-believing friends seem to have more joy than my christian friends do.
They also seem to be more giving with the love.
Why? Why do they seem to have more joy and love?
Interesting question, yes…
Well, here’s my theory. Remember it’s only a theory.
Maybe they know freedom yo! Maybe they are not so hung up on what others may think of their actions. Maybe they are the ones who are to teach us about grace and mercy and social activism and preservation of the earth and love of creation.
I get rigid at christians who come into every conversation as if they can convert the world just by appearing on the scene.
Perhaps we have inoculated ourselves so much by looking for devils in everything and everyone that we have lost sight of beauty and truth and God.
Maybe we have forgotten that salvation belongs to Our God and not to us.
Maybe we have lost sight. Maybe I have lost sight. Or maybe I really am the worst of the worst.
zss
© Wrosesongs
All Rights Reserved
While taking a survey tonight, I began to think I’m the worst of christians.
See, I realized that I really don’t like most christians. I find religious posturing sickening. The choice of which "laws" to follow unpalatable.
I find the way the current government administration prostitutes the name of Christ for it’s benefit repulsive.
My stomach turns at the way people have been brainwashed to believe that ALL christians believe the same way about every single subject under the sun (Son).
And, I despise the bouffant headed, fake eyelash wearing, Jeeeeeeee---susssss singing, 1950’s clothes wearing image that has predominated the portrayal of christians in today’s society.
Maybe I’m really sick of the american portrait of what christianity is. Maybe that’s really the shit that has me in a bond.
Maybe it’s the way I see the people who claim to be God’s people closing the gates to those not in the "club". Maybe I’m really disgusted of how many christians I know who don’t make friends with anyone who does not believe the same way they do, go to the same church they do, think the same way they do…
There seems to be a proliferation of christians who inoculate themselves from the world at large by working for christian owned companies, only using christian mechanics, shopping at the christian bookstore, seeking out the christian clothier, only going to christian concerts. Nauseated by those who act as if being in the same space as non-believers is going to contaminate them.
I have found that my non-christian friends challenge my faith more than my christian friends do. I have had to figure out why I believe as I do without using book and verse to explain it. And truly, as a whole, my non-believing friends seem to have more joy than my christian friends do.
They also seem to be more giving with the love.
Why? Why do they seem to have more joy and love?
Interesting question, yes…
Well, here’s my theory. Remember it’s only a theory.
Maybe they know freedom yo! Maybe they are not so hung up on what others may think of their actions. Maybe they are the ones who are to teach us about grace and mercy and social activism and preservation of the earth and love of creation.
I get rigid at christians who come into every conversation as if they can convert the world just by appearing on the scene.
Perhaps we have inoculated ourselves so much by looking for devils in everything and everyone that we have lost sight of beauty and truth and God.
Maybe we have forgotten that salvation belongs to Our God and not to us.
Maybe we have lost sight. Maybe I have lost sight. Or maybe I really am the worst of the worst.
zss
© Wrosesongs
All Rights Reserved
posted by I am Z @ 2:20 AM
2 Comments:
At 12:26 PM,
taliendo said…
great post, zayne!
I often feel the same way. and it is my necessity to not be around those people that caused me to leave me church a year and a half ago.
thanks for sharin,
-d.
At 5:18 PM,
Joel said…
As someone who has spent most of my life in the community of the types of people you are talking about, I know exactly what you are saying. I promise you're not the worst of the worst. There are LOTS of people that feel the same way. A book I've read recently is called "A New Kind Of Christian" by a guy named Brian McLaren. A lot of my friends, after reading this book, thought "Man, I never realized other people thought this way about all the hypocrisy that I do." It's written in the form of a novel about two guys who are just having a conversation about these very things you're talking about. It's a really interesting read. There are things in it that I don't entirely agree with, but a lot of brilliant insight as well about what it means to follow Christ and live in post-modern culture. If you happen to get the time, look it up, I think you'd find it a breath of fresh air in the midst of so much preachy "Christian literature."
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