Yes, I'm THAT kind of Christian...
...I can drop the f-bomb in one sentence and pray fervently to God in the next. Hell, I've even used the f word in my prayers.
...I love dirty jokes and the occasional dirty movie. I am a virgin, but not virginal.
...I loathe 90% of contemporary Christian music. I am almost convinced that sometime in the early 1900's God and Satan had a discussion (as in the book of Job) where God agreed to give every ounce of creative musical ability to the Devil and his minions.
...I consider television ministries to be in the same category as informercials. If I hear the words faith, covenant, anointing and blessing one more time... Just one more time....
...I am convinced that modern Christianity - particularly American pentecostalism - is less about the pursuit of God and more about achieving a spiritual orgasm.
...I'm still not sure that Christianity has it all right. The same zeal and fervor is found in other religious that are just as certain of the infallibility of their doctrines.
...With all due respect to SKR and her blog (which I think is necessary and important) I really don't care/see the big deal about gay marriage, or parenting. I would much rather see the millions upon millions of children in the world who are neglected or orphaned due to the AIDs pandemic or natural disasters being cared for by "Steve and Ramon" than rotting in an underfunded orphanage or left to fend for themselves on the street.
...I guess because of all the above and other reasons too numerous to recount, I am considered one of those Christians. To the secular world I am a joke and the church I am a hypocrite and perhaps even a heretic.
I can understand that. 10 years ago I would have looked down on someone like me, shaken my head in shame and then run to the nearest "sister" to "share a prayer request" too.
The essence of my thought is this... I know for certain that I cannot return to the legalistic (overused word), oppressive, perfectionistic, suffocating, fanatical Christian life that I used to lead. It was too painful and exhausting.
In contrast, despite the sometimes blatant hypocrisy that is evident now, I have been much happier and feel closer to God now than I ever have in my life.
In a New Testament chapter and verse that I've long forgotten, Paul says that, "all things are permissible, but not all things are profitable. Similarly, when I was in Bible school in what seems like an age ago, one of my professors gave me a bit of wisdom and direction that I for years dismissed as rubbish. He said that the Christian life is about "Loving God with all your heart and doing as you please". It scary to think that way because there's so much latitude there. But knowing my own inadequacies, that's all I can manage. As I posted earlier... I think God is responsible for the rest.
But looking back, isn't that how David lived - the beloved of God? In the end, THAT is the kind of Christian I want to be.
...I love dirty jokes and the occasional dirty movie. I am a virgin, but not virginal.
...I loathe 90% of contemporary Christian music. I am almost convinced that sometime in the early 1900's God and Satan had a discussion (as in the book of Job) where God agreed to give every ounce of creative musical ability to the Devil and his minions.
...I consider television ministries to be in the same category as informercials. If I hear the words faith, covenant, anointing and blessing one more time... Just one more time....
...I am convinced that modern Christianity - particularly American pentecostalism - is less about the pursuit of God and more about achieving a spiritual orgasm.
...I'm still not sure that Christianity has it all right. The same zeal and fervor is found in other religious that are just as certain of the infallibility of their doctrines.
...With all due respect to SKR and her blog (which I think is necessary and important) I really don't care/see the big deal about gay marriage, or parenting. I would much rather see the millions upon millions of children in the world who are neglected or orphaned due to the AIDs pandemic or natural disasters being cared for by "Steve and Ramon" than rotting in an underfunded orphanage or left to fend for themselves on the street.
...I guess because of all the above and other reasons too numerous to recount, I am considered one of those Christians. To the secular world I am a joke and the church I am a hypocrite and perhaps even a heretic.
I can understand that. 10 years ago I would have looked down on someone like me, shaken my head in shame and then run to the nearest "sister" to "share a prayer request" too.
The essence of my thought is this... I know for certain that I cannot return to the legalistic (overused word), oppressive, perfectionistic, suffocating, fanatical Christian life that I used to lead. It was too painful and exhausting.
In contrast, despite the sometimes blatant hypocrisy that is evident now, I have been much happier and feel closer to God now than I ever have in my life.
In a New Testament chapter and verse that I've long forgotten, Paul says that, "all things are permissible, but not all things are profitable. Similarly, when I was in Bible school in what seems like an age ago, one of my professors gave me a bit of wisdom and direction that I for years dismissed as rubbish. He said that the Christian life is about "Loving God with all your heart and doing as you please". It scary to think that way because there's so much latitude there. But knowing my own inadequacies, that's all I can manage. As I posted earlier... I think God is responsible for the rest.
But looking back, isn't that how David lived - the beloved of God? In the end, THAT is the kind of Christian I want to be.
posted by the singleton at 12:14 PM
2 Comments:
1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23
only because i wanted to post it before Suze did. ;)
Thanks!! I was too lazy to look it up!
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