I agree, Will ... very well written article. I just finished a trilogy of books by Brian McLaren, "A New Kind of Christian," "The Story We Find Ourselves In," and "The Last Word and the Word After That." Using a fictional framework, these books make a similar point ... that the gospel as preached and lived by Jesus is quite different from the not-so-good news often preached by the church (historically and currently). Jesus was inclusive, not exclusive, and stressed God's love, God's compassion, and God's justice (in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches "Seek first God's Kingdom and God's JUSTICE" ... "righteousness" is actually a mistranslation we owe to King James). Jesus was primarily concerned with his followers living a life of love and compassion and justice-making in this world, saying "Be perfect (i.e. compassionate ... just) as your Father in heaven is perfect." Somewhere along the line the church started preaching that salvation was primarily about getting into heaven and avoiding hell ... when the Old Testament prophets and Jesus always stressed justice and compassion and care for each other ... on this earth, in this life. I may be slipping into preaching a bit ... my apologies. But it drives me crazy to know that the church is all too often on the side of injustice, homophobia, environmental waste (due to apathy if nothing else), and the status quo ... when we should be just the opposite. On Jesus' side to love and save the world, not to condemn and waste it. Thanks for posting the article.
M. How much do I agree? I cannot begin to tell you..thus the post. It absolutely confounds me that the Christian religion has moved so far from the teachings of Christ and become a force of evil. My hope is that people like you and Eric F. can try to turn this all around. GOD does not hate...every major religion in the world has become an agent of distruction and horrible abuses. When we will all regocnize our mistakes?? Stay true, M. You are a force of good in a sad world.
I agree, Will ... very well written article. I just finished a trilogy of books by Brian McLaren, "A New Kind of Christian," "The Story We Find Ourselves In," and "The Last Word and the Word After That." Using a fictional framework, these books make a similar point ... that the gospel as preached and lived by Jesus is quite different from the not-so-good news often preached by the church (historically and currently). Jesus was inclusive, not exclusive, and stressed God's love, God's compassion, and God's justice (in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches "Seek first God's Kingdom and God's JUSTICE" ... "righteousness" is actually a mistranslation we owe to King James). Jesus was primarily concerned with his followers living a life of love and compassion and justice-making in this world, saying "Be perfect (i.e. compassionate ... just) as your Father in heaven is perfect." Somewhere along the line the church started preaching that salvation was primarily about getting into heaven and avoiding hell ... when the Old Testament prophets and Jesus always stressed justice and compassion and care for each other ... on this earth, in this life.
ReplyDeleteI may be slipping into preaching a bit ... my apologies. But it drives me crazy to know that the church is all too often on the side of injustice, homophobia, environmental waste (due to apathy if nothing else), and the status quo ... when we should be just the opposite. On Jesus' side to love and save the world, not to condemn and waste it.
Thanks for posting the article.
M. How much do I agree? I cannot begin to tell you..thus the post. It absolutely confounds me that the Christian religion has moved so far from the teachings of Christ and become a force of evil. My hope is that people like you and Eric F. can try to turn this all around. GOD does not hate...every major religion in the world has become an agent of distruction and horrible abuses. When we will all regocnize our mistakes?? Stay true, M. You are a force of good in a sad world.
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