A Look Into The Mirror
Some times the faith journey takes you to places that are both challenging as well as comforting. I was a bit more comfortable on my last blog. I've moved over a bit tonight. You see, I've been hanging out with atheists and skeptics online. It all started from a blog I read last year and linked too. Since then, I have read some, posted occasionally but really, hadn't put myself out there.That changed this last week and I'm glad it did. However, contrary to my normal linking to sites, I'm not going to and I'm going to tell you why. I hope it doesn't come across as mean or rude. If it does, I'll say I'm sorry now. I'm watching out for my friends...all of them.
Here is what I've learned: "Christians" have been acting like jerks. If you've read the book unChristian, this should come as no surprise. If you've read Thom Rainer's books, you may have an inkling of this. I don't think it is too strong to say that I am embarrassed.
I'm not saying there is not blame to go around but I've read what has been left on blogs. I've read the stories. It isn't about "he said" or "she said" or "he did it first!" We are called to be the Church. We are called to be Jesus Christ's body in this world.
When John wrote that God loved the world, we ought to remember it wasn't just those who believe in Jesus he loved, it was all, and it was before any believed. As I wrote earlier on one blog, I wonder that in our faith we take for granted our belief that God cared enough to become human. Maybe we should each remind ourselves of that before we try so hard to be gods.
Just know, I'll be looking in the mirror a bit more intently, looking for grace and mercy enough to share and wondering, how often has my life been the one that threw the first stone.
Posts
3 comments:
Ken, as Aesop put it: "Any excuse will serve a Tyrant".
People can be petty. No tyrant believes him or herself to be a "bad person". It's fun to cheer as the hero beats the villain, but in real life people are not black and white.
And bad people will use any excuse to be bad. Atheists and Christians are both guilty.
Pascal said, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."
I think that Pascal should have replaced the words "religious conviction" with the words, "authoritative dogmatic ideology". That would cover every tin-pot tyrant that existed, including the secular ones.
But if you look at things from an Atheist point of view - it is as if we are living in a world where most people are somewhat insane.
Secular people have learned to blend in, to get along. We do this because it can be difficult, if not dangerous, to point out or demonstrate that something seems insane to us.
You see, I've been hanging out with atheists and skeptics online.
Excellent!
Calladus wrote:
But if you look at things from an Atheist point of view - it is as if we are living in a world where most people are somewhat insane.
I get what you're saying, because if religion is a delusion, then most of the world's population is delusional, often dangerously so.
Still, religion convictions (or not) aside, it's still quite easy to think that most of the world is somewhat insane.
I'm of the firm opinion that 90 percent of every driver on the road is at least somewhat insane.
Obviously, I'm the only one out there that thinks clearly!
Post a Comment