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The Christianity
I DON'T Believe

The Christianity I Don’t Believe In 

Earlier I wrote a post indicating the Christianity I believe in – here now is a discussion of what I DON’T believe.

The point of this exercise is to help me think things through, as well as help clarify for those with struggles on debatable points, and also for those who love to pin these type of beliefs on us Christians, the Truth notwithstanding.

On one level, it may be an anti- of the previous article – but that’s ok, it drives the point home for all of us to think about.  Especially those who misunderstand Christianity.

Christianity is Racist, Sexist, Homophobic, Whatever Else

This one should be pretty clear – we are ALL made in the image of God, and equal in His eyes. We should treat each other as such.

Now – some want to try and paint the Bible as condoning slavery – it simply addressed it as a cultural issue. In other words the Bible was written during a time when slavery was culturally acceptable.  And YES – it turned it upside down.

Not only was slavery different in those days from what we generally think of it these days (as racist, or less than human), the Bible was clear that the slaves of that day should be treated fairly, and that they are Children of God.

In fact, and entire epistle speaks to the treatment of slaves as equals (Philemon – where Paul asked that the slave Onesimus be treated as a ‘brother’.)

The treatment of women is virtually the same.

Women are indeed equal in God’s eyes as man. (Indeed I’ve seen MANY women smarter than men!)

When men properly address women as equals, they cherish them as themselves. This is a deep deep statement, and not often practiced, even in supposedly enlightened secular circles.

Regarding Homosexuality, I’ve never quite understood why people would want to identify with their sexuality, or their sin. And, a person’s dealing with their sin is a matter for them to address with God, although the issue of identifying with it places issue with leadership in the Church, as it does with any other clearly identified sin.

Nevertheless, all people are God’s Children, and deserve to be treated with respect in that manner.

Hopefully these items are thought provoking, not just provoking. I truly have no desire to offend anyone, or to be labeled a heretic (HA!). Please let me know what you think – let’s reason together.

Santa Claus God

God is the Prime Mover; the Creator; the source of all Logic and Reason and Purpose (Logos) and Love.

He is the original relationship (all creation seems to be driven by relationship – with Love being at the apex). He is Spirit – to be worshiped, honored, and contemplated as such and in Spirit.

He is identified as masculine in most of the Bible because the writers (and for the most part – us too) were a Patriarchal society – so masculinity indicates authority. When we realize what He is, and that we are His creation, it seems silly that we put demands on Him, much less expectations.

Some like to think of Him as our Santa Claus – or our servant out there waiting to do our bidding if we just ask, or ask in the right manner.

Some see Him as the ultimate Puppet Master – dictating all events in life (e.g. “Why would God allow this to happen”? 

Surely He desires the best for us all, and He has selected His Church to execute His will on this earth, but we are the creation, not the task-master.

So – if a prayer goes unanswered to my ‘liking’, it is not some sort of a proof against a God who should show His ‘love’ to me by answering my prayers, it is a careful warning to me to make sure I am aligned to the will of God.

Christianity is the Reason for Violence

This one baffles me.  Since Christianity is by definition about Grace, Forgiveness and Love, and politics is usually about manipulation to get votes, to me it’s pretty obvious that the two are generally incompatible.  Not as source of good vs evil, but as a pretext for conflict.

Some leaders will say anything to get votes (or to seize power.)  Usually it has to do with defining an enemy, and setting themselves up as the solution, therefore they should be in power.  Occasionally Christianity is used to define an enemy, and even sometimes found as the enemy.

For example, the Crusades were against a different religion, to obtain power over far away lands that were in dispute.  Assigning it a Christian cause to people who identified as Christians was a very prudent move to gain support – it doesn’t however declare that Christianity is invalid, just because it was appropriated.

Christ told us to turn the other cheek.  Keep that in mind when we are battling others (“Just War Theory” notwithstanding.)

Christianity Is Anti-Intellectual

There’s a lot of other writings in this site that discuss why I truly believe that Christianity is the only belief system (view of life and the world) that makes any sense at all.

In summary, it seems to me that Grace is the ONLY hope for the world. And, I must exhibit this as much as I can, like Jesus did and like God expects me to, in order to represent Him.

Also, NONE of the other belief systems make any sense to me, indeed they seem to be only partial answers from our limited intellect to answer the great questions of existence, meaning, and purpose.

Now not all Christians believe the same things, and none of us have totally thought everything through, nor do we have answers to everything. But this certainly does not prove anti-intellectualism.

I am as interested in knowledge, logic, reason, the pursuit of Truth, and the scientific method as anyone. So please don’t begin a discussion with me about the ignorance of my faith, unless you are prepared to speak to yours.

And if you’re a Christian, please consider thinking through with me (or others) the deep deep meaning of the Gospel and its ramifications, and help us all present the Truth to those who are looking for it.

Grace and Peace to you all!