2345Luke 13: 1-5 "At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’"
What Jesus says here is that God doesnt single people out to punish them. I chose this verse in part to refute Pat Robertson and comments like his further. Death comes for each of us. It is the cost of life, but no person is singled out by God to die one way or another.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Dear Pat Robertson...
If you cant say something comforting or helpful, dont say anything at all. Holding up a folktale and saying it is justification for a tragedy visited on millions is just not in the spirit of the Gospel.
You have with your greater position a responsibility to show the light of Christ. You need to show forth the Gospel message of love and care. Yes, Christ spoke truth even if it hurt, but this isnt the same as what you have done. Remember the words of Paul, all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Also remember the words of our Redeemer, he that is without sin may cast the first stone. Following your reasoning and these words, we deserve all the pain that happens in our lives and that just isnt the case. Look at Job, he was just and right before God and he had horrible things happen. We live in a world where hurt and pain are the norm, we as followers of Christ have a duty to build a better world through the love given to us by our Redeemer. As the hymn says, They will know we are Christians by our love...not our judgement.
Let God do the judging as He wills. It is his purview, ours is to be the Light of Agape for a World in Darkness.
SojournerVA
You have with your greater position a responsibility to show the light of Christ. You need to show forth the Gospel message of love and care. Yes, Christ spoke truth even if it hurt, but this isnt the same as what you have done. Remember the words of Paul, all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Also remember the words of our Redeemer, he that is without sin may cast the first stone. Following your reasoning and these words, we deserve all the pain that happens in our lives and that just isnt the case. Look at Job, he was just and right before God and he had horrible things happen. We live in a world where hurt and pain are the norm, we as followers of Christ have a duty to build a better world through the love given to us by our Redeemer. As the hymn says, They will know we are Christians by our love...not our judgement.
Let God do the judging as He wills. It is his purview, ours is to be the Light of Agape for a World in Darkness.
SojournerVA
Friday, July 17, 2009
Being Christian (Originally written on 6/15/04)
This is the first of a series of posts on my faith. I am a Christian. Yes, I was raised as a Christian, but my parents always said that I should follow where my faith lead me. Alot of it was rote till I hit college. I was sitting in a beginning theology class where we had to examine other faiths. Alot had really good things about them, but it struck me that true Christianity is different.
Christ calls on us to live; to love; to act. He doesnt say we should do X cause the law says so. Act out of love. Christ doesnt want us to do something cause he says we have to, but because we want to and will do it in an act of love. NOTE: I dont mean love the way people today mean, but back to the older concept of Agape. Love that gives of one's self. Love that means you care and accept people for who and what they are.
Too many Christians today are what I call Old Testament Christians. They want the God of Thunder and Retribution. They want a god of Vengence. Christ is not like that. Christ is about being an adult. He wants to act a certain way, but it is not about a carrot or stick. It is the way a person acts if they are an adult. We are responsible for each other and we are called to care for each other just like God cares for us. So many Christians, dont keep the love of Christ at the forefront. Christ did all that he did for love. None of us are perfect, but we are still loved and can love. The person that cant love; cant know God.
I have a bunch of friends who dont believe. They have been driven away from knowing Christ by people who have perverted the message or just dont understand it. It really hits me sometimes cause I care for them and want them to understand how important Christ is and how important believing is. We have a co-worker who has told them that they are going to hell cause they dont believe. On one hand he is right, but he typifies what the problem is. Rather than showing them that Christians can be caring loving people...he hits them with the you are going to hell thing. He wants to put to put faith in a box. You cant do that. I love and care for my friends, but I dont know how to get my point across to them. Dont toss out Christ because of how Christians act. God doesnt want us to fear him. He wants love. He did everything he has done because of love. That is what makes the difference from the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament is about talking to children..do this or else. The New is about I love you and want to help you live a happy and fulfilling life. Sometimes, I think that listening to people talk about Christianity it is as if they never opened the book and read it.
Anyway, this has rambled enough...
Christ calls on us to live; to love; to act. He doesnt say we should do X cause the law says so. Act out of love. Christ doesnt want us to do something cause he says we have to, but because we want to and will do it in an act of love. NOTE: I dont mean love the way people today mean, but back to the older concept of Agape. Love that gives of one's self. Love that means you care and accept people for who and what they are.
Too many Christians today are what I call Old Testament Christians. They want the God of Thunder and Retribution. They want a god of Vengence. Christ is not like that. Christ is about being an adult. He wants to act a certain way, but it is not about a carrot or stick. It is the way a person acts if they are an adult. We are responsible for each other and we are called to care for each other just like God cares for us. So many Christians, dont keep the love of Christ at the forefront. Christ did all that he did for love. None of us are perfect, but we are still loved and can love. The person that cant love; cant know God.
I have a bunch of friends who dont believe. They have been driven away from knowing Christ by people who have perverted the message or just dont understand it. It really hits me sometimes cause I care for them and want them to understand how important Christ is and how important believing is. We have a co-worker who has told them that they are going to hell cause they dont believe. On one hand he is right, but he typifies what the problem is. Rather than showing them that Christians can be caring loving people...he hits them with the you are going to hell thing. He wants to put to put faith in a box. You cant do that. I love and care for my friends, but I dont know how to get my point across to them. Dont toss out Christ because of how Christians act. God doesnt want us to fear him. He wants love. He did everything he has done because of love. That is what makes the difference from the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament is about talking to children..do this or else. The New is about I love you and want to help you live a happy and fulfilling life. Sometimes, I think that listening to people talk about Christianity it is as if they never opened the book and read it.
Anyway, this has rambled enough...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)