So, here I have sat. Days I have thought about this, on and on. Some days I have spent several hours on the topic. Other days, I numb it over with a dose of 'it is not that big of a deal.' Then, it comes back.
I have finally come to the ironic conclusion that I hate Christians.
Ironic because Christians are not allowed to hate anyone. Hate is a sin. 'Hate the sin, love the sinner.' Famous quote spread through out the church.
Christians.
You know, it took me decades to figure this one out. It has always been there though. The irrational loathing of this idea...this falsehood...this standard of higher authority. It is disgusting.
I have been around atheists my entire life. Men who only believed in science. Men who didn't believe in anything. Men who believed that they would one day come back as a fern and repopulate the world, reversing global warming single handedly...single leafly (wait, would the leaf be considered a hand or would the branch or twig?)
I have tried to sit down and listen to reasonings of why they don't believe in Christ or Christianity. Some have stated that it is the false conclusion created to feel like life has a purpose. Others have stated that only people who have gone through major things stumble across it to make their life feel like it has meaning.
Basic line...it is the feel good option on the multiple choice test of life.
A. Die
B. Die believing you will be a fern
C. Die knowing your body had scientific relevance to society and it did good while you were here.
D. Die believing there is something for you after this.
Cheerier option right?
But I believe I have just figured out the reasoning behind the ill settlings of Christianity.
Christians.
Out of all the people that I have talked and listened to, who have tried to persuade me out of my "religion" (terrible word), I have noticed one underlining fact of why they have this feeling against "us". US.
We Christians create the barrier between us and those who do not believe. We have exterminated the need to pride ourselves in our actions, our day to day livings and our wrong doings.
Being a Christian, there are certain responsibilities we must make a habit. Most, yes, are not fair. Like, for example, answering the stupid question of "Well if God loves you, than why did he let this thing happen to you?"
Well, heck if I know. Why did my mother make me eat my veggies even though I told her I hated them? (and, perfect examples, because now I love veggies. Thanks to my Mom, I am now healthy. Didn't know that back when I was balling my eyes out over pees and carrots.)
Anyways. Yes, we have responsibilities. Yes the world looks at us differently. They unfairly analyse our every move. We can't cuss. We can't have sex before marriage. One tattoo and it is Dante's Inferno. We can't have a bad day because God shouldn't allow you to do anything but float in a sea of unicorn farts and daisies. If any of this occurs, welcome to hell.
And this...this is the very reason why Christians have ruined Christianity for the world.
Yes, we have a standard to uphold. But the standard has created uptight, non-human, rude, unaccepting hypocrites.
We have recreated a group of people that sit in the bleachers, pointing and judging anyone who is different.
Well, you know what, that needs to change. I am tired of sitting back and watching amazing people walk away from Christ because of the terrible experience they have had with our 'kind.' Our people who stare and make rude comments about my sister, in church, because she has tattoos. 'God said that the body is a temple to God and look what you have done.'
Yeah, well God also said that thou shall not judge...and who are you to determine the sin of another?
Like people against gays saying that God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. Saying that all gays will go to hell.
Excuse me but over indulgence in anything (including alcohol) is also a sin. No sin is greater than another. They are all sins. Standing up and saying that gays are going to hell, for one, is not a determination you get to make. Two, is incredible judgmental. Three, is turning away the opportunity of someone knowing Christ and who he truly is. Only God is allowed to judge our sins. To you, someone who likes the same sex should be none of your business. That does not define who they are as a person. It is a choice they made and one they will have to deal with. You make choices everyday too that you will have to deal with when judgement day comes.
I want to see a group of people who are accepting. A group of people that aren't afraid to be flawed. A group of people not afraid to stand up and say "hey, my day truly sucked today. How about yours?"
We are getting nowhere by being these uptight, fit a certain standard type of people. I have found that most people who want to believe in Christ don't, simply because they don't believe they are good enough. Isn't that terrible? We have made Christianity an impossible standard.
Our rules and regulations of perfection have kept thousands from attempting to know Christ.
Want to know the difference between the "Christian" life and the Christ life? Both are me...
Hi. I am Cristi. I have been a Christian all my life. When I was younger, I use to lead people to Christ behind our school's trailers. I told my pastor, before the age of ten, that I was going to build a church just like his...but bigger. I have blue prints and a name ready to go, just waiting for the opportunity and location. I have worn a purity ring since I was thirteen after witnessing a cousin of mine having kids out of wedlock and several high schoolers (9th graders) having their hearts torn out by break ups. I thought cussing would send me to hell and I have never spent a day in detention.
Great right? Perfect life. Kind of hard to talk to though. Great, your life is perfect. You have personally built five orphanages, only wear clothes made from the women of a small village in the tropics and you spend your down time quoting the sermons of Billy Graham and Rick Warren.
I don't know about you but that seems SUPER approachable and the type of person I want to spend my day with......
Now how about this?
Hi. I am Cristi. I have spent my life so dedicated to my career that I have run from the idea of falling in love. Falling in love terrifies me. The idea of loosing my career, job, and passion for entertainment spirals me into sleepless nights, shutting people out and running away from my problems. I have a fear of loosing people I get close to, especially men, (there is no explainable reason why) so I will walk away first when I feel I am loosing someone. Laziness ticks me off. I cussed just yesterday during a terrible day at work when the word "shucks" just didn't cut it. My quick intuitions of people creates unfair treatment towards them before I have time to get to know them. I have terrible choices when it comes to choosing guys. I am strong willed, hard headed and, once I have made up my mind, it is set.
Out of the two people, who would you rather sit down and tell your problems to?
Yes, my life is amazing, but I am flawed. I struggle, just like everyone else in the world. However, I have a God that is helping me through everything. Step by step.
My flaws, and trust me, there are more, may not seem a big deal to you, but they are the biggest asset I have to connect with everyone else around me. The flaws I have can be used for good, if managed right. Everyone's flaws are. Its just finding the people around you and discovering the God who is with you to show you how to see your flaws as beautiful.
I am not here to make you into a Christian. It is overrated. I am here to show you what a life with a relationship with God is like. I will not yell at you if you cuss. I will not damn you to hell if you kiss someone. If you have a tattoo, pages of Dante's Inferno will not be plastered to the windshield of your car. I am here to listen.
If you do not convert to Christianity, I will still be your friend. I will still eat with you and be apart of your life. You are not a different breed. You are not lower quality. You are loved for who you are, even if you don't know it yet. We are brothers and sisters. No one is worth more or less.
I am tired of Christianity being a cult. We have ruined the idea of a free people for Christ. Stop turning people away because they are flawed because, news to you, you are flawed too. By the way, pointing out someone else's flaws does not make yours go away. Man up, accept them, share them and realize that God even loves you...no matter how many of his children you have dismissed because of your own insecurities.
Thank you.
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