Jethro Bodine
Whenever I encounter a person with a "me and the rest of you" attitude in the church I know I'm dealing with someone who's love for the body of Christ, warts and all, is suspect. The love for the people of God, no matter how ugly we are, that is the distinguishing mark of the true follower of Christ. Remember, Christ died for this ugly bunch..when it was much uglier than it is now.
When I was an Atheist, I was a cultural Relativist. And I fully believed in the live and let live philosophy. The idea that we should LOVE everyone that became popular after the 1960’s. I judged no one. I considered the rights and the beliefs of every one to be sacrosanct so long as they kept their fist a foot from everyone else’s nose, their knives sheathed, and their guns holstered.
That changed after I attended my first Christian Church. It was there that I learned to be doctrinally intolerant. I assimilated their view that to tolerate doctrinal views other than one’s own is to be UNLOVING because such doctrine is the truth. And it’s UNLOVING to hide the truth from anyone.
Since becoming a former Christian, I’ve learned to become doctrinally tolerant, thus reinstating my former Relativistic philosophy somewhat. In the view I present, the philosophy of doctrinal Relativism is based on what Jesus and Paul say about LOVE. Not on the Christianity interpretation (which seems to include more than one definition). Personal belief in what one thinks is truth is necessary. But judging the beliefs of others, that they consider just as true as one’s own, is putting oneself in a position of authority that is both unnecessary and unwarranted.
So I won’t judge Christians, neither according to their doctrines, nor according to their actions. That which may be wrong may be one’s own. No one but God knows what’s going on within, unless they choose to reveal it. If need be, I’ll just let them alone. I’ve heard too many stories of how people influenced other people just by their daily lives that included no judgment whatsoever. And on the contrary I’ve heard the reverse. Steven Seagal, the movie actor, was once asked why he chose Buddhism over the Christianity he was born into. He made a simple statement. Christianity is too judgmental. I for one, due to personal experience, understand what he meant. If Jesus came not to judge the world but to save the world, it behooves those who claim to follow Christ by calling themselves Christians, to do as they claim. And if I have received more, it behooves me more.
You have totally taken me out of context and judged me to be something I am not. I don’t consider myself in terms of “me and the rest of youâ€. I consider myself the same as all Christians who are truly in Christ. And potentially the same as those Christians who are not. It would be nice if they all saw things as I do or even the same as each other, but that isn’t happening. Do you honestly think I would emphasize that all who are in Christ are intended to walk by the Spirit and keep the unity of the Spirit, to center themselves in Jesus Christ, if I had a “me and the rest of you†attitude? Wouldn’t I rather say everyone should follow me? And if you think I have said that, you would be totally wrong.
I don’t judge the religion that calls itself Christianity. That I leave to God. I simply discern it for what it really is. And can no longer in good conscience consider myself a part of it.
Consider it in these terms. A person believes that the doctrines of a certain Church are wrong. That person is removed from that Church because that Church believes their doctrines are true. That person can no longer be a part of that Church because both sides believe their doctrines are true. So he starts a new community where he believes the doctrines are true.
Martin Luther did that very thing. If you think he was wrong to do so, maybe you should consider becoming a Roman Catholic. The Church that preceded his community. Instead of being “you Protestants against everyone elseâ€.
The difference in that example is that I haven’t started a new community. And I, believe it or not, still attend one of the Churches of Christianity. Covertly, being silent among them about my own doctrinal understanding for fear of being excommunicated. A necessary precaution if I want to continue to fulfill my community obligation. I have chosen not to start a new community that will no doubt eventually just become another denomination of Christianity as soon as I’m no longer there to prevent it. Protestantism is full of such denominations.
I don’t judge the Christians within Christianity. Because however I might judge them matters little to them or to God. They are responsible to their own master. Whomever that may be.
Should I no longer believe what I believe to be true, and conform my faith to the faith of another? Should I become a part of something that I know I shouldn’t be a part of, so that I can “exercise LOVE� Some Christians manage and work in Taverns. Should I go and do likewise because they’re fellow Christians, even though in my mind it’s not something I should be doing? Am I showing a lack of LOVE for my brethren in that way? Am I a poor witness for Christ on that account?
What exactly is LOVE to you?
ADDITION:
Not as FC as done by deciding those who don't agree with him are only 'Christian' and not of Christ while he is 'in Christ'. That is what it means to condemn somebody and not just their doctrine….. So, do I have to rally under the flag of FC's sect to be considered 'in Christ'? When he condemns 'christians' as being 'not in Christ' he is also condemning me who is, and always will be called a christian, but who sympathizes with his frustration but doesn't condemn others over the acceptance or non-acceptance of petty doctrine.
You misrepresent me sir. I’ve never said that. On the contrary, I have said that there are many who are in Christ who call themselves Christian and are within Christianity. Don’t create straw men to fight against. You’ll find it’s a futile practice. I will try to give you the benefit of the doubt and say that perhaps you misunderstood me when I said that not all who are Christian are in Christ. It would be similar to your saying that many in Christianity misrepresent the name of Christian.
The problem is the only people I've known who speak of being a 'former christian', or a person who has 'tried Christianity but found it didn't work' were unbelievers and atheists. So why would a believer in Christ choose to identify themselves with those who, knowingly or not, have rejected Christ and Christianity through a rejection of the religion of Christianity? It's beyond my spiritual sensibilities to even consider it.
If I was an Atheist or an unbeliever there would be no reason to be dishonest about it. I am a believer in the God and the Son of God described in the bible. One doesn’t have to be a Christian to be such a believer. I don’t equate Jesus Christ with the religion that uses his name. Former Christian means just what it says. I once considered myself a Christian who is a believer. Now I consider myself a former Christian who is a believer. Why should I call myself a Christian on your account? Especially since in my mind it would give a false impression, it would be a lie? You equate believing in Christ with calling oneself a Christian. I don’t. It’s as simple as that. Don’t blame your Spiritual sensibilities on a natural revulsion. If you’re in Christ and I’m in Christ we’re brothers, whether one, both or neither refers to himself as a Christian. Or do I have to refer to myself as a Christian before you can accept me as a brother? Did you before mistakenly say that I’m a Christian whether I like it or not? Do I have to agree with you, before I can become acceptable to you?
My rebellion against the status quo gets expressed in a sincere desire for all 'Christians' to know truths they may not already know. Then those who really do want to live for and serve Christ can be further transformed into the image of Christ, while those who don't will at least have heard what the truth really is as they continue in the path they've chosen. But to refuse to be called a Christian as a protest against them? I can't do it. Kind of gives a new twist to the term 'Protest-ant'.
Your truth or God’s? Will you protest against those who don’t believe in your truth? When you look at me, are you putting a mirror between us and looking at your own reflection?
And remembering something you said to Smaller, who are you to think you have the authority to chastise me? Are you God my Father? Are you Jesus Christ my brother? Are you my Spiritual Father? Are you guilty of the arrogance you accuse others of having?
FC
