Welcome to my world -

[kyburg]

Something Positive hits on the head today.

Some days, that site and I don't agree - today, we dovetail.

I'm a Christian.

(Probably one with the broadest expression expression of the term, because I tend to work from the divinity of concept in addition to the divinity of the person - yeah, you have to come here for the message, but don't ignore the message when you find it elsewhere. God made the heavens and the earth - and yeah, that means everything is here for a reason. Including the people who disagree with you. God made them - and spoke to them - too. Moving on.)

I've had more moments like this than you would honestly believe - except you won't find me at bedside on my knees. I'm behind the wheel of my car, at my desk, walking down the street, shopping in the market. Watching television.

I'm not praying to get your attention, after all. What I have with God is between the two of us. What I want God to know, God does. *chuckles* I'm very protestant in that regard. You *might* find some references to God in my home - I took down all the crucifixes when I moved into the place, however. Don't wear them. (No, not even widdle gold crosses where nobody can see them.) My expression of faith is me. Who I am, what I do and what motivates me to do it.

I don't put fish on my car. I don't wish anyone "a blessed day." (Although I appreciate it when someone does. How nice! If you're actually thinking about what you're wishing me, that is.)

I'm a subscriber to Sojourners. I think everyone interested should. I have lending copies of God's Politics.

I don't like "superstitious christians." You need to know what I mean? Doubt it, but you can ask.

But if anyone wants to tell me I'm not a "true Christian," pardon me if I don't pay much attention to you. You're not the one who makes that decision.

And that, as they say, is that.

Comments

[joggingguy.livejournal.com]

I just love you :-)

[jenkitty.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[n6vfp.livejournal.com]

very well said...

[machineplay.livejournal.com]

My expression of faith is me. Who I am, what I do and what motivates me to do it.

my uncle David, from a very conservative, evangelical church, had a similar theory. he said, "if watching the way i lead my life isn't enough to make someone want to get to know my God better, then i need to work harder at being a good Christian". i never knew him to prosletyze. he was one of the kindest, best people i ever knew. this is (not kidding) one of my mother's brothers. we wouldn't have every owned a house if David hadn't made sure of my parents having the money for it. and, for the record, he really was that good a man, that people would come to him and ask to learn more about God because of David's presence in their life. it works.

i think you are a true Christian. and if more people were, it is likely that i still would be, too.

[coldjones.livejournal.com]

I actually will differ a bit with the SP comic - I've met a lot of Christians down here in Texas, including many whose faith is A) a big part of their lives, and B) fairly (sometimes extremely) politically conservative. I've never had someone tell me outright that their faith makes them better than me, though.

Now, they may well think they're better than me in the "I'm going to heaven and you're not" sense, and from a broad standpoint when you see conservative Christians as a whole suggesting that they have a lock on moral issues and you don't, it's easy to get that impression. But I've still never had anyone tell me that straight out, and as I said, I'm in frakkin' Texas.

I also don't believe that it would be such a terrible thing for the main character's dad to hear - most Christians I know are well aware that there's an obnoxious minority that tars the whole group. How reasonable Christians deal with that minority is very telling, but that's different from what's in the comic. (And, of course, well away from what you were discussing.)

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have dear. I grew up in Riverside County in California - and all those nice folks who were too conservative for Texas moved there. And from Oklahoma. And Louisiana. And Florida. And. And. And.

California. The land of re-invention. We also have all the crackpots in the world you can throw a dead cat at. Case in point: Scientology and the Foursquare Church.

[lord-keeper.livejournal.com]

thank you...this makes a lot of sense and not just for Christians, but for people of all faiths. You know full well that I am not a Christian, and probably never will be again. But i respect those that belive deeply in thier faith without having to ram it down another's throat.

I have met far too many people I call "one True Wayers" that believe their path is the only path and all those that follow another are not worthy of life itself let alone to be considered as good as they are. Guess that comes from growing up in the buckle of the bible belt.

[fufaraw]

"My expression of faith is me. Who I am, what I do and what motivates me to do it."

This. This, this, this. So much this. I was taught that one never knows when one is being watched by someone who is ignorant of God and his ways, and that we must live our beliefs. Taught in a So. Baptist Sunday School, actually, that actions speak louder than words. That charity is love, and vice-versa, that "there but for the grace of God go I," and "as you do it unto the least of these, you do it unto me" were bedrock tenets of practicing faith.

I'm no longer Christian, but I bring those beliefs in practice with me, wherever I go. They define how I live my life.

[muimi07.livejournal.com]

I've had similar experiences on both sides of the fence: non-Christians thinking that Christians are all insane; and Christians with the "better than thou" attitude. As cradle Catholic, I'll never forget being told by a Christian "friend" with all sincerity that I was going to burn in hell because I wasn't a Christian.

I've had several conversations with a dear friend of mine who can sometimes be quite anti-Christian due to forced proselytization. As he once put it, "My mom traded crack for Jesus. I haven't noticed a difference." He's changed his tune but it is a very unfortunate reality that there are others out there that think like he does.

I wish more "Christians" would remember what being Christian is. It's not Bible thumping or cross wearing or money giving. It's how you live.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

The whole Catholic vs Protestant "you're not a Christian IF" thang never made a lick of sense to me.

I won't be Catholic - they have too many people in the way between me and God, for one thing; but that's not the only thing - but I've never thought I had any authority to tell anyone they weren't Christian. And if I don't have it...guess what. Nobody breathing room air does.

We can compare notes and have opinions - but in the end, nobody has the whole story and our lives are spent in searching for it. If you look at what is recommended in any spiritual life, it's a daily routine - and never hard, fast and set in concrete. Unless you have to have it that way, and then you get into trouble. Don't you think?

You're given a guide - the rest is up to you.

...not Christian...*mutters fast food obscenities....*

[ersatzinsomnia.livejournal.com]

I don't put fish on my car. I don't wish anyone "a blessed day."

I thought "blessed day" was a Wiccan saying. At least, that's what my Wiccan friend used to say to me all the time. Eh.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

That would be "blessed be" - and a real indicator that the two faiths aren't all that different. Neh?

[ersatzinsomnia.livejournal.com]

uh... both religons wish good things on people? That hardly seems remarkable.

But you're right, I was mixing that up.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Words matter - look at the similarities.

I'm glad SOMEONE linked to that comic on my flist!

[yasha-chan.livejournal.com]

I read S*P daily and I was just waiting for it to not be the main day page so I could link to it without it changing on me and all that.

I agree with what Randy says at the bottom. What I call "True Christians" need to speak up against the "Bible-Banging Ignorant Yard Apes". Not because you have to disapprove of them to have your faith validated, or to be a good person...

More because MANY MANY people like me have had wholly negative experiences with religion. "Christian" is a word I associate with people who mocked me, tore me down, told me that I was worth nothing, that I deserved to die, that my mom was a disgusting whore who deserved suffering for daring to have a child out of wedlock. This is the Christianity I know. This is what I expect in my gut from someone when they identify themselves as Christian.

Are all Christians like that? No, of course not; I know this in my head. It's an abstract for me, though. Every time someone I know who is Christian stands up and says; "I'm not here to judge, I'm here to love everyone equally" it means something to me.

For some of us the idea that Christians are inherently good people is 100% foreign. So I guess this is a plea to keep speaking up. I've read the whole bible multiple times, I grew up in an organized Christian religion, and the only thing I remember about it to this day that has a significant impact on my life is "Love one another as I have loved you, by this shall man know ye are my disciples".

If only every person who called themsevles Christian truly followed that...

Well, keep at it. ^^

Re: I'm glad SOMEONE linked to that comic on my flist!

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping you'll come by Christmas Eve - the house opens at 10:00 AM and doesn't close until the last person goes home.

We play frisbee, watch anime, get politically snitty and eat a whole lot of good stuff.

And after dinner, open presents. Come on over - bring Val!

Re: I'm glad SOMEONE linked to that comic on my flist!

[yasha-chan.livejournal.com]

Actually, that's a day she normally has off so it's possible. We'd have to borrow the dingo from apey to get there, but it could be done. We could even provide some anime and of course we'd bring tasties.

Lemme ask her about it when she gets back. I'm going to be cancelling Dynamis anyway so I actually have a Sunday free, yay XD

Re: I'm glad SOMEONE linked to that comic on my flist!

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Definitely put it on the list. It's a Tradition, after all! *smirks*

[moropus.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I wish I had said that.

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

Great post, thanks--and some great comments to it, too.

[djstatick.livejournal.com]

I think I may have to go to the library and get that gods politics book...

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

It's out in paperback now - check the used book stores.