A MEANINGLESS LABEL?
So it seems that two Christians - Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh - think Pope Francis
is a Socialist and a Marxist. That's because he's convinced Jesus is on
the side of the poor and he doesn't believe in unfettered capitalism.
There's all sorts of irony in this:
- Pope Francis has done an incredible amount to improve the perception
of Christianity throughout the world. His openness, generosity, and
humility may not have overcome entirely, some of the negativity
associated with the Catholic church but it has made a significant
difference.
- Palin and Lumbaugh on the other hand, have done plenty to damage the Christian
reputation, if not in their own country then certainly around the world.
- And it does seem strange to label the head of one of the wealthiest institutions in the world, a socialist.
But the bigger issue for Christianity, is that Palin, Limbaugh and Pope
Francis would all claim to be Christian, and yet have entirely opposing
views on most everything. This of course has become the norm in Christianity. Orthodox
Priests bless troops in the Ukraine before they shoot at fellow
Christians protesting against the Government. Christians proclaim
that God hates fags, at funerals led by Christian clergy. Celebrities
on their fourth marriage claim to be Christian while other Christians
criticise politicians having affairs, as immoral and poor role models.
And on it goes...
Some would say this is a positive thing. It shows that Christianity is a
big tent that can accommodate almost everyone. And I'm a fan of the
generous, welcoming version of Christianity. I'm more than happy for
Sarah, Rush, and Frankie to enjoy the love of Jesus. But the fact that
all of these people claim to be Christian while decrying the 'other' and
holding to totally conflicting views on key issues of theology and
practise, has I would suggest, made the label "Christian" meaningless.
No surprise then that an increasing number of people trying to follow
Jesus, are choosing not to identify as Christian. Recently a colleague
asked me "You're a Christian are you?" I replied "Tell me what you think
that means". When they had finished I said "Well, no I'm not".
This dilemma isn't going to go away.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
LOSING MY FAITH
"So, have you lost your faith?"
The question came from a close and dearly loved relative and was in response to a long coffee conversation in which I had expressed my dissatisfaction with Christianity. And it came with a fair degree of concern. I started to reply "no of course not..." which is my standard reply when I'm trying to reassure a past colleague or church buddy. Only this time I stopped, gave the question some more thought and said "well yes, actually I have lost my faith". And I went on to explain -
Here's what I've lost faith in:
-The Christianity I grew up with that was so certain that we were right, or most right. More right than any other expression of Christianity. That looked down on Catholics, ignored the Orthodox stream, and cast doubt on the eternal destiny of liberals. I'm sorry but to maintain that stance you have to believe that your interpretation of Scripture is superior to everyone else's. That your worship is closer to the heart of God. And that your own hearts are somehow more pure. Sorry but the jury is in - the Christianity of my upbringing (evangelical) is just as flawed as everyone else and the outcome just as pathetic in its attempt to be true to the words of Jesus, as everyone else. I've lost faith in it.
-The view that every word in the Bible was explicitly voiced by God into the minds of people who wrote it down literally without error. And that later translators were free of all bias, thoroughly equipped in language skills, and produced a book that must be obeyed without question. I'm sorry but there only needs to be one example where a translation was influenced by culture, church or politics to make that stance untenable. I've lost my faith in that view of the Bible.
-The Holy Spirit as some sort of saloon girl 'comforter', who is always available to tickle you under the chin and give you a great smile when you've had a tough day. I'm sorry but that's easy to believe when you've grown up in a great middle-class setting of security, safety, food, education, and health care. But spend some time in a slum or war-zone for a while and watch people crying out for relief with seeming silence as the response and you have to find a different reality for the Spirit of God. I've lost faith in that happy notion of the Spirit.
-A Jesus on the side of the status quo, who mostly wants us to learn to behave and not rock the boat. Who wants decency and order in all things. Who is opposed to radicals and socialists, suspicious of artists and the avant-garde, and will only love the prodigals when they come to their senses. I no longer have faith in that Jesus.
-And in a church that thinks attending on a Sunday is the primary task for their leaders to focus on, and their congregation to demonstrate healthy faith. That was the clear impression in the first 55 years of my Christian journey. I've lost my faith in it.
So, as I told my Dad, yes I have lost my faith.
"So, have you lost your faith?"
The question came from a close and dearly loved relative and was in response to a long coffee conversation in which I had expressed my dissatisfaction with Christianity. And it came with a fair degree of concern. I started to reply "no of course not..." which is my standard reply when I'm trying to reassure a past colleague or church buddy. Only this time I stopped, gave the question some more thought and said "well yes, actually I have lost my faith". And I went on to explain -
Here's what I've lost faith in:
-The Christianity I grew up with that was so certain that we were right, or most right. More right than any other expression of Christianity. That looked down on Catholics, ignored the Orthodox stream, and cast doubt on the eternal destiny of liberals. I'm sorry but to maintain that stance you have to believe that your interpretation of Scripture is superior to everyone else's. That your worship is closer to the heart of God. And that your own hearts are somehow more pure. Sorry but the jury is in - the Christianity of my upbringing (evangelical) is just as flawed as everyone else and the outcome just as pathetic in its attempt to be true to the words of Jesus, as everyone else. I've lost faith in it.
-The view that every word in the Bible was explicitly voiced by God into the minds of people who wrote it down literally without error. And that later translators were free of all bias, thoroughly equipped in language skills, and produced a book that must be obeyed without question. I'm sorry but there only needs to be one example where a translation was influenced by culture, church or politics to make that stance untenable. I've lost my faith in that view of the Bible.
-The Holy Spirit as some sort of saloon girl 'comforter', who is always available to tickle you under the chin and give you a great smile when you've had a tough day. I'm sorry but that's easy to believe when you've grown up in a great middle-class setting of security, safety, food, education, and health care. But spend some time in a slum or war-zone for a while and watch people crying out for relief with seeming silence as the response and you have to find a different reality for the Spirit of God. I've lost faith in that happy notion of the Spirit.
-A Jesus on the side of the status quo, who mostly wants us to learn to behave and not rock the boat. Who wants decency and order in all things. Who is opposed to radicals and socialists, suspicious of artists and the avant-garde, and will only love the prodigals when they come to their senses. I no longer have faith in that Jesus.
-And in a church that thinks attending on a Sunday is the primary task for their leaders to focus on, and their congregation to demonstrate healthy faith. That was the clear impression in the first 55 years of my Christian journey. I've lost my faith in it.
So, as I told my Dad, yes I have lost my faith.
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