tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post2007570977682082356..comments2024-03-23T13:45:19.208-04:00Comments on Serene Musings: What Can We Know About the Prominent Women of the Bible?Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-52347811791122299522009-05-06T21:01:00.000-04:002009-05-06T21:01:00.000-04:00LOL. Really, I don't know how my comment got over...LOL. Really, I don't know how my comment got over here! For some reason I just started looking for other posts with comments and found it. I blame Blogger. :-D<br /><br />I had saved a copy of my post and have moved it to the correct post. If you want to move your responses as well, I might have something else to add to the conversation. I'll check back.<br /><br />MikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-28243281665859306102009-05-01T09:02:00.000-04:002009-05-01T09:02:00.000-04:00You are a gifted writer and historian. You love h...You are a gifted writer and historian. You love history and you love trying to pursue the truth, no matter what "orthodoxy" is overthrown in the meantime. Many more honest people need this type of commitment. To quote a preacher I heard many years ago while speaking to church youth: "Shoot your arrow toward TRUTH, not orthodoxy! They are seldom the same thing!" Not bad coming from a Southern Baptist Preacher (though he is no longer associated with that fundamentalist driven "denomination".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-45160229362489377402009-04-29T00:12:00.000-04:002009-04-29T00:12:00.000-04:00To make one more comment on the statements I made ...To make one more comment on the statements I made about how so many Christians don't act like Christians...it's pretty much commonly accepted in most circles that America, as a whole, is greedy, selfish, and materialistic. I think most Christians would agree with this as a general statement about modern America. Why are evangelicals constantly harping about the degenerancy of the modern era, otherwise?<br /><br />But if a country where 85% of the population claims to be Christian is characterized as greedy, selfish, and materialistic, then it certainly isn't that way because of the 15% who aren't Christians! Clearly a major chunk of that 85% must be greedy and selfish too! <br /><br />Again, this isn't me attempting to point the finger at everyone else, this is me pointing the finger at all of us, myself included.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-41579253624175647712009-04-28T23:55:00.000-04:002009-04-28T23:55:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for reading, Anonymous. It's the c...Thanks so much for reading, Anonymous. It's the comments like these (few and far between though they be!) that make it worth it.<br /><br />I recently had a bad experience with an evangelical Christian that I am acquainted with, and although we sort of worked our disagreement out, it reminded me more than ever that the problem isn't Christ, but rather many Christians.<br /><br />A lot of my very strong, traditionally-leaning Christian friends often wonder why I have a "bone to pick" with Christians. The reason why is because I see so many Christians who are Christians in name only. They aren't actually interested in living the life Jesus taught. It's either too difficult or (and I think this is the most likely answer) too inconvenient to our modern lifestyles of greed, materialism, and selfishness. We're self-centered creatures, and Jesus' message is dangerous because it urges us to be selfless. It's not unlike Buddhism, in that sense.<br /><br />A lot of times, traditionally-leaning Christians will agree with me that many Christians are Christians "in name only." But I generally get the impression that they are envisioning the kinds of people you noted - athletes who are always getting arrested, getting suspended and fined for fighting, etc., but who are always quick to throw a shout-out to God whenever they win a championship; preachers who are secretly doing drugs and visiting prostitutes and putting hits out on enemies; rich businessmen who go to church every week, but then spend Monday through Friday cheating employees and investors out of money. The list, as you said, goes on and on.<br /><br />But I go even a step further than this. I'm talking about those kinds of people too, of course, but I'm also talking about many average, everday, decent, law-abiding people. People who go to church, say their prayers, don't commit crimes, are well-adjusted members of society, etc. Many of these people may be "good" people by society's standards, but they are still definitely "conformed" to the world. They want to get rich. They want that big house and those nice cars. They give only sparingly to charity if at all. They don't dirty their hands working in soup kitchens. They're judgemental and selfish and narrow. They spoil their children and teach them to be materialistic just like they are. They don't want the government taxing their hard-earned dollars to be given to some crack-whore as a welfare handout. On and on and on.<br /><br />I'm not saying these people are bad people. What I'm saying is that they are everyday, average, normal people. But the life of Christ, in my opinion, calls us beyond the everyday, the average, and the normal! <br /><br />I'm also not trying to be hypocritical, because I freely admit that I am "normal, average, and everyday" in many of the same ways. As I said, Jesus' message is difficult because it's inconvenient to our modern lifestyles. But just because the vast majority of us, myself many times included, frequently fail to meet Jesus' standards doesn't mean that the standards aren't there. If we really have faith in Jesus' standards, then we must face the fact that most of us fall well short of them every day.<br /><br />Again, many evangelicals would no doubt agree with that. But they would say that this is why God's mercy is so wonderful - he accepts us even though we are sinners.<br /><br />But I believe this is a self-defeating attitude, because it works in a way to keep us from improving ourselves, to keep us from legitimately striding toward the teachings that we claim to have "faith" in. "I'm not able to meet Jesus' standards, so I'll just keep being well beneath them and count on mercy for my get out of death free card." Focusing too much on belief in God's mercy and a joyous afterlife inhibits us, I believe, from real personal, spiritual growth - the abundant life Jesus promised would result from his message. <br /><br />I don't know if there's a heaven. I hope there is. I don't know if God is real. I hope God is and live my life as if God is real. I don't know what the real historical Jesus was like or whether he really was something other than a human being. But I find the life of Jesus, and the things he taught, to be powerfully relevant ways to live and grow personally and spiritually, and whether I routinely fail or not, I have great faith that Jesus' path is the best way for me to live. If that gets me to heaven, excellent. If it gets me to hell, well I suppose I'll count on God's mercy for trying my best. If there's no afterlife at all, then I've lived a pretty full, abundant life in the here and now, which is what Jesus encouraged us to do anyway. <br /><br />And I do say "God" as a cuss word now and then :) (although this comment thread is on the wrong article...this is the prominent women of the Bible article...)Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535260741343975445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29179803.post-43148150928549445532009-04-27T22:17:00.000-04:002009-04-27T22:17:00.000-04:00Ha! Every now and then, I try to Google "taking G...Ha! Every now and then, I try to Google "taking God's name in vain". Your view is definitely uncommon. Similarly to you, this is how I've come to interpret it. I think it means that you should not falsely profess to be a person of God for personal motives or benefit. An example would be when a politician says that they are a Christian, but they are not truly so in their heart. They go through the motions and keep up appearances in order to gain the support of religious-minded voters. Religious leaders also pull this crap. Like the alleged hypocrisy of Ted Haggard. The list is surely long.<br /><br />I was raised Southern Baptist as well. The interpretation of this commandment has ALWAYS bothered me. I could never accept that this was supposed to mean "don't use the word 'God' in a cuss word or as an interjection." Too many people tend to mindlessly accept biblical teachings, without looking for something deeper or more meaningful.<br /><br />I also like what you said about Christianity being a "get out of death free card." Too many times I have seen a younger, newly converted Christian on TV shows (especially shows like SteelRoots) say that, "I used to sin, but now I am saved. I'm not going to Hell anymore. Don't you want to go to Heaven, too?" <br /><br />Which leads to what initiated today's Google search. I was posting on a forum in a thread about religion/"God". I remembered Kirk Cameron and his buddy and their Way of the Master "witnessing system". I visited their site and started watching one of their presentations, What Happens When You Die. I was soon reminded of how some people use their interpretations of the scriptures to guilt-trip others. To me, this is just might be another way of using the Lord's name in vain. I'm sure their egos are inflated with each new lamb they feel they've added to the fold. I haven't looked at all of their material, but I wonder if all they spout is doom and gloom in order to convert. I'm pretty sure Jesus said some positive things.<br />-----------<br />I just read your "What Christianity Means To Me" entries before I posted this. It feels good to finally encounter such a kindred spirit. I subscribed to your feed, and I look forward to seeing more of my thoughts and ideas written in your words. The more I read, the crazier things seem. Damn, I just noticed we're the same age as well. Let me stop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com