FA+
Shop
'Moralistic Therapeutic Deism' and the Search for Christ
11 years ago
Today, Adam4d posted this comic.
And several things today reminded me of stereotypes that exist within Christianity and why/what becoming a Christian can be like.
I got approved for CCH (Christian Campus House) today so I'll be moving over the break to a different dorm. I had the interview today. They asked me a bunch of questions, had a few warnings/concerns about construction. We talked about the housing, my participation in church. He reviewed my Facebook and etc.
But then the question came: Did you grow up in a Christian house?
This question always catches me because it becomes a misrepresentation. Sure, I grew up in a Christian house, but I haven't been a Christian until recently. My parents may have taken me to church, but that definitely did not mean I believed in God. I read the Bible, sure, but that doesn't mean the words on the page meant more than wisdom to me. I grew up in a Christian house. I wasn't a Christian. It asks a question that misses the most important part.
I sincerely doubt that Christ would mean more to me if I was a Christian growing up. I would much rather have a fruitful and rough life rather than an easy and hollow and dead one. God means so much more to me because I know that He answers the most important questions in life and delivers.
The most important question for Christians becomes: Am I following Christ because I know it's the good and true thing to do or am I seeking happiness?
I'm afraid if you believe in God just so you can feel better about yourself, you're missing the point of the entire Bible.
And several things today reminded me of stereotypes that exist within Christianity and why/what becoming a Christian can be like.
I got approved for CCH (Christian Campus House) today so I'll be moving over the break to a different dorm. I had the interview today. They asked me a bunch of questions, had a few warnings/concerns about construction. We talked about the housing, my participation in church. He reviewed my Facebook and etc.
But then the question came: Did you grow up in a Christian house?
This question always catches me because it becomes a misrepresentation. Sure, I grew up in a Christian house, but I haven't been a Christian until recently. My parents may have taken me to church, but that definitely did not mean I believed in God. I read the Bible, sure, but that doesn't mean the words on the page meant more than wisdom to me. I grew up in a Christian house. I wasn't a Christian. It asks a question that misses the most important part.
I sincerely doubt that Christ would mean more to me if I was a Christian growing up. I would much rather have a fruitful and rough life rather than an easy and hollow and dead one. God means so much more to me because I know that He answers the most important questions in life and delivers.
The most important question for Christians becomes: Am I following Christ because I know it's the good and true thing to do or am I seeking happiness?
I'm afraid if you believe in God just so you can feel better about yourself, you're missing the point of the entire Bible.
A fear of Hell may something that's self-preservation based. That raises some more questions.
Just because a murderer is pleasant to his pets and loves his family, doesn't make the fact that he doesn't deserve the life sentence for killing someone in cold blood.
God knows everyone's hearts and all motivations behind what we do, and who we are. God is also perfectly loving, perfectly just and perfectly good. Anyone who gets sent to hell is there because they deserve it. But because God is perfectly loving, He is always extending the invitation for people to repent of their sins and trust Jesus so they don't have to face eternal condemnation. People really have no excuse: we break God's law, and break God's heart, feel good about it, and then when he give us the basics of grace by not sending us all to hell immediately we play around and thing He's not serious about the coming judgment. Worse, when he arranges a remarkably simple, but humbling, way to not have to face His wrath, we slap his hand away and tell him he doesn't know what he's talking about.
It's sad.
And for the Christians who aren't "nice people"? God's working in His people every day to make them more and more like Himself. But it's a process and path of life. Jesus never said that his followers would become instant "nice guys" when they trust in him, but little by little will turn into people who are truly loving and reflect the joy, the glory and the holiness of God.
Then there's the fact that many many folks who call themselves "a Christian" really have no idea what the term really means, or who they're accountable too...
Also, lay up your treasures in Heaven. The Bible never once says that the world will be an nice place to live. Instead, you're guests in a world that hates you.
That's heavy stuff. Not easy, no doubt. Whatever real rewards we get we'll get in Heaven.