Waiting for the Final Answer
There are endless books published on how to be a "true Christian." Look at most any drug store, there is a box of unsold Christian books.
A new one was recently reviewed on Christian Post. The author wrote passionately that so many in the faith do not know what is means to be a "True Christian." We see that here in the comments as well. So many do not believe others who comment are true Christians and need to get with the program.
When I saw the title to the link I thought, "Finally, I'm going to learn what a true Christian is and what one is supposed to do to reach that rank." I started reading the article.
The more I read, the more confused I became. After while I was sorry I got hooked into reading such nonsense.
The writer said it was not enough to focus on Jesus the way some modern versions of the faith do. Nor was it enough to believe Jesus wants the best for you as prosperity gospel preachers teach. Instead, you are to live your life as Jesus lived his.
Here things seemed to get off the track. As I recall, the Jesus character in the Bible story took a vow of poverty. Would not that be a requirement to live a life like that of Jesus?
Then, there is the question of how much tolerance a "true Christian" should have. According to the Bible, Jesus had little to none. When he found the money changers in the temple exchanging currencies so worshipers could properly sacrifice animals, he took a bull whip to them and dumped their tables.
What would be the modern version of the money changers? Perhaps it is bingo in the church basement. Or, a version of Starbucks just off the sanctuary. Would not a true Christian would take the bull whip to both of them?
I'll keep looking for what it takes to be a true Christian and report it here if I figure it out.
Ah yes. Jesus as a life coach. Include Oprah, Dr. Phil, Depak Chopra, etc. etc. All available at drug stores, mostly defunked "Christian" book stores, and almost all of what you see on Christian post.
ReplyDeleteLots of meat there to complain about pop Christianity.
"Ah yes. Jesus as a life coach."
ReplyDeleteI'll start the list here of the versions of "true Christianity." The link was the first, yours next.
Ah; Didn't say "true Christianity". Just a sample of what's out there. You do seem to have an affinity for Christian post. Try Huff post for another source. More meat. Then there is TV. All of which you tend to conflate everybody with.
DeleteMore meat and conflation. Did the slain Rabbi Yeshua ben Yoseph, declared and proclaimed Christ the Lord, the resurrected, anointed, master of humanity, practice Christianity? Is Jesus Christ the one and only “True Christian”, His flock all just Christian imitators. Simulacra to whom authenticity is assigned by the intensity of their faith. A gray scale of commitment. Little helper and Matt I consider you both authentic Christians. Who is more “authentic”, the Roman Catholic or the Lutheran? For that matter what is an authentic atheist? In a very real way such discussions often seem absurd but with some value as cognitive exercise for those of us up in years. I subscribe to the principle of the equivalence of absurdities. To each his own absurdity. :-)
DeleteArdy; Got your shorts in an absurd ranting twist? I only added suggestions to Jon's list, and where he can find them. Get thee to a drug store.
Deletelittle helper @ 7:16 AM: Oops! must have hit the wrong reply. I’ll try harder to avoid intersecting your threads. Not a morning person are we. Didn’t expect an AM wedgie from one so learned. I showered and changed to my Duluth Trading skivvies thank you. BTW all gods are equivalent, no big G in that lot. Not a one.
DeleteArdy B--Duluth Trading--Man, we have something else in common. We don't show the crack. :)
DeleteArdy ; "To each his own absurdity" In context, that would include you. No matter how "intense or "equivalence."
DeleteArdy; Re. Big G vs little g; In virtually all writings mentioning a nonspecific "god", a small g is always used. When in the context of the Christian "God", a big G is always used, as is the Capital H as in Him, His, He when talking about Jesus. It is a well known and common practice. If one does not like the big G, stop reading Christian literature.
DeleteThere many names of the Jewish and Christian God, and all of them have the capital letter.
I have read atheist material where the capital G was used. Of course, the context was about the God of Christianity, so everyone knew what god was being referenced. A small g would indicate the generic god. I have seen Jon do the same on occasion, sometimes not out of disrespect. That's OK, I can live with it. Can you?
PS If you have the right size shorts, they won't twist up on you, unless you have nothing to fill them out.
Ardy B "...such discussion often seem absurd but with some value as cognitive exercise for those of us up in years." Good observation. "My version of Christianity is better than your version (also insert atheism)" may also be a necessary ego thing. "My family (clan, town, region, country) is better than yours." I'm reminded of maybe 50 years ago when my wife and I drove an old car to Guatemala. Southern Mexico and Guatemala were much less traveled then, few cars. I knew conversational Spanish so I would ask locals if the road ahead was safe from bandits, etc. Invariably the answer was, "The next town is safe but after that, bad people."
ReplyDeleteAny Christian who wants time behind the microphone to explain why his/her version of the faith is the only true one is required to take a number and wait in line.