Christianity, the Religion of Lists


I grew up in a fundamentalist Protestant denomination that discussed at length the relative importance of various "sins." While I was too young to discuss this with adults I knew about the discussions from friends and my parents. The latter did quiet eye rolls about this preoccupation. I never heard it said in our farm home, "That is a sin."

I've discussed here many times the history of certain sins rising on what I call the "Sin Leader Board." High on the Leader Board just now is trans. Trans will slide down and eventually off the Leader Board when power and money need a new leading sin. 

It turns out there is another list that is fun to read about. It is the many "signs of the second coming." Years ago on this blog several commenters discussed their alarm (or joy, never sure which) that gay marriage was such an evil sin it was a sign that Jesus would soon return. I suppose trans is on the list for the end of times now that the faith has lost interest in gay marriage. It had never occurred to me international peace and war are also high on the list and that the war in Ukraine is a sure sign of the Second Coming. Who knew? This fellow who posts regularly on ChristianPost.com considers himself an expert on such matters and gave notice today the war is the sign we have been waiting for. He somehow knows Satan is heavily involved in that war and that will determine other events including Jesus returning. 

I wish I had time to prepare for Jesus' return. I didn't get around to preparing back when gay marriage was the cause and now, with the war in Ukraine, I'm kind of busy. I realize I'm living on the edge by not fearing this. It's just that experience has taught me there will be other opportunities in the future to worry about the Second Coming. Jesus said the end would come in his lifetime. It worked for him and continues to be used against those whom the Christian right dislikes.

I'm looking forward to the next reason a mad Jesus will be returning.  

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