Greg Spring over at the Holier Than Thou: When the Christian Right Goes Wrong blog has posted a telling quotation from Jerry Falwell. He said about those who want "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas": "We’re kicking their butts and they’re unhappy."
Boy, that sounds like a Christ-like Christmas greeting doesn't it? Maybe instead of fighting to "save" Christmas he should start trying to celebrate Christmas by living and speaking with the love of Jesus (but of course, that would not raise very much money—and you can only serve one master).
Boy, that sounds like a Christ-like Christmas greeting doesn't it? Maybe instead of fighting to "save" Christmas he should start trying to celebrate Christmas by living and speaking with the love of Jesus (but of course, that would not raise very much money—and you can only serve one master).
You're right - he could've definitely chosen a better choice of words for making his point. Why, though, did you contradict yourself by saying that he wasn't speaking with the love of Christ and then turn around to make a random judgemental comment about someone raising money? Nobody wants to listen to the comments of someone who is contradicting themselves from one sentence to the next. Why should I want to convert to a religion where it's own believers make a statement and in the same paragraph go against what they just said? It's very confusing.
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post and question. Let me offer a two-part answer. First, I try to bring a little humor into the discussions on this blog. You may notice that statements in parenthesis generally are written with tongue firmly in cheek.
Second, read Matthew 23 and you will find that I am pretty nice compared to how Jesus addressed misguided religious leaders. Part of how He showed His love for the people was by challenging those religious leaders who may lead them astray.
Hope that clears things up some.
Sorry this is coming late. It does clear things up - thanks. I suppose its just that Non-Christians are confused by this type of "tongue and cheek" humor. It just seems like a great deal of contradiction because from what I know - Christians are supposed to be loving, right? Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought Jesus came to teach others how to live on earth. As far as I know, he wasn't giving permission to judge or ridicule. I've done some research and this is what I've found (please note that I've cut and pasted from Romans 14:
ReplyDelete1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.
13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food[b] is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteThanks for continuing to wrestle with this. The passage you list is a good one! Remember, though, that Paul here is publicly writing and rebuking those who are setting up a stumbling block for others. He would do so in other cases as well.
We are not supposed to judge people—which is very hard to do since judging is a human reaction—but we are supposed to judge their actions so we can point out when people may be leading others astray. This advice should be offered, however, only in attempts to change the actions so that stumbling blocks may be removed. It is in that spirit that I attempt to write—however, I know that I am human and do often make mistakes.
Thanks, and feel free to share more concerns.