Matt. 18:1-5 "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.'"
For decades, it seems like this verse has been used to tell people to remain stupid. Of course, it was doubtful that was the intent Jesus had when he said these words. Why then does the modern church see thought as its enemy? Do they honestly believe the devil plants ideas into people’s heads? I don’t know. I do know this much, the people who founded Christianity were thinkers and always up for questioning and examining their beliefs and why they have them and what they intend to do with them. Today, the faithful seem to be humming the old Billy Joel tune “Just the Way You Are.” In so doing, the rest of the world is quickly abandoning their church. So my advice is to start thinking outside the steeple. It seems like most churches (especially the Baptists and Catholics) are so stuck on beliefs that are drilled into them that they never take the time to research or invest their own sweat into figuring out why they believe something. Here is the Pepsi challenge for you. Where in the Bible does it mention a rapture? Or priestly celibacy or gay marriage is a threat to straight people? I’ve never seen it, but then again I read the book with my own eyes.
I think Jesus was both telling us that how we treat the helpless is the truest show of our character. As well, he WAS telling us to be like children. If nothing else, children ask questions. They ask lots of questions and the quickest way to lose credibility with a kid is to answer their heartfelt question with “just because.” Right now that is what the church is doing. Many of us feel a longing to understand our universe or feel a sense of connection to something greater. Unfortunately, that is the most exploited aspect of human nature and a cursory look around quickly shows you that religion has been the ultimate divider throughout history. It seems today the most extreme versions of any faith have the floor and questioning them is taboo. I’d like to think the way the right wing conservatives are taking over this country differs from the Taliban. I guess it does in one way. Our extremists are better armed.
For decades, it seems like this verse has been used to tell people to remain stupid. Of course, it was doubtful that was the intent Jesus had when he said these words. Why then does the modern church see thought as its enemy? Do they honestly believe the devil plants ideas into people’s heads? I don’t know. I do know this much, the people who founded Christianity were thinkers and always up for questioning and examining their beliefs and why they have them and what they intend to do with them. Today, the faithful seem to be humming the old Billy Joel tune “Just the Way You Are.” In so doing, the rest of the world is quickly abandoning their church. So my advice is to start thinking outside the steeple. It seems like most churches (especially the Baptists and Catholics) are so stuck on beliefs that are drilled into them that they never take the time to research or invest their own sweat into figuring out why they believe something. Here is the Pepsi challenge for you. Where in the Bible does it mention a rapture? Or priestly celibacy or gay marriage is a threat to straight people? I’ve never seen it, but then again I read the book with my own eyes.
I think Jesus was both telling us that how we treat the helpless is the truest show of our character. As well, he WAS telling us to be like children. If nothing else, children ask questions. They ask lots of questions and the quickest way to lose credibility with a kid is to answer their heartfelt question with “just because.” Right now that is what the church is doing. Many of us feel a longing to understand our universe or feel a sense of connection to something greater. Unfortunately, that is the most exploited aspect of human nature and a cursory look around quickly shows you that religion has been the ultimate divider throughout history. It seems today the most extreme versions of any faith have the floor and questioning them is taboo. I’d like to think the way the right wing conservatives are taking over this country differs from the Taliban. I guess it does in one way. Our extremists are better armed.
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