Individualism can be sinful. Yet God gave us a brain and a personality. He doesn't want us to be robots, in my opinion. He wants more our hearts than minds, doesn't he?
I think a lot of our faith journey is pray and obey. Trust. Listen. Not only to God but to those who need listening to.
But at a deeper level, certain issues require deeper discernment. We certainly should avoid the sheep mentality. If I think different to them, I must be wrong? No, we have to have courage to stick to our convictions, even if they seem foolish to others. Even if we cant find the right words to win the intellectual debate.
I think we really have to pray very deeply , when issues trouble us at an emotional level. The homosexual act is wrong. The Bible says that. But we have to be very careful what language we use when discussing the issue. And we really have to examine our own prejudices. That we don't come to hate gay people. The same can be said for Muslims. They are definitely on the margins now. They are the kind of people Jesus would embrace, even if His life was in danger. Just because ISIS is an evil cult, doesn't mean we have to hate the whole Muslim religion. As Christians we are called to reach out to the marginalised. Even our "commonsense" tells us that Muslims are dangerous and cause terrorism. Such "commonsense" may just be our need for retribution and not how God wants us to react.
I value my conscience. Look at Francis of Assisi. He was able to start a Religious Order without studying theology! Yet his foresight, his real faith has helped the Catholic Church be a real difference to people in need. You know, I heard that in Melbourne Australia, there are Franciscans who put in 60 to 70 hour weeks just feeding the homeless. Total sacrifice through love of Jesus Christ. I cant help but be moved by people who don't walk the talk, but just walk. They don't talk at all. they are not interested in intellectual truth. They are living the deeper Christian truth that maybe all of us should be doing.
I think a lot of our faith journey is pray and obey. Trust. Listen. Not only to God but to those who need listening to.
But at a deeper level, certain issues require deeper discernment. We certainly should avoid the sheep mentality. If I think different to them, I must be wrong? No, we have to have courage to stick to our convictions, even if they seem foolish to others. Even if we cant find the right words to win the intellectual debate.
I think we really have to pray very deeply , when issues trouble us at an emotional level. The homosexual act is wrong. The Bible says that. But we have to be very careful what language we use when discussing the issue. And we really have to examine our own prejudices. That we don't come to hate gay people. The same can be said for Muslims. They are definitely on the margins now. They are the kind of people Jesus would embrace, even if His life was in danger. Just because ISIS is an evil cult, doesn't mean we have to hate the whole Muslim religion. As Christians we are called to reach out to the marginalised. Even our "commonsense" tells us that Muslims are dangerous and cause terrorism. Such "commonsense" may just be our need for retribution and not how God wants us to react.
I value my conscience. Look at Francis of Assisi. He was able to start a Religious Order without studying theology! Yet his foresight, his real faith has helped the Catholic Church be a real difference to people in need. You know, I heard that in Melbourne Australia, there are Franciscans who put in 60 to 70 hour weeks just feeding the homeless. Total sacrifice through love of Jesus Christ. I cant help but be moved by people who don't walk the talk, but just walk. They don't talk at all. they are not interested in intellectual truth. They are living the deeper Christian truth that maybe all of us should be doing.
