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That's correct. And it's silly and 'in the flesh' to feel superior about any of that stuff.
Any feeling of superiority must be burned away. God desires a broken and contrite spirit, (Psalm 51) not an inflated opinion of oneself because of grace. And of course there is the story of the prodigal son. The Lord would rejoice far more to have you come to Him Jane then someone who has been a devoted Christian for 25 years. The Lord would see you as 'superior' at that moment.
Yet in your eyes, all of that must be self-deception at best, and a downright lie at worst, because "only Christ saves", and I do not believe in the need for a cosmic blood sacrifice to appease the wrath of some personal deity.
So to shift gears again I want to address something I hear quite frequently: "I want you to become a Christian because I care about your immortal soul".
Barring the fact that I'm even sure what having a soul even entails, I find this phrase to be a little contrived or patronizing. The average guy on the street telling me that he cares about my soul doesn't do much after he follows it up with 'well your whole life is wrong and you're wrong therefore bad and do this or be condemned'. On one hand I can see that the fear of hell is alive in many of these types of preacher's eyes but on the other hand there has to be a better way to approach this; preferably one that doesn't require talking down to me.
Does anyone get the feeling that when most people share their religion with you its because they feel superior (even if they don't mean to) and converting you is just a notch on your belt? That's the impression I always got with people I knew, but I come from a young crowd that doesn't really know their way entirely.
Still adults do it all the time; "Live this lifestyle because its the best and you're evil!"
Thoughts?
Here's the thing: I am a spiritual person. I have "faith", in the sense of a deep and abiding trust in... well, I think the term "Love" encompasses the concept best, although I'm talking about something more than just the pull of attraction connecting people. My life is fulfilled as well as fulfilling, and I face whatever hardships I have to bear with a sense of serenity. I care deeply for others, for the planet, for Life, and my life's goals revolve more around spreading happiness than around accumulating money or status.
Yet in your eyes, all of that must be self-deception at best, and a downright lie at worst, because "only Christ saves", and I do not believe in the need for a cosmic blood sacrifice to appease the wrath of some personal deity.
Blasphemy! There is only one sport that carries the name of football truly....and that's the one where they wear helmets.....
No. The Lions sadly....
I think Christians have (for the most part) missed the heart of what Jesus actually taught.
It wasn't membership in a magic club that delivers heaven when you die.
It's an invitation to living in a state of love right here right now on the earth - which is also relevant to your state of love after the body dies.
But the core of the message is about seeing everything and everyone in life as a manifestation of Divine Love, and to treat people that way. Jesus called that state of loving-ness spiritual life, salvation, the Kingdom of God and heaven.
Most Christians have failed to understand that, and instead interpreted Christ as some kind of talismanic magic spell that gets Christians into heaven and those without the proper conceptual beliefs into hell after death.
I've never cared for sports at all. Least of all the "watching other people doing sports"-kind. To me, it's just a lot of people running after a ball, or driving cars in a circle, or... you get the picture.
Same.
Of course I was looked at as less masculine because of this fact growing up.
Why can't it be both? I believe that Christ saves, but His teachings on love are also to be followed here on Earth. You're creating a false dichotomy.
I've never cared for sports at all. Least of all the "watching other people doing sports"-kind. To me, it's just a lot of people running after a ball, or driving cars in a circle, or... you get the picture.
I haven't got a competitive bone in my body, and I've never quite understood that drive. To me, it makes much more sense to cooperate than to pit oneself against others to see who's "best".
I just liked playing sports. It's like playing a game. I was never really overly competitive. Most sports are fairly friendly with handshakes and hugs after the game/match.
I haven't got a competitive bone in my body, and I've never quite understood that drive. To me, it makes much more sense to cooperate than to pit oneself against others to see who's "best".
All depends how you use it Jane. I was an athlete through college and have a competitive trait about me, but I know when to draw the line, some don't.
It's like anything else, religion, atheism, philosophical thinking etc.. Some use those things to make themselves a better person and some take them over the line, with no regard for respecting others.
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