There are two subjects usually best to be avoided at a party … politics and religion. Well, this isn't a party so I am stepping out on a limb and throwing out some ideas on both.
I am writing this entry because I am very tired of hearing about lawsuits against Christianity--and the anti-Christian groups are winning! They claim Christianity is offensive. Well, sure, some of the things Christians DO is not right. And, some of the interpretations of what we SHOULD DO are not right. But, in the logical summary below, I will show that the essence of Christianity is love and I certainly don't see how that can be offensive to society.
In its broadest sense, religion is something--anything-- one believes in and follows devotedly (dictionary.com). I haven't met too many people who are able to 100% be devotedly religious--me included. Most people in America who claim to be Christian behave kind of like those pirates in the popular movie "Aye, they're more like guidelines, anyway. Arrr!"
I firmly believe our country is in decay because religion is getting a bad rap which means love is getting a bad rap and not enough people are able to stand up to the social pressure; sweeping their religion under the rug when company is coming.
How sad. So much about Christianity is wrapped around LOVE and so many people don't have the strength to stand up and say they believe in LOVE.
This is my LOGICAL assessment of LOVE as taken from the Christian Bible:
First:
In its broadest sense, religion is something--anything-- one believes in and follows devotedly (dictionary.com). I haven't met too many people who are able to 100% be devotedly religious--me included. Most people in America who claim to be Christian behave kind of like those pirates in the popular movie "Aye, they're more like guidelines, anyway. Arrr!"
I firmly believe our country is in decay because religion is getting a bad rap which means love is getting a bad rap and not enough people are able to stand up to the social pressure; sweeping their religion under the rug when company is coming.
How sad. So much about Christianity is wrapped around LOVE and so many people don't have the strength to stand up and say they believe in LOVE.
This is my LOGICAL assessment of LOVE as taken from the Christian Bible:
First:
In 1 John 4:8, we learn God is Love.
(Hang on to that, it is a common thread.)
Second:
Second:
From Matthew 22 (New International Version):
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
(everything past and everything future is about love)
Summarized even further: Love God; Love People
Third:
Summarized even further: Love God; Love People
Third:
Said another way: Love LOVE; apply LOVE to all others
(if God is love and we are to love God, then we need to love Love)
Fourth:
Fourth:
We need to know what love is so we look at 1 Corinthians 13:
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
(if you skimmed over those, please go back and read them again and challenge who you are against each of those items.)
Part 1 of the Command:
Even more sad is the fact that many use religion to do horrific things. That should be of no surprise. In the passages about the temptation of Jesus, what tool did Satan use to tempt Jesus? Scriptures. The concept is not new. However, the concept of LOVE, is fading away all too quickly.
Pass it on ...
Part 1 of the Command:
To love God, is to love those things mentioned in 1 Corinthians: Love patience. Love kindness. Love not being rude. Love a state of being that isn't self-seeking. Love not getting angry quickly. Love not keeping a grudge. Love rejoicing in the truth.
(not easy to do, but that is what being a Christian is truly about.)
There are groups who find Christianity offensive. I can understand why when it conflicts with their established religion. What I don't understand is why non-religious groups start suing others in this country for being religious. What is it they find offensive about LOVE? I don't get it. Our founding fathers were quite religious. Matter of fact, the concept of separation of church and state was originally intended to protect the church, not protect the citizens from religion. Where and when did that get turned around? Remember the Pilgrims? They left the mother country because they were pressured by government to follow certain religious practices. Freedom of religion played a big, BIG role in the development of this country.
Part two of the command:
Part two of the command:
Love other people.
This goes much deeper than "I'm OK, you're OK." It goes much deeper than merely being politically correct. It commands a way of life that honors and loves all people, even the ones you might not even like.
Sadly, many view being Christian is only a result of brainwashing, stupidity or someone being weak. I disagree. It takes a lot of strength to love others in that way.
Even more sad is the fact that many use religion to do horrific things. That should be of no surprise. In the passages about the temptation of Jesus, what tool did Satan use to tempt Jesus? Scriptures. The concept is not new. However, the concept of LOVE, is fading away all too quickly.
Men: are you strong enough to follow all those ideals about love and still succeed? Women: would you like to find a guy with those traits? Kids: would you like to have parents who live love? Could you imagine a society that upheld these ideals?
I think we are naturally wired to crave all those qualities we read about up above. We are being led astray by those who have something to lose if the average citizen wasn't self-absorbed, self-centered, and didn't have the "what's in it for me" view of life. Imagine a car salesman saying "Your loan is approved but I really believe this smaller car would fit your situation better." No! Not in America! We have to keep throwing money away to keep the country going! "After all, you're worth it!" Well, so is the other person next to you.
How many gang shootings would there still be if love were more prevalent? How much crime would still go on if we cared about our fellow man/woman/child/child to be? How many billion dollar money schemes would rob people of their life's savings if people weren't so greedy? How many people would need turn to drugs to feel good? How many children would grow up in a single parent environment? How many spouses would go outside of their marriage for warmth and companionship?
When it comes to reversing the decay in society, maybe the ad council doesn't need to scare kids with images of fried egg brains nor tell them to just say "No" as a means of getting through life. Maybe, just maybe, "we the people" examine our lives and figure out how to love more and say "YES" to kids asking for our time. Say "YES" to a spouse asking for companionship. Say "YES" to raising kids together as a family.
If the concept of loving one another makes so much sense, then why is our country in decay?
Just take one day and analyze every bit of media you get bombarded with on a regular basis. Seriously. Stop the MP3 player and get the lyrics online to really see what the message is. Stop the computer game and take a real look at what's happening on the screen. Stop the music video and really see what is the "hero" of the visuals.
The most popular materials out there will not be the ones showing the ideals we just saw in 1 Corinthians.
Can you be someone who stands up for LOVE? Do you have the guts and the strength to say to your buddy "No, I won't go to the strip club with you." To an acquaintance "Hey, I see that you are hurting, what can I do?" To your child "Sure, let's spend the afternoon together!" It's not easy to do with the way life is today. Can we change it? I don't know. All I know is that this is my attempt at saying out loud "Things have got to change in this country!"
When it comes to reversing the decay in society, maybe the ad council doesn't need to scare kids with images of fried egg brains nor tell them to just say "No" as a means of getting through life. Maybe, just maybe, "we the people" examine our lives and figure out how to love more and say "YES" to kids asking for our time. Say "YES" to a spouse asking for companionship. Say "YES" to raising kids together as a family.
If the concept of loving one another makes so much sense, then why is our country in decay?
Just take one day and analyze every bit of media you get bombarded with on a regular basis. Seriously. Stop the MP3 player and get the lyrics online to really see what the message is. Stop the computer game and take a real look at what's happening on the screen. Stop the music video and really see what is the "hero" of the visuals.
The most popular materials out there will not be the ones showing the ideals we just saw in 1 Corinthians.
Can you be someone who stands up for LOVE? Do you have the guts and the strength to say to your buddy "No, I won't go to the strip club with you." To an acquaintance "Hey, I see that you are hurting, what can I do?" To your child "Sure, let's spend the afternoon together!" It's not easy to do with the way life is today. Can we change it? I don't know. All I know is that this is my attempt at saying out loud "Things have got to change in this country!"
Pass it on ...
(Disclaimer text: I am not a theologian, former pastor, nor fluent in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic or any other language the original text was written in. I am just a regular guy with a regular Bible trying to understand a very complex subject. So, if there are holes in the thought process or if you find that I have divided by zero or other such crime of logic, please be understanding.)
©2009 Kurt Holdorf, text and bumper sticker, which is available upon request.
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