The great failing of Christianity for the past millennium (at least) hasn’t been lack of legislating Biblical morality. We’ve had plenty of that. It would be easy to find instances in history where virtually every one of the Ten Commandments has been illegal.
Similarly, the great failing of Christianity has had nothing to do with evangelism, preaching (in its modern understanding), or “conversions.” Thanks in no small part to the revivalist movement and the Roman Catholic church we’ve had plenty of this as well.
Christians have mastered the art of beating, smashing and generally devastating anyone who lives a “sinful” life . . . whatever that is. The definition of “sinful life” changes throughout history you know. Today we see homosexuals and supporters of legalized abortion taking the brunt of the Christian beating all for “biblical” reasons, of course.
We make blanket statements, distance ourselves from them and then judge them to Hell. In the past we’ve seen the same thing happen to most minorities including, but not limited to, rock ‘n roll and mixed-race marriage. But I’m not here to talk about race and sexual orientation.
No, I’m here to point out that the great failing of Christianity for the past millennium has been the seeming inability of its adherents to use their smallest bones. As any middle grade student can tell you, some of the smallest bones in the human body are found in the feet and the inner ear. What an enormous thing it is to walk with someone and listen to them.
9 Comments
I really believe what you’re saying here and it seems to me you could say that not being with and listening enough would be the greatest failing of just about everyone. I’ve often thought as well that a flaw in many of the religious people that I know is that they mistake belief for knowledge. I think of Kurt Vonneguts novel ‘Cats Cradle’ with the made up religion of Bokonon, where Bokonon freely admits that its a collection of ‘harmless untruths’ meant to make the common person feel better. This is an extreme of what I’m talking about, but I’ve often thought it would behoove religion and make it more attractive and less dangerous to everyone if it was more honest in the sense that its a belief system. Of course one feels very strongly about they’re belief system but it is not fact, simply by the definition of the word. I was just curious of what you would think of this.
I completely agree with you. Especially now, after living in a missionary community for a while, it’s so obvious that the people you turn to most because you actually want to hear the wisdom they have to share are the ones who have first shown that they’re willing to listen to you, without judgment or jumping to conclusions.
Oh, and I’m liking the new background.
@Ryan: I learned a long time ago not to enter into debates online. However, suffice it to say that I “believe” Christianity is true just like I “believe” the Sun will rise in the morning.
@Anna: Thanks bud. It really is true.
Walking, listening, and loving. I think the art of loving is something that has been lost among many Christians today.
Great site! I agree with your main point. I think our failure to listen and go is a major failure but perhaps just a symptom of a bigger problem. We are apathetic and have lost all passion to truly follow Christ. Paul makes it clear that faith without works is dead and works without love is empty. What has caused the Church to become apathetic? Is it a lack of faith? We don’t really believe so how can we live it? A theological problem maybe? I’m not sure – what do you think? By the way – your main point is great but you might want to clarify the rest. It sounds like you are saying that God’s definition of sin is subjective to our culture. I’m not sure that is what you were trying to say. Murder was sin a 1,000 years ago and it will be a 1,000 years from now. But Christ died with and for murders and maybe we need more of that kind of love.
Thanks for the kind words, Mike :). You’re right, I do need to clarify on what I mean. What I mean is not that God’s view of sin changes. That’s constant. What I mean is that we as a fallen people have had a habit, historically, of focusing (and consequently condemning) certain sins while overlooking others for convenience and expediency. If we were to look at all sin the way God does, which should be our ultimate goal, then I think that would result in much more sympathetic, empathetic and understanding people.
great post…we are so quick, now that we are saved, to overlook our own faults and attack the faults of others…hey i use one of your templates…love it! thanks!
i still dont know what the tree smallest bones in a human body that is located in the middle part of you ear is.
what is the smallest bones in a bodey