Post by Platoon of Peace on Aug 26, 2022 2:20:53 GMT
I am a Christian. Woop de dang do. I'm a member of the 2.38 billion in the world and the (one google search later) 50% of the USA. I'm not exactly sure on that number, but don't feel like I want to do a deep dive. But this isn't what this is about. It is about what Christianity is. And what is forgotten about it.
LOVE
People both within and outside of the faith often forget the core tenant of Christianity: Love. There are other stuff, but this is the first topic I want to get to. I don't blame the non-religious for not noticing this fact. Why would I? All it looks like from the outside is a buncha people who hate those of color and members of the LGBTQ community all grouping together for a tax break. I blame those inside. Nowadays, there is no such this as "Pure Christianity" to most of the church. It's all about the right wing version of Christianity. "Jesus himself blessed Texas" and all that. While I'm joking a little there, I honest to God believe that there are people that legit believe that. But the right isn't just Christianity. Sure, some beliefs line up a bit, such as abortion and respect for life (oh god just wait til I get there. im gonna be brutal). But there is aspects of it on the left side of the system, such as caring for the poor, loving all, equality. Many Christians don't realize that. I myself during some of my years of education was taught that "Christ is on the Right". It took a legit year (and I'm still working on it) to get the majority of those ideas out of my head. But God isn't political. He doesn't hate anyone. It's a religion of love, and many have forgotten that inside the faith.
ABORTION
If you thought I wasn't gonna talk about this, you're either an idiot or blissfully ignorant (I love using words from my favorite religion of love). But I'm not going to exactly talk about abortion itself. While I believe that there's a point where abortion should not be legal after, I don't wanna talk about that. I wanna talk about another just as important thing. The modern hyper-aggressive pro-life movement forgets about a simple fact. Life doesn't just start in the womb. It takes place out of it. You can't say "Oh, I'm so holy, life in the womb, holy person I'm so holy" and then when the person is born, immediately say "YOU SINNER! WHY CAN'T YOU PROVIDE FOR YOUR KIDS YOU TEENAGER?!?!?" No! You can't do that! You can't claim to respect life and then when the opportunity comes to help the poor, or provide welfare or frickin HELP these people, you can't go say "oh, but muh taxes." You can't claim to respect life when a person with disabilities tries to learn at a Christian school and is turned back because "we can't support her special needs" (It gets personal here, if you can't tell). Or be bullied by people who you claim to raise Christian. Or claim that she's less because of any of her special needs and who she is and was born as. Respecting life is more then anti-abortion. That's what a lot of this movement is. Anti-Abortionism.
Equality and other stuff of the sense
I think that I need to mention this, as the church as a.. not great stance on this. I tie this in with "Respect for life". Minorites are people too. LGBTQ people are people too. Saying that they are lesser in any way is against this mission for life, and love. I have a few friends of differing beliefs. Whether they be atheists or of different political beliefs. I still love them and can be friends with them. But political Christians say that we can't have this, that it's wrong. It isn't. We are called to love one another, even those who we disagree with. The two greatest commandments, as Jesus said, are to love God and Your NEIGHBOR with all your heart, soul, blah blah blah. He doesn't say "Oh love thsoe who agree with you" "Love when it's easy". He demands that we love even when it's near impossible. I have a close friend who is lesbian. I still think that she's one of the most kickass people that I know and one of the nicest. And again, I'm told by the Right-Wing Christians that I can't, that she's a sinner, etc. I don't agree. God loves all. Not just the white straight Christian man. Love and respect is a central thing, right? Like, I can disagree with you on your beliefs, but I still can love you. There doesn't need to be hatred at all. I want to be in a good relationship with you; as long as you respect me, I respect you.
THE POOR
I can't remember what verse it's in, but there's something in one of James' letters that sums up our calling pretty dang well. Faith and Good Works will get you into heaven. Both are very important and it's hard to reject one of them and claim to be a holy person or Christian. Caring for the poor was one of Jesus' main things. He comes to the world in the poor and rejected. He doesn't just want us to help them, he near demands us. It is our calling to help the poor. And again, I hear people say "but taxes?!?!111". If you support Christianity and say "forget the poor people" you don't support Christianity. We are called to help the poor. Full stop. I'm not going into this any further because there's no more to say. Help the Poor.
If you read this to the end, thanks and congrats. I understand that I'm long winded sometimes, so thanks. If you agree or disagree, I'd love to hear why. Please respond below, and I would love to have a civil conversation. Thank you, and goodnight!
LOVE
People both within and outside of the faith often forget the core tenant of Christianity: Love. There are other stuff, but this is the first topic I want to get to. I don't blame the non-religious for not noticing this fact. Why would I? All it looks like from the outside is a buncha people who hate those of color and members of the LGBTQ community all grouping together for a tax break. I blame those inside. Nowadays, there is no such this as "Pure Christianity" to most of the church. It's all about the right wing version of Christianity. "Jesus himself blessed Texas" and all that. While I'm joking a little there, I honest to God believe that there are people that legit believe that. But the right isn't just Christianity. Sure, some beliefs line up a bit, such as abortion and respect for life (oh god just wait til I get there. im gonna be brutal). But there is aspects of it on the left side of the system, such as caring for the poor, loving all, equality. Many Christians don't realize that. I myself during some of my years of education was taught that "Christ is on the Right". It took a legit year (and I'm still working on it) to get the majority of those ideas out of my head. But God isn't political. He doesn't hate anyone. It's a religion of love, and many have forgotten that inside the faith.
ABORTION
If you thought I wasn't gonna talk about this, you're either an idiot or blissfully ignorant (I love using words from my favorite religion of love). But I'm not going to exactly talk about abortion itself. While I believe that there's a point where abortion should not be legal after, I don't wanna talk about that. I wanna talk about another just as important thing. The modern hyper-aggressive pro-life movement forgets about a simple fact. Life doesn't just start in the womb. It takes place out of it. You can't say "Oh, I'm so holy, life in the womb, holy person I'm so holy" and then when the person is born, immediately say "YOU SINNER! WHY CAN'T YOU PROVIDE FOR YOUR KIDS YOU TEENAGER?!?!?" No! You can't do that! You can't claim to respect life and then when the opportunity comes to help the poor, or provide welfare or frickin HELP these people, you can't go say "oh, but muh taxes." You can't claim to respect life when a person with disabilities tries to learn at a Christian school and is turned back because "we can't support her special needs" (It gets personal here, if you can't tell). Or be bullied by people who you claim to raise Christian. Or claim that she's less because of any of her special needs and who she is and was born as. Respecting life is more then anti-abortion. That's what a lot of this movement is. Anti-Abortionism.
Equality and other stuff of the sense
I think that I need to mention this, as the church as a.. not great stance on this. I tie this in with "Respect for life". Minorites are people too. LGBTQ people are people too. Saying that they are lesser in any way is against this mission for life, and love. I have a few friends of differing beliefs. Whether they be atheists or of different political beliefs. I still love them and can be friends with them. But political Christians say that we can't have this, that it's wrong. It isn't. We are called to love one another, even those who we disagree with. The two greatest commandments, as Jesus said, are to love God and Your NEIGHBOR with all your heart, soul, blah blah blah. He doesn't say "Oh love thsoe who agree with you" "Love when it's easy". He demands that we love even when it's near impossible. I have a close friend who is lesbian. I still think that she's one of the most kickass people that I know and one of the nicest. And again, I'm told by the Right-Wing Christians that I can't, that she's a sinner, etc. I don't agree. God loves all. Not just the white straight Christian man. Love and respect is a central thing, right? Like, I can disagree with you on your beliefs, but I still can love you. There doesn't need to be hatred at all. I want to be in a good relationship with you; as long as you respect me, I respect you.
THE POOR
I can't remember what verse it's in, but there's something in one of James' letters that sums up our calling pretty dang well. Faith and Good Works will get you into heaven. Both are very important and it's hard to reject one of them and claim to be a holy person or Christian. Caring for the poor was one of Jesus' main things. He comes to the world in the poor and rejected. He doesn't just want us to help them, he near demands us. It is our calling to help the poor. And again, I hear people say "but taxes?!?!111". If you support Christianity and say "forget the poor people" you don't support Christianity. We are called to help the poor. Full stop. I'm not going into this any further because there's no more to say. Help the Poor.
If you read this to the end, thanks and congrats. I understand that I'm long winded sometimes, so thanks. If you agree or disagree, I'd love to hear why. Please respond below, and I would love to have a civil conversation. Thank you, and goodnight!
