July 28, 2014 7:33 AM

If this is what Christianity is about, it only confirms my lack of belief in God

I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.

  • Mahatma Gandhi

I realize that this letter should not be taken as an indictment of Christianity as a whole…but in a way that’s exactly what it is. While reading through this letter, I was struck by the thought that if any of the parishioners bothered to read their Bibles, they never would have taken the step of excommunicating a church member for loving and living differently. Whatever happened to the charity, love, and tolerance that Jesus Christ taught? Or is this church’s theology really based so little on the Gospel and so much on their collective hatred, fear, and ignorance?

As if I need to answer that.

I was raised Lutheran, and while I no longer harbor a belief in God, I remember enough of my Sunday School lessons to understand that this letter has NOTHING to do with the teachings of Jesus Christ. It has everything to do with the congregation’s collective prejudice and obsession with the “ick” factor. Their belief that they have the right to judge others based on their own fear and ignorance has no basis in the Gospel. Jesus did not judge. He did not cast people out when they failed to meet his moral standards. He certainly didn’t hold himself above others in finding them to be less holy and therefore unworthy of the Kingdom of God.

As I’ve said repeatedly, I respect religion…when adherents actually following the teachings of the Imaginary Friend they profess to revere. When done right, religion’s a powerful force for good…whatever flavor of Pretend Sky Deity you worship. At its most basic it’s about peace, love, and understanding…something the good, God-fearing Christians at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church clear know nothing about. Unfortunately, it’s people like this that give Christianity such a bad name, because their religion is used to buttress their fear, ignorance, and prejudice. Their faith isn’t about joy as much as it is about enforcing conformity and maintaining social control.

Jesus wasn’t a hateful, ignorant troll who hated those whose sexuality and lifestyle grossed Him out. Unfortunately, large numbers of his followers are, and they feel justified in casting out those who dare to live and love differently. That the bast majority of good and decent Christians remain silent while their brethren spread hatred and prejudice in the name of Jesus can and probably should be taken as an indictment of Christianity as a whole. When you refuse to stand up for God’s children, what does that say about your belief in Him?

I’m guessing nothing good.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on July 28, 2014 7:33 AM.

Stupid can circle the globe and be ready for another lap before smart gets out of bed was the previous entry in this blog.

Something tells me there's going to be Hell to pay is the next entry in this blog.

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