Christianity, Religion, and my 0.02

Part of me wants to question why we, as a people, continue to blast each other for their beliefs. Christians tell non-believers they're going to hell (and not in nice ways either). Atheists/Agnostics/Skeptics blast Christians (and other religions but mostly Christianity) for their beliefs. What is to be gained from that?

This is all my OPINION, so dont go quoting my stuff as GOSPEL, ok?

I really truly believe that we, as Christians, turn people off from our religion by our inability to love. Our inability to love one another, those who are the same as us, those who are different. Instead of sowing love (as St. Francis of Assisi suggests in a prayer he wrote), we sow hatred. We sow discord. Then when we reap discord and hatred, we wonder why.

Most people do not have a problem with Jesus Christ, they have a problem with US, those of us who are FOLLOWERS of Christ. Even I, as a Christian, I cringe at times to see fellow Christians putting others down. There are days I don't want to even be called a Christian, because it's that bad.

I understand that many do not understand how blacks, especially, follow a faith that was formerly used to enslave us back during slavery. yes, it's true that many slave owners used scripture to control and subdue their slaves. So basically, I shouldn't follow CHRIST just because men misused and abused and twisted the Word of God? Basically I shouldn't follow Christ because some men killed in the name of religion during the Crusades? Sorry but I don't base my decisions on how men have manipulated religion for THEIR gain. They will be judged by God, surely, but that does not influence my decision to follow Christ.

Yes I am aware that MAN chose those 66 books of the bible to be included and that some were left out, due to incongruency, some say, others say due to socio-political reasons. As long as humans are involved, there is no such thing as perfect ANYTHING!

I'm still learning, still reading, still experiencing life for myself, but I know God to be real. Yes, there are some things that have happened in my life that cannot be explained, while others some may chalk to coincidence. Still, call it what you may, but I will not abandon my faith. My faith is on solid ground.

I am determined to loving all those I come in contact with. I don't care if you're gay, straight, black, white, Jewish, Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist, Skeptic, Buddhist-whatever! It is not my intent to preach at people or to live as if Christians are the only ones with morals, because we are not! I know I get sick of people shoving scripture down my throat so I will not do it to others.

The black church as a whole (in general, speaking in general terms) is largely ignorant to quite a few things, we are content on doing what has been done, repeating what we've been told, even if it has NO biblical basis. Quite a few cliches have been passed down that many would be quite surprised to discover that they are not ANYWHERE in the bible and are simply not true. Many songs we sing in the church (especially black churches) have no biblical foundation either. I think it is officially time to come out of a religious mindset and open up our minds enough to LOVE others. Don't avoid people who aren't like you. You never know what they could teach YOU. Let's read some books that arent typically read in the black community. Let's learn about John Calvin, Martin Luther, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius. let's learn about the Reformation & the 95 Theses! OPENING YOUR MIND will not cause you to lose your faith! It should strengthen it! If you do lose your faith, I'm willing to suggest that you never had it to begin with!

I'm at times, ashamed of the faith that I professed at times because we're supposed to be earthly representatives of Christ but most of the time, we're not even close.

Okay this is all I can write for now. I need to go to seminary man. In the meantime, I need to start reading everything I can get my hands on.

I welcome a dialogue about this. Let's talk! I just ask that you be respectful and mindful of DIFFERENT views, thats all!

Reminders from God

I'm currently in a situation (it's not the first) where not everyone understands where I'm coming from. Ok so thats not a situation, thats the norm. But this time, it doesn't just involve me it involves someone else as well. And we've taken hits from every side. We've had PLENTY of support but we've also taken some hits from those who mean the MOST to us.

The other night I got some news and I was a little worried.I came home and wanted to pray but God said "why stay up all night praying/worrying? get some rest and let me handle it." So thats what I did. Well I did go to bed eventually, just not right away lol.

That worry tried to creep back yesterday so I tried to distract myself by doing other things. Finally I came home and realized that in worrying, I was really not fully trusting God to handle it for me. I had to be reminded that if I am obedient and following GOD, HE will handle any and EVERY opposition that tries to cut short/abort your dreams!

See you have to realize-when GOD has an ASSIGNMENT for you, PURPOSE for your life, when He has CALLED you to something, opposition WILL come! Resistance WILL come, it's necessary for growth in our faith, our walk with God. We MUST have courage and trust God to know that if He called us to something, He will NOT let ANYTHING prevail in preventing us from our destiny, our purpose! Things WILL try to stand in the way, sometimes in the form of loved ones, of people who care about us. They mean well, but they are unaware of God's plans for our lives!

Because of this, they sometimes stand in opposition of what God has for us, because they do not know that it's God. PLEASE stand firm, God wants to strengthen you, and TEST you through that opposition! Yes it may hurt but just KNOW, KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that if you obey, if you follow GOD and you're sure this is what HE wants...this is not your battle to fight. It is not your job to convince someone else of God's plans. Pray and then let God handle it...He can handle it MUCH better than any of us can! You never know what God can do! At some point, ALL opposition MUST FLEE! Every knee shall bow, every tongue MUST confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! You trying to convince the opposition of God's plans will prove to be FUTILE...God will go to GREAT LENGTHS to show others WHO HE IS! So even if He has to use YOU to get through to your opposition, trust, He will do it!

God wants to get the glory, it's NOT ABOUT YOU! So let God handle it! Relax, God's got this!