First, a little background information. And note that I am presenting a combination of what I remember feeling THEN with how I have come to understand my past to be NOW, which includes a broader and more open perspective regarding many aspects of life. I may come across [to some people] as jaded or harsh or even critical at times. Fine. You do you and I do me, lol. But for now... some history.
I was raised in a very conservative protestant Christian environment. It was all I knew. The religious teachings [at times] presented a 'scare people out of Hell' perspective [to avoid an eternity of fire and brimstone]. Other times, it was a 'critical of different teachings' view where you were prepared to debate a person regarding what they believed so that you could convince them that your way [your understanding of God, salvation, etc.] was the better and Only Right or Correct way. Overall, you were taught to live a life which could set an example [in its goodness and purity] for the world to want to emulate. I experienced this perspective while growing up, as well as while married [and even after we switched protestant denominations]: the same type of teachings was taught in both churches, and I have observed it in other denominations [and yes, even in multiple churches of the same denomination].
-- Live a pure and blameless life.
You mean set yourself on a pedestal for the world to see?
/// What about the risk that Pride could set itself up in your life because you KNOW that you are blameless and - dare I say it - therefore Better than the 'heathens' in the world? I've seen it in the attitude and conversations and ACTIONS of some Christians, even though they appear to be blind to it.
/// I am not saying to not strive to live blamelessly, but rather to make sure to not point it out to people. Also be willing to share issues which you are going thru WHILE you are going thru them so that others can offer to 'bear your burden' with you - even if it is just by offering emotional support DURING the time [it helps you to look 'real' and honest to the world since no one has a perfect life: sh*t happens to everyone]. Oh, and if you are praying FOR someone, it helps [from their perspective] to know that you are doing so [while the issue is going on] versus learning about it afterwards and risking them questioning the truthfulness of the comment.
/// As for our conduct, we ARE commanded to live a blameless life, but never are we told to point it out to others. Instead, we are to 'give an answer' to anyone who ASKS [see 1 Peter 3:15 for reference]. And even Christ would point out the Pharisees who would gloat about their righteousness and how we are NOT supposed to emulate their actions.
-- Debate time.
So... I am supposed to be able to go up to someone and basically tell them [although in a 'nice' way] that the teachings which they believe in so strongly are basically all false and are going to send them to Hell. But Jesus loves them so much - and I love them so much too - that if they believe the way that I do that their salvation and eternal life in Heaven is assured. And if they don't believe the way I do, too bad: they are basically damning themselves. Oh, and the same goes for anyone they know that believes the same way as they currently do.
/// Are you fricken serious?!? If someone were to do that to you, would you like it? If someone were to criticize your clothing or hair or any aspect of your life [and say that it is wrong for you and ruining your life] and tell you that they KNOW what would be better for you, would you change... whether or not you even knew the person and could trust them to be honest and truthful and even knowledgeable about the topic? So why would you expect someone to be open to being treated in an unloving [and disrespectful] manner and to then convert to join in with a group of critical judgmental people so that they could go act that same way to some more people? It does not make any logical sense!!!
/// And the really sad thing about all of this is that I have even witnessed [multiple times] where one Christian denomination is saying it about other Christian denominations. "Oh, they THINK that they are Christians, but they really aren't because _____ [either 'they ___' or 'they don't ___']." People [Christians], we are in a SPIRITUAL WAR! Having one branch of soldiers fighting against another branch of soldiers is ONLY HELPING THE ENEMY!!! There is more than one way to fight spiritually, just as there is more than one way to fight real life wars [air, land, sea, background support].
-- Fire and Brimstone.
Scaring people into saying a prayer where they 'ask Jesus into their heart' to avoid an eternity in Hell.
/// Hmmm... this part is going to get interesting.
1) Scripture does not tell a person to "ask Jesus into [their] heart". It says simply to BELIEVE. It does not say to even Pray; it says to BELIEVE. Even with the thief on the cross, when he asked Christ to remember him when he [Christ] went into his kingdom, he [the thief] was not asking Jesus to come into his heart. Instead, the comment of the thief was indicative of the BELIEF which was already there within him. [see Luke 23: 42-43 for reference].
2) Jesus does not live in our hearts. He lives at the 'right hand of God' [multiple references] and is there interceding for us [see Romans 8:34].
3) It is the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us [many scriptural references for this] - even Christ was filled with and led by the Holy Spirit when he was about to be tested in the wilderness [Luke 4:1]. John 14:26 references the Holy Spirit as the one who teaches and guides us, Romans 5:5 references God's love being poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19 talks about our bodies being temples of the Holy Spirit who is in us, and 2 Timothy 1:14 says that the Holy Spirit lives in us [yes, there are more... lol].
/// The sad part with all of this, is that I honestly believe [now] that I was a Christian before I was 'officially' a Christian [in other words before I literally prayed to ask Jesus into my heart]. I had the same attitude of Acceptance of what I had been taught [That Jesus took my place on the cross and paid the penalty for my sins - which I fully believed] and I had no reason or desire to want to REJECT the teachings which I had been brought up with [Proverbs 22:6] and THAT ALONE - from my perspective now - is enough!
----- But I remember... as a young child... before I had 'said the Believer's prayer'... of there being some people visiting the church which my dad pastored [they were putting on a reenactment of Joseph in the fiery furnace] and one lady came over to me and said something along the lines of 'what a sweet little Christian you are' and I was totally mortified inside because I 'knew' [according to what I had been taught that you were not a Christian if you had not 'prayed to ask Jesus into your heart'] that I was not a Christian and that if I died that night that I would burn in Hell for Eternity away from God... and I was mortified because I felt like I was helpless and that I had to just wait for that magical moment to happen in my life when I feel some very strong emotions and will just 'know' that it is time for me to say the Believer's Prayer -- and then I can stop being afraid of dying and going to Hell. That is some serious sh*t for a young child of 7or 8 to be carrying around inside of them, and totally uncalled for. I believed - I had not rejected - and THAT is [and was] enough!
Question EVERYTHING!!!
Live a life of PEACE and above reproach.
Show LOVE to all people [even those you disagree with - and I AM NOT talking about 'tough love' or 'love for your own good'].
-- John 13:34-35 [New International Version] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
The journey has just begun, lol.
This is who I am - unapologetically so. I am questioning EVERYTHING! Traditions can be taught as being scriptural [hello, 'Age of Accountability'], and people can do things out of habit and then teach those same [not thought about] habits to their children. It's a crazy journey of discovery which then leads to a more Authentic Life:
My Pure Imagination Life.
Rachel
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