14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
This passage always sticks with me. It’s the fact that Jesus proclaims the reason for his ministry and it’s not about pseudo-spirituality. It’s not about people going to church on a specific day or saving souls from burning in hell. It’s not about saying the right stuff and adhering to a narrow list of dogmas and large list of doctrines. It’s not about being made to feel guilty if you don’t believe the ‘right’ stuff. It’s about helping and freeing the poor and the oppressed.
I’ve rejected the church and Christianity because, quite honestly, I can’t stand a lot of the people. The self-righteousness and arrogance that they’re right and anyone who doesn’t believe is wrong, makes me cringe. I reject many atheists too who arrogantly and smugly act like anyone who believes there is a god is a fool. On both sides I find these views distasteful.
But I’ve particularly walked away from the church because I can’t see how I would ever want to mix with most of the people who go. There are a small number of people who I love dearly, who are part of the church, but the majority I couldn’t care less if I never saw them again. The detachment from reality and ignorant views they hold has no connection to my life. Singing bland songs and listening to bland preaches do not appeal. The culture of church is bizarre because most people have no idea what it all means. It is alien and full of back stabbing and politics. Been there and tried it; don’t need to go near it again.
Jesus though, he’s a different story. I doubt his divinity and am very unsure about the resurrection, but this radical man sticks with me. He hated the pompous ceremony of religion and he despised the self-righteous behaviour of many leaders. He mixed with the people who didn’t have all the answers and were messed up and full of doubts. He befriended people with short fuses and would have no idea what it means to be PC. Basically, he mixed with the likes of you and me. He was brutally honest at times and he said some difficult things. He never apologised for the way he was though. This is me, take it or leave it and many people did just that.
Jesus will always be a significant hero of mine because he treated people as human and loved them just as they were. That’s the type of guy I want to be like. I may not believe he is alive and is the Almighty God, but I do find him a man with an almighty character.
In the face of this I can only ask questions.
ReplyDeleteYou have rejected the Church and Christianity but to whom will you accord greater significance; the people you deeply love or the unknown majority? Jesus Christ or tele-evangelists?
How well did you know the individuals you rejected? People never fail to surprise me.
May 2011 surprise you in a really good way!
There are those who I have deep respect for, like yourself. But I have found my patience for so many in the church has been worn away.
ReplyDeleteIt's the pettiness that got to me. The trivialities which have no importance but were made to be significant. I always remember a church meeting where discussions over whether there should be a panel fence or chain link carried on and on. It seemed absurd that a group of people called to revolutionize society were so distracted by debates over a fence. Is this what the church has become?
I respond to Jesus in such a positive way; I simply cannot go to the point of calling him Lord. I don't respond positively to most of the church though. I know it's sweeping, but too many within the church have caused me to despair and hurt me or ones I love. I hate how worthless many made my wife feel, when it should have been a place of love.
I do hope I am surprised by people in the new year Peter. I honestly don't hold out much hope though!
You know what is so incredibly sad to me? You are right.
ReplyDeleteThe people are that way. And it kills me.
Because there are so many people that feel they have to get their act together before they can ever sit down in a pew.
And then people automatically start judging or "try and get your life back together by a to-do list". I am truly so sorry to hear you have had such a terrible experience.
This is an area that the church for sure struggles with. It's not right... but it's true.
I am praying for you Tom! May God wrap you in His true love! And have you ever read the book "Crazy Love" by Frances Chan? I highly recommend that one... you should just try it. :)
I haven't read it but I will give it a look.
ReplyDeleteI struggle with Christianity because so many people within it have not made me think this is something set apart to revolutionise the world, but these are people who have become entrenched in weird routines and politics.
I do know though, that some of us aren't very good at church culture, full stop.
BUT, there are many I hold deep respect and admiration for within the Church and will listen to what they have to say about the world we live in. My twin bro is a Rev and I deeply admire how he is enriching the lives of the community he lives in.
x
P.S Thank you for your prayers.