It’s more than sad that most religious people (regardless of the religious franchise to which they attach themselves) fear anything that doesn’t line up with their acquired theology or spiritual pedigree. Where did you get your religious beliefs anyway? Who gave them to you, who did you pick them up from and why? At the last count, there are over 20,000 Christian (note the adjective “Christian”) brands that you can choose. Which one is right? How about most right? Would you believe mostly right? Un poco?
But, the worst part is not that there is disagreement, but that there is hostility, disgrace, and shame heaped on those who don’t see with the same lens that others do. Instead of allowing each person to find their own water level (can you say Spirit?), we do all we can to denigrate not just their positions, but them personally.
A house divided will definitely fall.
What we preoject on others comes back to us.
Worst of all we “put off” the by-standers observing our hypocrisy.
Maybe almost as bad is the message that we send to those still in our camp (can you say family and friends?). They pick up the message and behavior that says I better come into agreement lest I find myself on the other end of their wrath as well.
I’ve learned alot much about these things as I’ve attempted to go “Beyond Theism”. No one is sure where that might lead, but just the “unkonwing” is enough to catch a free ride to hell.
Ahh, but there are some courageous pioneers who feel we’ve not even touched the hem of the spiritual garment that we’ve been offered to wear by this awesome man the world calls Jesus Christ!
Let choose hope and encouragement over fear and denigration.
0 Response to “Fear And Then Denigrate!”