Christianity and Cruelty
A Twoness, never acceptable
June 15, 2019
Christianity cannot be cruelty. Yet, modern Christianity especially American Evangelical Christianity has become synonymous with cruelty. Rigid, prejudicial, hate filled people have become the definition of Christianity to so many in America and around the world. I believe the identity of Christian has become so fixed in the minds of the majority of people, we may have to abandon the identity. Being a Christian has become so opposite of how we are perceived. The identity has little in common with living as a loving, Spirit filled, follower of Jesus. Yes, it is easy to dismiss the Christian politician, the Trump, Pence, or Cruz. Yet, whom do most Americans identify as Christian? It is prominent personalities, Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell Jr., Robert Jeffress, there are too many celebrity Christians to name. Prominent faith leaders, Protestant and Catholic, are heard by the majority of the world as hate filled, prejudiced, opportunistic, and cruel. We cannot dismiss the fact that the face of Christianity to the majority of people in the world is an embodiment of cruelty.
First offer love, care, and kindness
I am just a member of my United Methodist church and we seem to have little in common with the prominent Christians in America. A separation of church and church so to speak. Yet, many within our pews are influenced by these more prominent Christians. I know many Midwestern Republicans who find it hard to speak out against those in control of American government and politics. I would never encourage them to endorse or advocate for another party. It is their personal choice. We cannot advocate for political parties, but we must object to evil. When a party and a government ask us to accept racism, inhumanity, authoritarianism, and lie as fact, then no matter our tradition, we are called to object. We can no longer accommodate the creeping evil of White Nationalist Christianity; we must vocally and in action, object. If our Evangelical brothers and sisters, our Trump supporting brothers and sisters cast us out of the Christian identity, then so be it. As Spirit seeking Jesus followers, we cannot accommodate a cult of corruption and cruelty. We simply cannot bury that sin. We cannot forfeit our faith, or forget the grace given to us. We need not seek conflict, but we cannot avoid it out of convenience. If we are to reach disciples of Jesus from a sea of swirling souls, then we must be willing to break the tablets of rigidity and conformity. We must oppose the White National Cult of Christianity. We must oppose those who manipulate it for power and fortune. We must live as Jesus, putting the weak first, giving hope to the hopeless, living as a gospel instead of preaching from one.
No matter what you believe or what bible verse you cling to, be kind.
You Must Unload -- Ry Cooder
Just read Telnaes Cartoon -- seemed to fit
This can be the sign of an oasis or a gated community
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