Stigma And Truth by La Belle Rouge Poetess Of The Heart
Rated "G" by the Author.
Last
edited: Monday, December 7, 2015
Posted: Monday, December 7, 2015
In light of some things I have read lately I have been considering in my heart and mind the question of why it has become such a stigma to call yourself a Christian. It was certainly what the early gentile believers in Jesus were called. Has organized Christian religion drifted far from that primal ideal? Of course it has in almost every way. Large elaborate buildings were unknown to those primitive believers. Money making schemes and legalistic garbage were not a factor in being a Christian of those days. All things radiated from one precept, love God and each other.
Jesus said if we are ashamed of him he will be ashamed of us. If we confess him before men he will confess us before his Father in Heaven. Simply acknowledging being of Christian faith is a far cry from judging anyone else, placing yourself above others, binding burdens on others backs.
In my estimation referring to yourself as a Christian is simply confessing Christ before men. I have no delusions about being perfect or reaching the Christian ideal. I am living my life quietly, trying to be a positive influence in the world and not ashamed to say I am a Christian even in the age of such cynicism and the stigma many may attach to that title.
The Bible says you will know Christians by their love. With so much lack of love and religious hypocrisy I can understand why some people find fault with those who claim to be believers in Christ but show the world anything but his spirit of love. You can never lump any group of people together in one barrel and judge the entire thing as rotten because of the ones who are. In the last analysis, religious systems, belief systems are not the acid test of anything. The test of love and compassion is a person to person thing, it can never be a group thing because of the differences, the presence of both good and evil in every group. Just as I will not say I am ashamed to be Southern because some in the South once owned slaves, I will not be ashamed to claim belief in Christ because of my own imperfections or the hypocrisies of organized religion.
We are who we are, we believe what we believe. God is love and if we are honest, loving people there is no reason to be ashamed of our identity or faith.
Honestly and meaningfully expressed, Belle. Thank you for sharing your philosophical point of view regarding this topic which, like politics, can often be controversial and a source of conflict. I believe in peace, harmony, and love as you do. Love and best wishes,
You have stated why this country has religious freedom and has separated the state from religion. Religion is a personal matter like you have written. The state must be secular and not beholden to any religion except the law of the land. And this law must not be religious law with a religious purpose, but law that treats everyone equally.
The only person in my purview who truly emulated Christ was Gandhi. Pope Francis seems to be doing very well. I can name the Dalai Lama and, perhaps, Martin Luther King. There are quiet, loving Christians as well as quiet, loving members of other faiths. For that I am grateful.
Yep. Jon has nailed it, except for one thing . . . We never renounced Christian beliefs except when Muslims began entering our nation under thee guise of refugees, when in fact they are conquerors. i.e. Muslims . . .
There is a growing rift in our nation and globally driven by the uber rich and their agents in the sociopolitical world, elements that desire to gain absolute control of all of the seven and a half plus billion inhabitants of earth. They use diversity of religious beliefs and the distribution of wealth as the drivers to create a division of the people and lead us to our own destruction. We, a growing number of the world's people have permitted their vitriol to impact our thinking and our human love and compassion in a way that is counter to every thing that is good in humanity. Break free from their heinous intentions and let love and compassion guide your thoughts and actions. As an imperfect Christian I will continue to proudly aver my belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. To those who do not share my religious beliefs and convictions, I will respect your rights to believe or not believe as you choose and only ask that you extend me the same respect free from open vitriol. Belle this is a much needed attempt to reach out to a need for more compassion and love among all people. Thank you for this spiritually moving article. May love and peace be always with you my dear friend. Jon Michael
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Well said!
Regis
The only person in my purview who truly emulated Christ was Gandhi. Pope Francis seems to be doing very well. I can name the Dalai Lama and, perhaps, Martin Luther King. There are quiet, loving Christians as well as quiet, loving members of other faiths. For that I am grateful.
Ron
Love ya!
Jane