Standing With the Good Samaritan Against So Many "Christians"

I was brought up Christian--baptized Anglican and enrolled in Roman Catholic Sunday School. That was my mother's bargain: dad could chose the baptism, but mum got to choose the Sunday school. Smart woman.

I can't say I'm Christian anymore, though I still have a ton of respect for Jesus from those early days. Like most schools for beginners, my Roman Catholic Sunday School concentrated on the basics. The basics I received were:

* God is Love
* Jesus wants you to take care of those less fortunate than you
* Love Thy Neighbour as Thyself.
* Do Unto Others As You Would Others Do Unto You
* Better to be a Good Samaritan than a Pharisee (i.e., better to not believe and do good deeds, than to believe and not do good deeds)

Now, I'm no theologian, and unlike with some other disciplines I know I haven't read enough to have a really informed position. But I do know a few things, a few simple things. I know that when Jesus talked about judgment, he said this:

35 -- For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 -- I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 -- "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 -- When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39 -- When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 -- "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Whenever I read these words I think that Jesus is a man I could love and respect. And whenever I read these words I am saddened by how few of his followers today are worthy of the word "Christian."

Marx once said "I am not a Marxist." I wonder if today, Jesus would say "I am not Christian."

Oh, certainly there are many good Christians, like the priest who taught me so many years ago, or the priest who regularly visited me when I was in hospital even though I wasn't one of his flock. Many, many Christians feed the hungry and visit the prisoners and the sick.

But so many seem to suffer from the sickness descended from Calvin, this diseased thinking that to be Christian all you have to do is believe in Christ, that belief and not works matter more. Once "saved," once "reborn," well, after that you can do whatever you want: be a Pharisee and still call yourself a Christian.

I stand with the Good Samaritan. I'll take my chance with God, and Jesus, for that matter, with all my doubts, but at least understanding that it's my deeds in life that mattered and that what I did to help the least of Jesus's brothers is what I'll be judged on, not whether or not I "believed" the correct piece of doctrine about who Jesus was, or what the afterlife is like, or whether being gay is bad.

Because I'm not a Christian. But I hope I'm a good Samaritan.

And if Jesus is God's son, I hope he'll recognize me as such when that time comes when I have to account for the life I lived.

(Originally published at FireDogLake.)

Comments

[Pacific231]

Making fun of born-again Christians is like hunting dairy cows with a high powered rifle and scope.
- P. J. O'Rourke

[bob tomato]

The Pharisees of Jesus' day were faced with a practical question that arose from the sheer bulk of the Mosaic law and the religious traditions that sprang up around it - how could anyone obey that law completely? So, they asked Jesus (respected as a teacher in Israel's synagogues) what he thought. Jesus' answer was simple; it was also the perfect solution: love God and love your neighbor.

Ever since Jesus said this, the Pharisees of every era have continued creating religious tradition that ignores Jesus' simple statement. But, unselfish service to God and those around you doesn't leave room for personal ego, power trips, or grandiose religious tradition.

True Christianity is a life of selfless service, not an endless procession of rites and rituals. Today's denominations need to look at the basics of what Jesus said, examining his example, in order to finally realize that two thousand years of human meddling and horribly applied ignorance has made the Church into a twisted and ugly caricature of the life the Pharisees tried to lead - selfish, prideful and, ultimately, fruitless.

There's a lot that's been said in these comments about what being a Christian involves, what it means, and how it should look. Religions have been telling us these things for millenia, and look where that's gotten us. Perhaps it would be wise to throw out pre-conceptions, traditions, and long-held beliefs and begin again at the source - Jesus' teachings and what they tell us about living a God-centric life.

[Grannyover70]

I agree with you about Jesus. You stated exactly what a "Christian" believes in and practices. The ones you hear so much from (Sarah Palin is one) is what are really "Fundamentalist Right-Wing Christians". I believe they have gotten the truth of the Christian Religion mixed up. Then they add a new twist - adding jingoism to the mixture.

As a child I went to a Fundmentalist Church and it took me a life-time to get over it. I cringe when I hear the buzz words of the Christian Right. I can hear these words and phrases when no one else hears them.

There are the Christian ministers out there that believe as you state they should. The media doesn't look them up because they are not controversial and exciting enough, plus they are reluctant to condemn any other religion, which the fundamentalists are not. But they would be happy to tell you what they believe.

[Pacific231]

There is one unfortunate problem with the religious right: They have tilted general mainstream Christianity to the right as well. I have seen it in the church I used to attend. That is the big problem and why Christianity is causing far more serious harm than anything good - as it has been for decades now.

[bluprojekt]

The challenge I have with Western American Christian Culture (as opposed to following the core teachings of Jesus Christ) is all that is done in churches is done out of ego. I participated in that culture for close to 20 years and I can say that it was a time in my life that was full of despair, anxiety, guilt and whatever else they use to maintain a level of control over followers - all for the sake of their own egos. Once I discovered Eckhart Tolle's "The Power Of Now", I shed all identity with Christianity and no longer call myself one - Tolle' quotes Jesus' teachings and presents a perspective that aligns with those core teachings. Now I feel more in tune with my heavnely father than I did when I called myself a Christian.

It drives my evangelical friends crazy and they say they'll pray for me - I just smile and say if you need to - but I am more at peace now NOT being apart of organized religion than I was when I did participate.

Now only if Sarah Palin would do the same thing...

"Now Go Away or I Will Taunt You a Second Time."

[trubbyboy]

But Sarah CANNOT disavow her teachings since the age of 12...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/sarah-palins-churches-and_b_124611.html

which is why she should NEVER be in the White House.

[angelmom1]

I was raised one of those evangelicals, I for one can tell you the tolerance level for anything 'not of the church' was horrific. We did as we were told and sat in church, not asking questions. Your not allowed questions. I couldn't wait to leave, both home and the church. Now I'm considered as, going to hell. I believe in the message of Jesus but we have to remember that Jesus was a Jew and a practicing Jew. He was not a christian, when you read his words from the stand point of these facts it opens your eyes to the truth. If Jesus were here in the flesh today, he and his message would be considered blaphemous by those of the church. And not any better accepted by the majority of Christians today. That's why I find it so funny when I see those stickers ' what would Jesus do'. Probably not what the person sporting the sticker thinks. Just a thought

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

Thank you for your wisdom. I live in the bible belt in TN and they seemed to be good about judging people. I have a neighbor (this is the truth) that wouldn't help repair other church because he doesn't believe in other churchs but his own. I am a catholic. We live in a small town with one catholic church. There are people that put flyers on cars saying we are going to hell. A lot of religions feel this way. I don't think mainstream churchs are that way but the wingnuts crowd. They scare the heck out of me. But I am proud of my religion and I respect everyone elses. I don't think catholics really delved into the bible like alot of these other churchs. I think people read into the bible what they want to. I new a young lady that had a uncle that was a preacher. I asked her where he got his training from. She said he didn't get any he just got the calling for it. Well to me that says it all. She was only 19 yrs old. Alot of people are like that in these small towns. I like alot of them but some of them are really out there.

[maribelle1963]

Amen. Beautiful. Thank you for this.

My hopes are the Barack Obama brings the Liberal Christians out of the woodwork and into the public eye.

[Changeizgood]

AMEN BROTHER OR SISTER.

I find that the "Christians" that are in power, don't practice what they preach to everybody else. It was then that I stopped giving to Christian charities, they pick and chose the people they serve, or request you join or don't recieve food.

RELIGIOUS blackmail for tithes.

I found God, long before I walked into any church. The poor have sinned to survive, by committing crimes to eat or clothe themselves. They turned to drugdealing, to supplement an income that never materialized, through employment, because once they did the time, they still couldn't obtain work, due to a felony.

They are shut out of society, until they attack society for neglecting them.
This "crack drama of the last twentyfive years was brought in through the crooked politicians.
How many African Americans OWN BOATS, PLANES?

In a nutshell the word REPUBLICAN MEANS TO ME.

MAKING PEOPLE POOR, TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR POOR IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR.

VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATS OR CONTINUE DYING THE NEGLECTED LIFE!

PS Don't believe the polls, they are wrong, as the new voters and ones that never voted before.
We the People will not be fooled, the voter machine, percentages THROUGH THE PROGRAMS TO STEAL VOTES.

Like Ron Paul and his supporters say, the revolution will not be televised, cause the right wing OWNS THE MEDIA.

Barack On!

[albanaeon]

I think the Dalai Lama summed it up best. "I like your Christ. He is a great man. I do not like your Christians. They are not like Christ."

One of the final straws for me was a "Christian" who told me that the Dalai Lama would burn in hell for not be "Christian" while he was "saved" because he was. This was a man who cheated on his girlfriend, idolized money and status, and never gave so much as a kind word to someone less fortunate than him. It was at this point Mark Twain's words had particular meaning. "Go to heaven for the climate, Hell for the Company."

[Pacific231]

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I believe it was Ghandi who said that. He is also credited with this related quote: When asked what he thought about Western civilization, Ghandi responded, "I'm all for it."

"Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men” -- Voltaire

"Christianity supplies a Hell for the people who disagree with you and a Heaven for your friends” -- Elbert Hubbard, American author

"I am no friend of present-day Christianity, though its Founder was sublime." -- Vincent Van Gogh, letter to Theo van Gogh, Oct. 1884

[goldnchyl]

not to be nit-picking but Ghandi's response to "what do you think about western civilization" was, "I think it would be a good idea." The original sounds better

[InTheSouth]

Mark Twain did say that "Faith is believing something you know ain't true." We Americans are such a Faith-filled people that we will probably elect the republican ticket again. We just can't seem to let other people live their lives without pushing the bible down the throats of everyone not already choking on it. And GOD FORBID anyone learn any real science in this country.

[Pacific231]

Accepting Jesus as your Lord 'n Saviour is the religious right's "get out of hell free" card.

You're a far right pol who gets caught seeking gay sex in a public bathroom? Or caught as a regular customer for hookers with some very odd fetishes? No problemo, just make things right with God, you know, 'Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven', and you are good to go!

Believing in Jesus amounts to a "license to ill" in America. Say, do, whatever you want, denigrate whoever you want, it's A-OK.

[jbach]

Amen. I see too many Christian Hawks today. Thanks for reintroducing the Samaritan.

[quiscut]

This piece seems to have a subtext-like element that is vital to the voice of the writer,yet obviously missing. Is it only me ,or is it hot in here?

[Jonahson]

In US "compassion" is a hard word to pronounce. "Love" seems to encompass all including sexual intimacy. It will be confusing for the younger generation. Compassion is universally practiced by many religions, what the message professed here is unselfish compassion.

[Pacific231]

It's harder for some people to pronounce "compassion" than "nuclear"!

[Dannydel]

I still believe in God...it's some of his self proclaimed earthly employees that concern me. Particularly the televised Sunday morning soap operas that feature overstuffed, boufant coifed, techno fitted, snake oil salesmen. These jet setting, mansion dwelling lounge lizards, are about as representative
of christianity as a Hummer is of good gas mileage. And don't lets forget the obligatory big haired, painted faced christian bimbos who are their partners in this charade. It all seems pretty sick to me.

[The Keeper]

Brilliant. Thank you for stating it so simply, succinctly and powerfully.