In an e-mail a short while back, Paul Raushenbush, the editor of HuffPo's Religion page, asked me about my views on Christianity. "We hear some about a Gospel Worldview," he wrote. "What does that look like for you?"
Without question, I'm a Christian. I believe in the core stories of the gospel: that Jesus Christ was God incarnate; that he performed (what from our point of view we'd have to call) miracles; that as a means of providing for the irrevocable reconciliation of humankind to God he sacrificed himself on the cross; that he rose from the dead; that he left behind for the benefit of all people the totality of himself in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
I'm good with all of that. It's been at the very center of my life and consciousness since the moment of my sudden conversion.
Beyond that, here are a few random things about Christianity that (not to put too pretentious a spin on it) I hold to be self-evident:
- The Bible is a collection of a great many separate documents written by different people in different languages over thousands of years. Properly understanding both the letter and spirit of the Bible necessarily entails taking into account the historical and cultural contexts that so greatly informs so much of its text. The size, density, history and complexity of the Bible render unfeasible the idea that not one of its words reflects more man's will than God's. The spirit of God is inerrant, while people -- even those impassioned by the conviction that God is speaking directly to or through them -- are not.
- Anyone seeking to mix church and state has failed to understand the nature and proper role of either. Being founded upon the principal that all men are created equal and deserving of equal protection under the law is what makes the American system of democracy such a gift to mankind. To incorporate the inherently exclusionary imperatives of a particular religion into the determinedly inclusive system of the American constitutional form of government would be to undermine the very spirit of America by pushing it away from a democracy, and toward a theocracy.
- It's not possible to read Paul's New Testament writings and remain unmoved by his open heart, intellectual prowess and staggering bravery. And yet Paul (whom, we should never forget, spent years zealously persecuting and having executed untold numbers of Christians) must remain to us a mortal man. More than reasonable, it is incumbent upon those who claim to seek the deepest knowledge of Christ to subject the words of Paul to the same kinds of objective analysis we would the words of any man daring to describe the qualities, purposes and desires of God.
- With regard to the written identity of God, the pronoun "he" is a necessity of the English language, not an actual anatomical designation. God is neither male nor female. God is large enough to contain and hold in balance any of the qualities one might assign to either.
- The Biblical scholarship supporting the idea that Paul never wrote a word proscribing natural homosexuality is at least as credible and persuasive as the scholarship (if not the typical translations) claiming that he did. Any person who uses the words of Paul in the New Testament to "prove" that homosexuality is a sin against God has either never researched the matter, or has simply chosen to believe one set of equal proofs over another. Though laziness is easily enough understood, I remain mystified as to why anyone who purports to follow Jesus would choose to condemn an entire population over choosing to obey Jesus' self-proclaimed greatest commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself. (How Is Being Gay Like Gluing Wings on a Pig?)
- It is much more reasonable -- and certainly more compassionate -- to hold that throughout history God chose to introduce himself in different ways into different culture streams than it is to believe that there is only one correct way to understand and worship God, and that the punishment for anyone who chooses any but that way is to spend all of eternity having the living flesh seared off of his or her bones.
- "No one comes to the Father except through me" does not mean that only Christians will be allowed into heaven. It means that Jesus decides who does and doesn't make the cut.
- The question of whether or not hell is real is properly subsumed by the truth that a moment spent worrying if you'll be with God in the afterlife is an opportunity missed to be with God in this life.
- God's will and intention is to forgive and teach us, not judge and punish us.
- The only person who should be actively endeavoring to convert non-Christians into Christians is God. Jesus does not need our help drawing people toward him. He does need our help -- or could certainly use it, anyway -- making sure that people know that they are loved. (What Non-Christians Want Christians to Hear.)
- Getting a divorce is painful and if at all possible should certainly be avoided. But ultimately the act in and of itself is certainly not immoral.
- God does not want any woman "submitting" to anyone.
- There were no dinosaurs on Noah's ark, and Jesus didn't have a pet stegosaurus. Anyone who believes the earth is only 6,000 years old needs to stand up, put down his or her hot dog, and come eat dinner at the grown-up's table. An all-powerful God and the theory of evolution are not incompatible.
- The single most telling indicator of a person's moral character has nothing to do with how he or she defines or worships God, and everything to do with how he or she treat others.
In a nutshell, I believe that Christ and Christianity are meant to be understood, appreciated and experienced as galvanizing inspirations for living a life of love, compassion, fairness, peace and humility. Attempting to bend the glory of Jesus Christ toward anything else --especially toward the accrual of personal wealth or power -- is antithetical to what Jesus represented and died for.
To me, all of the above is just common sense. I know that here on HuffPo I'll get my share of evisceration for saying it, but the truth is that being a Christian doesn't necessarily mean also being a simpleton.
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To me, the liberal Christianity you describe represents what Christendom must evolve into if it intends to survive and thrive in the future. It also represents how ridiculous any interpretation of it can be shown to be.
I see plenty of flamers and a few supporters; John [may I call you John?], this was a terrific post! Thank you for sharing your insights with the rest of us.
J
LOL! I have an estranged friend who stubbornly insists that 'The Rapture' is a FACT and that 'evolution' is a myth. And yes, she believes that the earth is only 6,000 years old and that there were dinosaurs on Noah's ark.
To say that she was "unreasonable" is putting it quite mildly.
You are conveniently forgetting John 3:16. Whoever believes in Jesus and has been born of the spirit will have everlasting life. Saying words gets you nowhere. It's the heart transplant that matters.
Who did Jesus die for? Cro-Magnon? Neanderthal? Piltdown? Or the first man created, Adam, and everyone since?
You limit God because of your common sense. If you believe Jesus performed miracles, how much faith does it then take to believe he is above the simple laws of physics? One who can create time is beyond his creation.
God is light, in Him can be no darkness. God can have no relationship with sin as it is not in His nature. Therefore, he can have no eternity with sinners unless they are cleansed by His son in the manner prescribed above.
TO HELL AND BACK By Doctor Maurices S. Rawlings a cardiologist writes about what his patients who have been resusitated say about their experiences while clinically dead. Some visited hell and speak of terrifying events. The doctor became interested and wrote a book about this subject. He was not a believer when this began but he soon did believe.
Search Near Death and look at bibleprobe.com for the writings submitted there. Some things can be denied but the evidence says there is something to this.
Many of the things you say fly in the face of 2000+ years of Church Tradition and teaching. While I admire your attempt to "be all things to all people", there is a need to recognize that there are certain absolute Truths that do not change with the times and fashions of mankind.
These truths are the ones provided through the Revelation of God, and as such are for all eternity.
While certain ritual observances ceased from the Old Testament to the New Testament; e.g. circumcision. The spiritual truths they embodied remained. e.g. circumcision was replaced by baptism.
You comment concerning "church and state" is a 20th century concept. And yet for a thousand years during the time of the Byzantine Empire - Church and state struggled jointly to achieve the ideal of "symphonia". Where both aspects of culture (secular and religious) strived to complement and inform each other.
Attributing humanity to St. Paul is correct, but your words appear to deny the possiblity of something more... a theosis... a becoming "like God" (Matthew 5:48). I have never experienced the "third heaven" but I do not doubt that it is possible for me to do so if I be found worthy and it be the Will of God.
Spiritual truths are eternal.
As St. Vicent of Lerins is famous for saying: "that which is held to be truth at all times, in all places, by everyone". This criterion of truth saves!
Paul never stopped persecuting women. Rather then stoning them himself, he allowed for, and encouraged the abuse by their husbands. Iow's, the marks of the beast, when he told women to remain with their husbands in hopes of winning them to Christ. The RCC continues this practice to this day, causing untold harm and tragedy to women and children, not tomention the sexual abuse by the clergy. Paul was, in my opinion, the anti- Christ, fitting all the requirements of the anti-Christ.
"Attributing humanity to St. Paul is correct, but your words appear to deny the possiblity of something more... a theosis... a becoming "like God"
To say God like is no different then saying Christ Like; Christ like is not Christ, it is anti Christ. Yes, Paul has taken on the persona of God like in Christianity but perhaps it is that they failed to heed the warnings of the coming Anti-Christ in "this generation". Paul was of that generation, and remains in this generation by those who adopt Paul as a messenger of Christ other then the one he warned to watch for.
this is a correct statement.
but who among us knows these spiritual truths????
the problem becomes many think they do when what they know is religion not truths.
the bible is full of wisdom that may or may not be spiritual truths but that same book like all books is also full of ignorance. few if any know the difference.
at a sermon last sun the song was the wrath of god was satisfied on the cross and the sermon was the unconditional love of god.
these are medical dr's, professors, lawyers and professional people singing that song and listening to that sermon and saying amen to the preachers words.
please dont try and tell me we humans are rational beings.
we have many that believe they are here by chance and accident and more .
we are ignorant far beyond our wildest imagination.
My favorite bullet points are the ones that address Paul's ministry.There is such wisdom and insight in Paul's letter but they are very distinct in tone when compared to the Gospel.
I also enjoyed reading your conversion story.
How does one become a Christian----and upon what do you base this belief?
Only through faith are we able to come to God. In the Old Testament the words state Faith in God was attributed to Abraham as righteousness.
I base my belief on the word of God. There are many scriptures. The one often quoted is John 3:16 For God so love the world he gave his only begotten Son that who so ever believes in Him would have everlasting life.
If you read the first four books Matthew, Luke, Mark, John you will see and know for yourself the truth God has made provisions for us to be with Him always. The King James version is the oldest translation but there are newer easier to read.
If you take the time to study the New Testament and the Old Testament you will begin to see the connections between what was promised in the Old Testament and then fulfilled in the New Testament.
And if you ACTUALLY read the four gospels...don't look TOO close or you might find that each of the 4 didn't know what the heck the other 3 were making up...what was Joseph's Father's name?
And how about that "Tough Guy" god in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old T.). You GOTTA love it when God commands people to stone young girls on their Father's doorstep...
Oh, and slavery...God's all down with that...just get them circumcised for god and all will be forgiven.