Sometimes I find myself in a discussion about Christianity, even when I don't plan to be.
Most 'regulars' at my work know that I'm a Christian, and although I wouldn't be "obvious" about my faith (ie. I'm not evangelising in the corridors!); they know it by the fact I talk about Church and the ministries I'm involved in. And I don't mind answering questions from them if they crop up.
Over time, I've learnt a lot from my non-Christian friends. Growing up in a very sheltered family and school, where all my friends and family and networks were with very strong Christian people, I really had no interactions with people who didn't have a relationship with Jesus, and I was what I'd call naive about the whole concept of life without Jesus.
So anyway, I thought I'd use my blog today to write down a bit as to statements and beliefs about Christianity that I find are quite common amongst my non-Christian friends. I should preface this by saying most of them would be a mix of agnostic, or 'nominal' Christians at best.
Maybe those of us reading this as Christians could pause and reflect on these comments and statements as we read them.
Christians make out that life is so much happier and better with God. Why the heck aren't they happy then? All the one's I've seen are grumpy, miserable and look burdened by the demands their faith puts on them.
Christians tell me I won't be truly happy until I accept Jesus in my life. They talk about how miserable their life was before they accepted Jesus into their life. I am exceptionally happy in my life right now, and it's all going brilliantly. I don't think your God could possibly make it any better.
How come Christians have so many rules? How come that Christian over there has to tithe, and you don't? My friend said you have to be baptised if you're a Christian - how come you aren't? Why does it matter to God if men sleep with men; or I sleep with my boyfriend; or she sleeps with her girlfriend? Doesn't he have more important things like world poverty to worry about?
You say your 'calling' is to work with refugees. I do that too - but that's just my desire. It's not a religious compunction, and wanting to do that isn't a 'calling from God' - it's just the way you live your life.
"Happy clappers" drive me nuts. They are all on drugs. I walked in there and had to walk straight out. All that screaming and yelling and speaking in tongues. And the way they make you all have to dress/act/think the same, or be kicked out. Why on earth would you want to go there?
It's ridiculous to try and shape your life around a faith. Fair enough if it's just a 'portion' of your life - but to make it the central part? How stupid can you get.
Churches are far too clique-y. I used to go, but noone would talk to me and I never got invited to anything. I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot barge pole. They don't like new people.
Aren't we all supposed to love each other like Jesus? Well how come then when people found out I was living with my boyfriend/gay/heard me swear - I was suddenly no good for them.
So yeah, that's what I'm hearing more and more often as I hang out with my non-Christian friends. They have no desire to be like us, and think we are hypocrites.
How do you deal with this in your daily life? If my Christian friends have any comments - feel free to share how you deal with this. And if my non-Christian friends would like to add to my statements, I'd love to hear from you as well.
I find these statements very interesting. I don't have answers for a lot of them - some of them I think are very true.
Christianity is in the middle of a big change now. No longer does liturgy seem to inspire people as it once did. The charasmatic turns of the 70s and 80s scare people off more often than not now. And the traditional 'shape' of Church is alienating more and more every week.
From the Modern Church to the Post-Modern Church. Things are a'changing.
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