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BELIEVING MATTERS LESS THAN BEING
11-30-08
I
find much to love in all the scriptures of all the religions of the
world. I think the big danger for all of us is taking a few verses and
trying to prove something ungodly with them.
Just the other night I watched a special on PSB about famous religious
people who led their followers into suicide rituals in that name of God
and basing their actions on their interpretation of scriptures.
I have seen that you can find something to back up almost any crazy idea
like, "Slaves, obey your masters." Both Old and New Testament verses
were used to condone slavery. We need to be fully aware that many of the
churches of that era supported slavery in the name of God.
I would not say, "Slaves obey your masters." I would say, "Slaves, get
together and throw off your shackles or your children will be used,
abused, raped and your family's fate will be much worse than death."
When people use the Bible that way - to try to make me believe ideas
that I do not believe reflect the spirit of Christ as I sense it through
what I have read and experienced of Him, I just say, "If I understand
anything about the spirit of Jesus Christ, I do not accept that
interpretation." They will at that point try to stress the exact words
of certain verses to drag me into their doctrines.
It is not only possible but also quite healthy to look at specific
verses in light of the whole book. And to me it is necessary to never
accept anything that flies in the face of my perception of the spirit of
Christ or the nature of the Creator.
Raised in a fundamentalist church, I simply could not and did not accept
some of the interpretations of scriptures of those churches. I have
lived a long time and realize I am nearer the time of leaving this life
than I have ever been and I still do not accept those doctrines. I still
will not accept any idea that flies in the face of my understanding of
the spirit of Christ and the nature of God. I much prefer to die living
my life in harmony with that principle than to be force-fed someone
else's ideas and interpretations. Any effort to change our beliefs by
fear is rape of the human spirit and is unlike the life, teachings and
spirit of Christ. Even words attributed to Him must be viewed with
disbelief if they fail the tests of kindness, compassion, gentleness and
love.
Jesus was not the narrow-minded, judgmental person TV evangelists
picture in the fear harangues. I see Him as less concerned with what we
believe than with our behavior. If our beliefs do not lead to kind and
compassionate behavior, they cannot be spiritual or Christ like.
Jesus respected the religions of His day. He actually taught the truths
of the primary religion of His people in the worship places when He was
still a child. He also spoke against practices and teachings of His
people's religion when He thought they were not good for His people,
even taking a whip and running people out of the church! The only times
when He was not gentle and kind were when the people were being abused
by religious "leaders."
His spirit toward people of other beliefs is shown in Him talking to the
Samaritan woman at the well. Jews did not talk to Samaritans. But He did
and His kindness to her sent us into her village rejoicing.
I experience Him in the New Testament and in my personal life as one of
the most big-hearted, broad-minded men who ever lived. The account of
the final moments of His life shows Him taking a condemned man to
paradise with him after His final breath. The man wasn't baptized,
didn't accept any kind of creed. He just said, "Master, remember me."
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