6 Ways The Christian Right is Getting It Wrong

Christians follow the Bible and with that comes specific responsibilities to mankind and to God himself. Many who believe in Christ and Him crucified beleive the Bible is inerrant and spend much of their life and time determined to leave a legacy that shows they served out of this impenetrable belief in what is the absolute truth of how and why the universe works the way it does. But, with the current culture wars dividing us the question becomes, are we getting the truth wrong? Are we confusing what is socially acceptable with godly comportment? The following list attempts to explore 6 ways the Christians and His church might be getting the culture wars wrong.

1. Universal Healthcare

Who was the best healer ever? Well, Jesus, of course. He was the most diplomatic healer that ever walked the earth. He healed random citizens for free. So, when the buzz about providing healthcare for the masses began in the 90's it would seem the church would've been the first group to jump on the opportunity. Funny though, that's not what happened. In fact, the republican party, which is supported most fervently by evangelical Christians, represented the fiercest opposition to any legislation regarding healthcare. Strange as fiction, they've spent the past four years opposing it. Why would the church abide this? The God of the Bible showed through His messenger and Son, Jesus, that He completely understood how important it was to be in perfect health. Why would the people believing in Him and representing Him on earth not pounce on the chance to glorify Him by showing they believed it was important too? The church dropped the ball on this one. With so many mega-churches all over the U.S. and a congregation on every corner, we could have developed our own exchanges before the feds even had to intervene to begin with. Jesus spent a wealth of His ministry time healing. We are Christians. It's simple. People need access to healthcare, God's people should follow their leader and help in the effort to provide it.

2. Being Republican

In the 80's Jerry Falwell determined that the republican party was the way for Christian values voters to go and this became the most popular party among evangelical Christians and remains so to this day. When a candidate declares they believe in Jesus Christ and have a history of traditional church participation, they are almost guaranteed to garner the evangelical vote. It didn't necessarily work for Barak Obama, whose Christian background was in a black mega-church. Most evangelical Christians are white and southern. He was also a democrat who was pro-choice and supported marriage equality. But, by and large this declaration works. Is this a biblical position to take? When we look at Jesus and his ministry it's clear he did not campaign for Pontius Pilate or care about Caesar's money. He obeyed the law, but was quick and transparent in pointing out Herod's hypocrisy, never siding with corruption. But, churches came under fire in 2012 for openly campaigning for the republican party and against Obama in the pulpit. They compromised by saying Romney was righteous. Not less than a few years ago he would've been in a cult. This appears to be a huge contradiction with biblical truth. Christians who are politically involved are right to include their voice to protect their own right to worship, practice, and believe what they want. They are wrong to do so in order to side with a specific political party or to engage in the promotion of a candidate simply because he is a part of that party.

3. Segregation and Race 

It was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who once observed that Sunday morning was the most segregated hour of the week. He was right then. And unfortunately, he's still pretty much on the money now. While there are integrated churches among us. There is a vastly accepted idea that there are white churches, black churches, hispanic churches, asian churches, etc. When you walk into the average American church you will see generally one racial group represented. The pulpit will speak to that group, its interests, and its culture. But, Jesus was a universal soldier. He did not cater to one people group, as He was rejected by those He came to save. He then opened His heart and mind to all people, all races, all over the world. His message transcended race and culture and spoke to the heart. Marginalizing, polarizing, or delineating our spiritual conquests along racial divisions is not biblical at all. In fact, it's an evil that needs to be eradicated by the Christian church. It should abandon the social construct that embraces white privilege and take up new attitudes and respect for all people. Jesus instructs us not to be respecters of person, meaning not to regard anyone as more important than anyone else because of how much money they have, where they live, their profession, or even the color of their skin.

4. Separation of Church and State

Recently many strides have been made by conservatives lobbying governmental entities to allow Christian institutions and traditions to be commonplace in their annals. Prayer, ten commadments monuments, crosses, bibles, pictures of Jesus, scripture plaques, and other Christian emblems are being put on display in state - run schools, capitol buildings, courthouse lawns, and public thoroughfares. The ACLU fights it, atheists fight it. But, as of late other religions have embraced the idea. Namely, satanic sects have celebrated the defense of religious freedom by jumping on the bandwagon and making bids to erect their own symbols, emblems, and religious implements as a part of public displays. They want to be sure their prayers are included when we start putting the calendar together for city council meetings. Christians have to take a step back and think about this more clearly. While the Constitution most certainly protects our right to worship and practice our religion as we wish without interference from the government, it also ensures everyone else can as well. The government cannot endorse or favor any one religion over any other. It also cannot discriminate against any one religion over another. While the majority of Americans still claim Christianity as their religion, this does not mean it is exclusive. By promoting the government's endorsement of Christianity, Christians are promoting governmental acceptance of all other religions as well. The last thing Christians want  is for prayer to be reinstated in schools. You want to teach your children your values. Public schools hold everyone's values, they have to. If Christian values are to be prevalent in our communities then Christians should live by biblical standards and teach them to their children.

5. The Abortion Debate

No doubt Jesus loves the children. The Creator of the universe loves...well, creation. When we engage in the behavior that creates life we are doing a precious thing. Children are born small and helpless and this builds the family design naturally. These helpless little ones need their parents in order to survive. In the wild animal species are generally able to venture out and take care of themselves much more quickly than humans. This is important to note. Dads and moms are a necessary part of every child's growth and development. That's the design. Enter human behavior. People have sex with strangers. People have sex outside marriage. People have sex before they're mental maturity is at a level where they are able to rear another human being. People have sex. And they make babies. Sadly, they look at the design and don't believe they can handle the responsibility of it. Many cannot. They go to clinics and doctors and have the baby exterminated from their bodies. It's heartwrenching to live in a society where there's a need to perform such an act. In a country where 74% of respondents still claim to be followers of Christ, the following is true; Taken from American Life League website these statistics are unnerving. There is an abortion every 26 seconds. 3,288 babies are disposed of every day. Weep for their lives unrealized. Weep for their moms and dads who undoubtedly struggled with this choice. Weep for a society where we do not educate, protect, nurture, or provide enough sustenance for the lives that are already here to avoid the practice. Weep and pray, speak out and oppose, but do not ask our government to interfere in the choices people make. God himself does not take away human choice. The glory for Him is in our choice to serve Him and do what is right. If He wanted to force us to do the right thing we wouldn't have free will. The last thing we need in this country is government having more control over our personal life choices. Leave the abortion debates and fights in our streets, pulpits, and homes, and out of politics.

6. Climate Change

In the beginning...God created the earth and then the humans He put here eventually destroyed it. Sad but true, as a "Christian" nation we are tearing God's work apart. From overusing its precious resources to wasting them, we are slowly but surely turning Earth upside down. The Christian community is first to declare that our God is coming to rescue us from it anyway so we don't need to worry. In all the prophetic words no one mentions that the day and the hour of His imminent return are a secret. There are those who purport to know, then they are proven wrong. There are those who try to guesstimate, but then they are also proven wrong. The fact is we don't have any idea. Paul even said in his own words in the Bible that we were living in the last days. Funny, that was over 2000 years ago. The opponents to protecting the earth also say, the Earth is the Lord's, He's in control. Then we continue to waste, consume, and overuse without thought.  So, what about God being in control? Well, stick a pin in that balloon. He wrested the leadership of the Earth to Adam, and then after the fall, to satan. So, pray tell, how is it that when He gave mankind the reins, that the ball is now back in His court? It's not. We're the creationists and believers. We should be the first ones to step up and work to protect what our Leader created. Instead, we balk at those who many times don't even ascribe to an idea that there is a creator. Hypocrisy really, to know we've been given this gift of life on the only planet that will support it, as far as we know, and then waste it away until we have to try and move off the planet only to consume and destroy another one. Hypocrisy at its worst.

While it's clear that Christian people are trying all the time to carve a righteous life out of what we've been given, we sure are sending some contradictory messages to the masses that don't quite coincide with what our biblical tradition dictates. It's time to make a change. With a few simple adjustments to our practice, we may just be able to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

1 - First, we need to start helping people get access to healthcare. Just like that, we need to turn it around and get to work on building up the exchanges and creating an atmosphere where people know they can get help. We should also start using some of the money we donate to ministries to pay people's medical bills. They are so insurmountable for individuals that it would be such a relief for us to work together to help make them affordable.

2 - Second, we have to drop political party affiliation. We are the Believer party and we represent His agenda first. If the dems and repubs and libertarians can't get on board, then we'll do it ourselves. All Christians should abandon party affiliation and vote independently for candidates who will serve their interest in maintaining individual choice and responsibility.

3 - Next, we must discontinue the practice of assigning characteristics to color. No longer should it be acceptable to anyone who fears a creator God to look upon any of His people and consider them less important, or less anything for that matter, for any reason. Jesus commanded we not be respecters of person. We can start with what we call race.

4 - Then, Christians have to stop forcing non-believers to practice our beliefs. The Bible calls God's people peculiar. Our God has made man in His image, meaning free will thinkers. The decisions we make for His name's sake either bring Him glory or shame. When we try to make those who do not belong to the tribe of Judah follow our rules it is not flattering to Him because it's not their individual choice. This just needs to stop.

5 - Also, the church should be doing all we can to support pregnancy and adoption. Jesus told us to feed the hungry and then preach the Gospel, in that order. Women who have to explore the idea of terminating the life developing inside them are, no doubt, in a tough spot. We have to help first. Not counseling, or chiding right and wrong, but actual help. Money, time, resources, mentally and financially stable adoptive families are all part and parcel to lowering the abortion rate and the Christian church should be among the first to step up and provide it.

6 - Finally, when Jesus tells the parable of the talents it's often interpreted to be money. But, what if the talents in the story are Earth. Some of us have a lot of Earth and some of us only possess a little. But, we have to do our own individual part to ensure our God's creation does not whither away. Recycle, reuse, reduce. Start composting, go to thrift stores, even if you don't have to. Ride your bike instead of driving. Don't run water unnecessarily. Get some reusable water bottles and reusable grocery bags. Please God by taking care of His property while He's away so that when He returns He can be pleased with your work and invite you to be with Him.

Would You Still Be A Christian if Jesus Were...Black?

Acts 17:26
24 "The  God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord  of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, `For we also are His children.

Adam and Eve aren't white, or European for that matter. Neither was Noah. And, his sons were not three separate and different nationalities. I can believe the Bible and its explanations about who we are and where we come from, but I can't abide the socially accepted nonsense that usually follows it. 

Hypocritical Eurocentrism in the Church

While looking for material to teach my children about creation and Bible stories I became more and more frustrated. Why did all the books have all European people? It hadn't really occurred to me until I had to look at it objectively to help my children understand. In the interest of authenticity I began searching for answers and people who claimed to belong to God who were promoting the truth. Frighteningly, I couldn't find it. Why would a book written primarily in Africa and the Middle East have a bunch of European people in it? If the beginning of time were true to form, Europeans wouldn't have existed yet. After all, the Bible itself admits that God didn't make a whole bunch of Adams and Eves and then at some point they found out about each other. As Acts 17:26 states we all come from Adam.

Obviously, if we take the Bible at face value then we have to know that Adam and Eve would had to have been of African descent. Why? Civilization began in Africa. There's scientific proof of that. Perhaps this is why so many evangelicals say that science is in conflict with the Bible. I think they compliment each other. It makes so much sense when you're not trying to apply color or ethnicity.

The Fall of Man and Noah's Kids

So, then what about Noah? Is it possible that he and his European wife had three sons of three different ethnic backgrounds? That's ridiculous to think, even with miracles and all. I mean, life itself is the miracle. Why would the God of the universe deliberately create division in one family based on something as trivial  and meaningless as skin color? Anyway, how do you take someone who looks like Ward and June and produce someone who looks like Theo? You don't. Skin color, by scientific examination is an adaptation humans use to adjust to their environment. We all started off Black, so Noah may have been of European descent, but his wife wasn't, or vice versa. The story has to make more sense than it has so far. Something has to give there.

The reason I know this is science bears the truth and its teeming through our veins. If we were to check everyone's DNA, all 7 billion of us would find we're all brothers and sisters. We could have our DNA analyzed and we will find the ancient DNA pattern of our oldest ancestor written within our own. Their fossils were found where...in Africa. Both of the oldest male's and female's remains were discovered in Africa and an analysis of their DNA proves them to be of African descent. That doesn't bother me at all, but it seems to be quite difficult for some "Christians" to deal with and understand.

Why is that? Ask yourself, is it a form of idolatry to allow societal norms rather than biblical norms lead us? The "American" way of being white and right has clouded judgement so profoundly that many can't seem to lay down American ideology and follow the one true God. How shocked would everyone be if when Jesus descended back to Earth he looked a lot like Denzel, or the original MJ? The Bible readily admits that the road is narrow and all those who rejected Him, perhaps not the white Him, but the Black Him, would be completely out of luck. While God is a spirit who has no form, Jesus came to us in flesh. That flesh had a color. Which, for all intensive purposes could have meant something entirely different during the first century than it means now. Original paintings of Him before Constantine got a hold of them depicted Him as an olive-skinned, stocky man with short, curly, dark hair. How many white American Christians will be able to stand before Him and with a clean and pure heart say they never rejected Him?

What's a more cerebral question? With all of the self-loathing and hatred that Blacks have for themselves and each other, will they be able say it?

Feminism In Christ

The Plight of Feminist Philosophy

How is it that when women leave their jobs for their husbands they're setting back societal advancements, but if they leave work to spend more time with their children or to pursue a different dream it's more acceptable? Feminism is a stinky fish wrapped in silver and bows and we swallow it hook line and sinker. Women want to bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, clean the pan, and ensure everyone has had enough. Meanwhile, men are bringing home bacon, or not. They're frying it up when they want, or not. They're not cleaning it up, and don't have to bother too much with whether or not anyone has had their fill except him. There's a remarkable imbalance and women are tipping the scales to be lopsided against their favor. How peculiar. Are feminists on acid or what? Actually, what is considered feminism is really just a dogmatic approach to human survival, pushing symbiosis of the male / female species into a tailspin and its out of control.

Biblical Standard

Let's go back to the garden. Depending on how we view it, the story of Eden is told twice in two different ways. In the first narrative God makes male and female on the sixth day and doesn't mince words about the order or how it's done or anything like that. He just makes them. In the second account Eve is actually taken from Adam's rib after God recognizes that Adam needs a mate because he is lonely. Okay, let me confess that I like the first narrative better. The idea that men and women were created with equal status in the eyes of God brings joy to my heart. I like to believe the God of the universe was not unclear on the notion that if Adam had been alone in the earth there would be no one else, ever. Maybe that was the intent at first, but I don't think so. In the second narrative God is still not demeaning Eve, or womankind at all. He takes her from the rib of the man so that she can be his partner with equal footing and purpose. Perhaps there would be different purposes, but neither purpose would be less important than the other.

Proverbs 31

If we explore the Bible text more we can see that western ideas about how women should interact with the world around them do not match the biblical standard. I know it's socially acceptable in Christian circles for women to stay home and take care of the house and children, but Old Testament tradition contradicts this ideology. For example, Abraham's servant found Isaac's Rebecca doing work, Jacob found Rachel at work, Boaz noticed Ruth while she was working. In all of these instances the Bible never mentions that the work ever stopped. In fact, the Proverbs 31 woman is so misunderstood because in western culture it's biblical not to work, but this woman is a workaholic. The woman is in real estate, farming, she cooks and cleans, makes her clothes and her children's clothes. She volunteers to help the needy, brings in a second income, and is constantly meeting her husband's needs, whatever they may be. She's kind and has a good reputation everywhere. She owns her own clothing line, keeps an optimistic outlook, and never has idle hands. My goodness, I get tired just reading it. If all women were like her how would earth be? She's amazing, but she's not only a stay home mom. She's also not only a working mom. She does it all.

The Real Problem

Is this the heart of the "feminist" movement? Are women really begging to be Proverbs 31 women while men rail against it asking them to just get in the background and do nothing except please them and keep house? Why would that make men feel better? The answers to that are another blog, but in this context I would contend that the reason there is a feminist movement is that men have deliberately kept women from fully excelling in their God-given gifts and strengths. This requires that women fight to be the partners they were created to be. Men are getting trampled in the fight as women take roles in everything. Jobs and roles that have traditionally been attributed to men are being filled by women. While men are taking jobs and roles that have traditionally been filled by women. The question must be, does that matter? Have we missed the point of God's creation of male and female? The point was to compliment each other. Men and women are supposed to work in tandem to accomplish life's goals of continuing human existence. Fighting for the right to do that is a hinderance to God's original plan. And, it's unnecessary. What man in his right mind would say to his life partner, "No, I don't want you to help me." What woman in her right mind would say to her life partner, "No, I don't want to walk in my gifts and fulfill any calling." The fight is mostly about acknowledgement and relevance.

Perfect Symbiosis

As men and women we must be focused and diligent about letting our partners know how valuable their efforts are to us. Whatever the couple does to accomplish the goal of continuing humanity and maintaining its success in the universe, they should show overwhelming appreciation to one another as they work together to reach it. How do couples do this? Sit together and assess each other's strengths honestly. Look at the ways you compliment one another. Begin to consider these your own attributes. Remember, the biblical standard is that you have become one. If your spouse owns a strength so do you. On the other hand, if they own a weakness so do you. Your strengths blot out their weaknesses and therefore together your are as solid as a rock. Celebrate this by working together. Whatever your life's goals have been up to this point, try to disregard them. Instead, make your "couple goal" sustaining the viability of humanity. Go about centering your life around this purpose peacefully.

Adjust The Goal

Of course, money and materialism have become the goal. In fact, in our eyes if someone has lots of stuff; big, expensive stuff, we think they are successful. We've been conditioned to think this way because if we're not engaging in this process, our economy, and therefore society, would come apart at its seams. But, in keeping our eyes on that ball we've allowed the other to drop. So, humanity is a mess while money gets as much attention as possible. We need to take a step back and re-evaluate our work. Men and women need to work together, not war against each other, to correct societal ills, realign our mission, and put humanity back on track.

Things That Make You Go God

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

Today my husband, who has become my muse for spiritual thought, and I exchanged ideas about the trappings of this life and their direct contradiction to biblical standards. We weren't discussing the obvious things like cheating or sleeping around or drinking or any other well-known vice that keeps us from knowing and communing with a holy God. We were actually talking about things that fly under the radar, like secular music, trashy television, preoccupation with appearances, otherwise known as vanity, and overeating. 

Initially it stemmed from my sorority. We read some interesting info about its connection to the occult and the implications of still being associated with an org that asks for allegiance to itself. Mind you, I haven't been an active member for 15 years. Still, once you're in, you're in, even if inactive. It occurred to me that when I pledged I was a believer in Jesus Christ, but I was mostly just religious. With that being said, I knew the induction ceremony had crossed a line. Not only was I confessing another god, but I was participating in a strange rite that I couldn't begin to understand the true meaning of. From the time I was inducted I struggled with this aspect of sorority life. I had bonded with my line and some of the older sisters so strongly that I bounced back and forth between wanting to disassociate from the organization to believing I never would since I cared for them so much. My heart would remain torn throughout my undergraduate years until the organization became an accessory that defined me like wearing my hair in a ponytail or singing in a gospel choir.

In any case, our conversation regarded how well-meaning, God loving people join these orgs every year without suspecting any demonic cruelty or devilish intent. So many say they started drinking and sleeping around once they joined. That wasn't my story. In fact, at the same time I became active in the sorority I became active in Campus Crusade for Christ, which I think may have saved me the drama of getting too far away from God and too deep into defining myself by what the sorority was. I was no angel, mind you, but I didn't get too far away from the light because of the group. Any straying was of my own volition. We talked about this and how every day the world presents us with many different ways to cope with the negative thoughts and emotions that life presents. There's food, TV, movies, music, alcohol, drugs, fashion, sports, jobs, sex, relationships, sororities, fraternities, and the list goes on and on of the many things we can use to entertain ourselves or soothe our anxieties. These are all things that in moderation can be harmless, but in the spirit realm they are designed to lead us away from the cross and away from true peace of mind.

The direct contrast to this is the many churches and religious groups that dig in their heels and defy "the world" by obeying a bunch of rules to find God. Some rules; don't watch TV, don't listen to music, don't wear swimsuits, don't eat with sinners, don't wear makeup, don't go to movies, don't go bowling, don't celebrate Christmas, don't celebrate anything, don't dance...at all, and the list goes on depending on what group you're talking about. This goes above and beyond the ten commandments. And, I contend that many of these ideas could probably work. But, it's the heart that matters. If one is refraining from these activities in an attempt to show God they are good it will not work. It will probably lead to a lack of fulfillment and a desperate cry for something more meaningful. It's unhealthy for most and can be quite tragic. What extremely religious groups don't understand is that by making a host of rules the focal point of their worship they have picked up a vice of the enemy that can also be used to distract them from the main purpose. These organizations can be the most dangerous because they think they have almighty God's permission to be calculating and manipulative.On the other hand, if one is refraining from vice and corrupt activity in order to purify oneself so the unadulterated message of who God is and what He wants from you can be well-filtered, then by all means, go for it. This usually stems from a deep desire to be closer to God and to live for Him, not from wanting to belong to a group of humans.  Knowing God and communing in peace with Him is the ultimate goal. He gives us guidelines to allow us to lead fruitful, happy lives, restoring Eden to those who accept and love Him. 

So, no matter what satan uses to distract or tear us away, we must be consciously willing to not use those vices, but to go to God. Praying, reading the Bible, watching God's work in our lives and acknowledging His work in the earth are all ways to strengthen our faith and relationship with Him. Guard your heart and mind. Guard your eyes as well. If this means that lustful songs have to be removed from your playlist, then remove them. If this means you've got to get rid of "skinemax" and other channels with lots of lust driven images, then get rid of them. At the very least, living for God saves you money! With due diligence, keep your heart, mind, and soul protected, and allow your spirit to work with the Holy Spirit as your guide. 

Is God Jewish?

If religion is a blockbuster movie then Christianity is the sequel to Judaism. Jesus was Jewish and so were the disciples and most of the early church. The canon we read is really the Jewish sacred texts with some testaments from disciples and apostles added. By definition Jewish people are descendants of the ancient Hebrew group whose story is delineated as fact throughout the Bible. In fact, it is the most widespread, universally acknowledged narrative of their history. While it isn't always counted as accurate, it is understood to be the text that gives us insight into the heritage from which this particular people group descended.

The Bible speaks largely of the God of the universe communing with the progeny of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then, at the turn of the century, Jesus comes and sees that their leaders aren't accepting the message of grace. So, it is Jesus who opens the door of Heaven to everyone else. That strikes me as odd now. Don't misunderstand, I don't know where I would be had I not been pointed in His direction by the Bible. It's difficult to imagine life without Him and even more difficult to envision life without the profound wisdom found in the Bible. Still, did He seek to alienate all other people groups throughout the earth when He chose Abraham and those of his bloodline to know Him for centuries and even millenia?

I would contend that the answer to that is no. In Acts, the only historic book in the New Testament, the apostle Paul, who is Jewish, makes it clear that there is one Creator for all mankind and that this one Creator produced a way for all of us to come and commune with Him through Jesus's sacrifice, the Holy Spirit, prayer, and good living. So, what about Revelation and Isaiah when it points directly to the Israelite nation being the center of activity for end time phenomena? How does that connect with what Jesus and Paul said about all believers being Jews? And, if there is still an obligation to respect or protect the Israelite people, calling them the chosen ones, where does that leave Christians? So many of the Israelite people did not and still do not accept that Jesus was Messiah, but in the Christian faith that is exactly what you need to do to be approved by God. While the Bible makes it clear that His "chosen" people of the twelve tribes are blind to the truth, it also makes it clear that someday He will allow some to see clearly and be saved as a result. That's great, but still mysterious.

Did He favor a group and leave all the others on earth to flounder, chasing after Him to fill the spot He created in us to seek Him, only to fail at finding Him? Since the beginning of time people have searched for Him and found a kajillion substitutes that don't really make the grade. Was this His purpose? It couldn't be.

So, the questions endure. The wisest thing is to hold out faith and seek His true message for us, to pray, meditate, and pause to consider who He is. We should see evidence of an all knowing, all powerful, lovingly kind, generous God manifesting Himself in those who hold Him in their hearts. It's not by name or religious rules, but by our lives that we will be able to reflect Him, thereby leading more of us to Him. Our integrity, character, and faith point directly to Him.

God isn't Catholic

Religions are so confusing. While I appreciate their sacred value to the participants, it seems they are holding most of us back from the sacred.

I read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John just to remember Jesus. So often the image is distorted by propaganda and promotion through religious leadership. I try to read and ask myself if Jesus would have been an elder with the Jehovah's Witness group. Would Jesus serve with any Mormon bishops? How many hail Mary's would Jesus be willing to say? Would Jesus go to a priest to confess sin? Wait, he knew no sin, but died for ours.

Hmm...Matthew, Mark, and Luke all confirm that the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom at the moment Jesus died. Whether you're in the camp who says they meant it literally or those who say they meant it symbolically, the argument can be made that the significance is the same; it solidified believers' authority to enter into contact with the Father without a mediator.

So why and how do religious tenets consistently contend that they are the final authority and in order to get to Him you must go through them. How strange for the God of the universe to come down to Earth in the flesh and condemn religious leaders for their utter hypocrisy, tell everyone they're welcome to commune with Him now through the sacrifice He was going to make,  and offer them the gift of His Holy Spirit for guidance and comfort only to return to His spirit form to tell a bunch of different individuals with spurious backgrounds to make new rules to follow to get to Him.

Curious. It's also peculiar to see images of Jesus before Catholicism became the standard Christian expression of discipleship. He's got shorter, curlier hair, a beard, and his skin is copper-tone. So, the false image of Jesus that's been handed down for generations is itself calculating, preying on the human mind's perception of things to create a reality that does not now, nor ever did exist. The worst part is that doing this limits our connection to the truth of who God really is. If we were to see beyond religion to the heart of who we are, why we're here, and God's perfect design for us it would end senseless suffering all over the earth. But, religion holds us back. I look forward to the day when we free our minds and become what God always intended.

Is it the Church or the Goers?

The Christian right has made quite a spectacle of itself as of late. While its positions are noble, its delivery is not, and so many are being turned away from "church" by its people. Why is this? How can we find such significant discrepancies and hypocrisies in church?

As a churchgoer for my entire life, it's clear that people say what they will at church and raise their hands in agreement with the virtues and morals put forth in the Bible. But, when they are not there, or when the rubber meets the road and they have to display the character of Jesus, an entirely different message sets up. I'm guilty of it myself. I lose my temper over small stuff. I don't exercise patience in certain situations, and I judge celebrities and politicians like there'll be no time to do it tomorrow.

So, what of it? What about the church and its followers and its rules? Recently, everyone has been upset about the healthcare mandate that requires businesses to pay for birth control regardless of whether or not the owners believe in it. I can understand the unrest in the interest of liberty. Businesses really shouldn't be forced by the government to do anything except pay the appropriate taxes for operating in the country. I can't see it being a religious freedom question, but a life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness issue. I say this because long ago it was determined that when these businesses hire individuals they must not hire based on religious affiliation. So, if the person who works for the business does not hold the same set of beliefs and everyone in the Nation is receiving this benefit from their employer, then this employer should follow suit and allow the worker to make the final decision about their birth control. This infringes on the workers' freedom.

Also, the photographers and bakers and wedding venues who keep turning away homosexual couples are showing a great deal of hypocrisy. Clearly, homosexuality in any form is listed as sin. Go to 1 Corinthians 6:9 and it will be listed there along with drunkenness, partying, fornication, adultery, idolatry, conning people out of money, theft, and wishing you had what someone else owns. It's funny how people walk into these places of business everyday to order cakes or photography, but are never questioned about whether there will be drinking at the party / wedding. Will there be dancing and revelry at the reception? No one asks if it's their first or second marriage, in which case they are committing adultery. Jesus himself says so. The couple to wed is not asked whether they are living together and fornicating. No one asks the bride where she found her dress...in a magazine on another woman, after looking at which she said, "I've gotta' have that one." If so, she was covetous and by these business owners' standards they cannot provide services for her. I mean, it's strange.  Why this sin? Why is this the hill the religious right is dying on? If the owners of these businesses had been holding up the banner all along, it would not be a story or a shock to anyone if they turned people away in this case as well. If you're going to stand, stand for the truth all the time, not just when it's socially acceptable.

That's the Christian church's problem today. It's not the message, it's the hypocrisy of the messengers. And until the church wakes up there will always be a cloud of ungodliness cast on it.