I continually struggle with the term “Christian,” as I know many of us do these days. For a religion that has framed itself as having all the answers, it surely has some questions to answer.
These days, of course, the main question I hear from Christians and non-Christians alike is how on God’s green earth could millions of Christians *still* be supporting trump? Heck of a good question, one that this particular Christ-follower struggles with and prays about daily.
A closely related but more important question for me is this: how, how, HOW did a religion that began with (and is ostensibly still aligned with) a leader who preached love, compassion, and radical inclusion end up preaching wrath, judgment, and exclusion?
Perfect Love Drives Out Fear
How did fear of a place called “hell” become the driving force in the effort to recruit followers to a religion whose God is Love, according to their holy book? Here’s a news flash: To most humans, a wrathful God who will banish you to a fiery place of eternal conscious torment if you dare question “Him” doesn’t sound like good news. At all.
Will the “Christian Church” as a body ever grow out of their fear-fueled need for answers, certainty, & control, and open their collective minds and hearts to the deepest truths in their sacred book? Can they overcome their fear of not having all the answers and instead allow God’s mysterious love and endless grace to have the last word?
“The opposite of faith is not doubt, it is certainty.” — Anne Lamott
Writing with Spirit 
Jan 17, 2020 @ 15:15:55
I wish I had optimistic answers, Melanie. Sadly, it’s very similar in most religions, partly related to inevitable stages of growth, in which most people advance only slowly or stall just one or two stages along. I cover that on some depth in my “Spiritual Growth” ebook, available on Amazon. I’ve temporarily lowered the price to just $.99 to encourage people getting, reading it, and hopefully also posting a review of it.
There’s a synopsis of fair depth on my Naturalspirituality.wordpress.com blog also (as crass promotion, which I didn’t think you’d mind).
Jan 14, 2020 @ 10:56:36
Mel. Once as a tad, I went to my bishop and told him I had a crisis of faith. I was confused between the differences of consubstantiation and transubstantiation.
Bishop Moore, bent down, (he was a large man and I was not) and said, ” You know, I have never understood any of that shit before myself.” He paused. “But I am in this business to do good, and if you are interested in doing good, than stick with my team.”
For me, that made good sense. The stories of Christ and all the rest seemed only stories created around the central political message of drumming up support for their side. And pitifully beside the point, not stories about power and glory.
As a lapsed Episcopalian I have grappled with some of these issues. Godspeed on your travels. Peace and Love L.
Marchant Wentworth
Wentworth Green Strategies
903 Hamlin St NE
Washington, DC 20017
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Jan 14, 2020 @ 11:19:03
Love Bishop Moore. I see the stories of Christ as overturning the politics and power of the day and empowering and giving hope to the poor and oppressed and marginalized. His message and life should mean the same today, but unfortunately, biblical interpretation has been, ahem, somewhat lacking. Any time a religion is on the side of the rich and powerful, you gotta figure something is amiss. Happy 2020, Lucky!!