Faith
I decided tonight that I would post about faith and "godly people." This has really been bugging me for a while... so here goes.
I will be the first to admit: I am NOT a godly person. I used to pretend I was, for the sake of not disappointing those around me who expected that of me. I've done a lot of things God would not approve of... and when I say a lot, I mean a lot. It's true, ok? I listen to secular music (which I don't think is even remotely a sin), I watch movies with sex in them (and I enjoy them to boot), I swear, I lie, I cheat. All of these things and many more. This is why I am not a godly person. Nobody has to tell me I'm not. The thing that bugs me most though, is the fact that, if you think about it, none of us really are.
Not the devout Christian's who go to church every week, spend all of their time there, live their sheltered lives shutting out all the "bad things" in this world. Not them. Not the Pope. Sorry. Not the pastors or elders of our churches, not gay people, not straight people, not babies, not adults. Nobody. Why do I say this? Because, from the time I started learning about the Bible, I was taught that all sins are equal, and that everyone on this earth has sinned. That's what I was always taught. Thus, that is what I have always believed. So when I hear pastors, or leaders talking about "godly people" it makes me want to puke. Honestly. I understand being close to God, and one person being more "spiritually mature" than another. I get that. I don't like the term "godly" though.
I mean, it's true, we're all made in God's image, so that makes us "godly" in a sense, but only a minute one. Otherwise, we are all sinners and should be called as such. I find it also annoying that the church, who is supposed to be accepting of others, ya know, the whole "come as you are thing, segregates who is, and is not worthy of participating in certain activities.
You are going to tell me that one sinner is more worthy of leading worship, or speaking in front of a group than another is? You are going to tell me that someone who LOVES music should not be allowed to lead worship for the fear that their "sinful life" (which everyone leads by the way) will be impressed upon others, or may be sending the wrong message? It makes me wonder what kind of message you are trying to send. Honestly, the message I get from it is: "if you lead a questionable lifestyle, you will not be accepted." But that's just the words that are shouted out to me when I see this. I mean, if we're honestly talking about who is more "spiritually mature," or more "godly" than another, let's break it down a bit.
Let me show you a gay person who praises God for the institution of marriage, even though he is not allowed to marry, and you tell me he is not more spiritually mature than anyone else.
Let me show you a person who cannot talk, but praises God for words others speak to them, and tell me that he is not more mature.
Let me show you someone who is terminally ill, yet praises God for being alive, and you tell me that that person is not more worthy of the kingdom of God than yourself.
I will tell you that you are a wrong. These people I mentioned, there are many of them. It's all around us, everyday, yet we choose to look past that and take up ideas of segregation and judgement, when we have nothing to stand on.
Think about it. Think about what it means, because if God is really a loving God, he will love everyone equally, and none is above another, because without Jesus, we are all just sinners. Just flesh and blood, nothing more. It makes me despise Christians a bit. Because Christianity should be about accepting, not rejecting. It should about loving, regardless, because that's what Jesus would do.
I will be the first to admit: I am NOT a godly person. I used to pretend I was, for the sake of not disappointing those around me who expected that of me. I've done a lot of things God would not approve of... and when I say a lot, I mean a lot. It's true, ok? I listen to secular music (which I don't think is even remotely a sin), I watch movies with sex in them (and I enjoy them to boot), I swear, I lie, I cheat. All of these things and many more. This is why I am not a godly person. Nobody has to tell me I'm not. The thing that bugs me most though, is the fact that, if you think about it, none of us really are.
Not the devout Christian's who go to church every week, spend all of their time there, live their sheltered lives shutting out all the "bad things" in this world. Not them. Not the Pope. Sorry. Not the pastors or elders of our churches, not gay people, not straight people, not babies, not adults. Nobody. Why do I say this? Because, from the time I started learning about the Bible, I was taught that all sins are equal, and that everyone on this earth has sinned. That's what I was always taught. Thus, that is what I have always believed. So when I hear pastors, or leaders talking about "godly people" it makes me want to puke. Honestly. I understand being close to God, and one person being more "spiritually mature" than another. I get that. I don't like the term "godly" though.
I mean, it's true, we're all made in God's image, so that makes us "godly" in a sense, but only a minute one. Otherwise, we are all sinners and should be called as such. I find it also annoying that the church, who is supposed to be accepting of others, ya know, the whole "come as you are thing, segregates who is, and is not worthy of participating in certain activities.
You are going to tell me that one sinner is more worthy of leading worship, or speaking in front of a group than another is? You are going to tell me that someone who LOVES music should not be allowed to lead worship for the fear that their "sinful life" (which everyone leads by the way) will be impressed upon others, or may be sending the wrong message? It makes me wonder what kind of message you are trying to send. Honestly, the message I get from it is: "if you lead a questionable lifestyle, you will not be accepted." But that's just the words that are shouted out to me when I see this. I mean, if we're honestly talking about who is more "spiritually mature," or more "godly" than another, let's break it down a bit.
Let me show you a gay person who praises God for the institution of marriage, even though he is not allowed to marry, and you tell me he is not more spiritually mature than anyone else.
Let me show you a person who cannot talk, but praises God for words others speak to them, and tell me that he is not more mature.
Let me show you someone who is terminally ill, yet praises God for being alive, and you tell me that that person is not more worthy of the kingdom of God than yourself.
I will tell you that you are a wrong. These people I mentioned, there are many of them. It's all around us, everyday, yet we choose to look past that and take up ideas of segregation and judgement, when we have nothing to stand on.
Think about it. Think about what it means, because if God is really a loving God, he will love everyone equally, and none is above another, because without Jesus, we are all just sinners. Just flesh and blood, nothing more. It makes me despise Christians a bit. Because Christianity should be about accepting, not rejecting. It should about loving, regardless, because that's what Jesus would do.
posted by Elk Hat at 11:25 PM
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