:: Monday, February 20, 2006 ::

"Might be a quarter-life crisis, or just the stirring in my soul…" (John Mayer)

So I’ve been thinking lately. (A good habit; I recommend it… in moderation, of course.) I’ve been failing to see how the church attracts people. I’ve been failing to see how the church attracts me. I’ve been wondering how much of organized Christianity is just human tradition. The Presbyterian churches in our area fervently proclaim” Sola Scriptura” -- “Only Scripture” -- but if that were strictly true, women would be covering their heads and remaining silent in church. Obviously, “Only Scripture” is mixed quite heavily with culture and tradition.

What tenacious principles of modern Christianity are actually taken from the Bible?

You have to invite Jesus into your heart to be saved?
You must bow your head and close your eyes for prayer?
God wants you to stand alone?
If you kill yourself, you'll go to hell?
You must never drink alcohol?
It’s wrong to say no to a ministry opportunity?
You can claim any promise in the Bible as your own?
Dressing up for church is mandatory?
Smoking is a sin?
God wants you to harshly punish your children?
Sexual sin warrants kicking someone out of home, school, and church?
The entire gospel is about realizing sin, being saved from sin, and confessing sin ever after?
Church is where you meet God?

I think Christianity needs an enormous makeover. No, scratch that. It needs to be un-made-up. I’m tired of reading the Bible through the filter of church-mandated doctrine. I’m tired of viewing God as a messy patchwork of conflicting qualities. I’m tired of going to a predictable service every Sunday to sing songs that largely make no sense and hear a sermon so filled with Christian idioms that I can’t grasp a shred of relevant truth.

I’m on a new quest to discover God apart from what I’ve always been taught. I’m so excited to wipe my mind clear and tackle the Bible like an unread book. I’m so excited to pray honestly, without guilt or pretenses or prejudice. I’m so excited at the idea of becoming more me and less cookie-cutter Christian.

So yeah, I guess this is what comes of thinking too much. :)

Labels: Broiled Brain

:: Bethany Bassett - 12:39 PM :: + ::