So you've been burned by some folks at a church and you're struggling with the hypocrisy of the whole thing? A lot of us hear you, we’re sorry that happened to you, that stinks. Something inside you knows people aren't supposed to treat each other like that.
One thing to consider - the whole reason we have for knowing and understanding the person of Jesus Christ is because of those exact same types of people that hurt you. Jesus called out the leaders of the church in His time for doing all the kinds of things that are driving people like you away. In doing so, He made them so mad, they conspired with their sworn enemies to have Him killed.
"Well, anyway, I could never mindlessly worship someone who's so narcissistic he needs my uninterrupted attention."
Is that what God wants from you though? Repeated chants? Money? Have you considered a God that cares less about what you can do for Him and more about just being with you? Is it possible that someone who designed you knows what's best for your relationship - keeping you close to Him?
"Well, Christians believe in N and I'm !N, so no thanks."
Sure, I get it, we want a God that will love us for who we are - just the way we are. But sometimes we're more selective with our love without even asking the question "Yeah, God should love me, but do I love Him whatever way He is?" Are we willing to change any part of ourselves? The problem here is that if there is an intelligent God, He knows that anything we love more than Him becomes our god. Maybe that isn't the kind of relationship he's after. Maybe he wants our whole heart, not just a part.
And therein lies the issue, we aren't terribly loving to that kind of God, any of us. Most of us mess up constantly, and the most frequent way we do so is by hurting someone else He created and we elevate ourselves. That's the whole point. Look around, we're about 5 minutes from torching this whole thing to the ground. We blew it. And you know what? After all that, just like the day he was nailed to the cross - He forgives us, He still wants to give us a chance to make amends and draw near to Him.
Dear Internet stranger, shut down your IDE for 5 minutes and take some time this Easter to figure this out. Is it possible that God is near? That He wrote Himself into our story and happened to have the name Jesus? That He took the hit and died on a cross and He rose again to make your relationship with Him right? If God loves you, he's not going to drag you somewhere you don't want to go - that wouldn’t be love. Maybe forgiveness and a new start is holding out it's hand, but if it was, would you even be willing to consider it?
One thing to consider - the whole reason we have for knowing and understanding the person of Jesus Christ is because of those exact same types of people that hurt you. Jesus called out the leaders of the church in His time for doing all the kinds of things that are driving people like you away. In doing so, He made them so mad, they conspired with their sworn enemies to have Him killed.
"Well, anyway, I could never mindlessly worship someone who's so narcissistic he needs my uninterrupted attention."
Is that what God wants from you though? Repeated chants? Money? Have you considered a God that cares less about what you can do for Him and more about just being with you? Is it possible that someone who designed you knows what's best for your relationship - keeping you close to Him?
"Well, Christians believe in N and I'm !N, so no thanks."
Sure, I get it, we want a God that will love us for who we are - just the way we are. But sometimes we're more selective with our love without even asking the question "Yeah, God should love me, but do I love Him whatever way He is?" Are we willing to change any part of ourselves? The problem here is that if there is an intelligent God, He knows that anything we love more than Him becomes our god. Maybe that isn't the kind of relationship he's after. Maybe he wants our whole heart, not just a part.
And therein lies the issue, we aren't terribly loving to that kind of God, any of us. Most of us mess up constantly, and the most frequent way we do so is by hurting someone else He created and we elevate ourselves. That's the whole point. Look around, we're about 5 minutes from torching this whole thing to the ground. We blew it. And you know what? After all that, just like the day he was nailed to the cross - He forgives us, He still wants to give us a chance to make amends and draw near to Him.
Dear Internet stranger, shut down your IDE for 5 minutes and take some time this Easter to figure this out. Is it possible that God is near? That He wrote Himself into our story and happened to have the name Jesus? That He took the hit and died on a cross and He rose again to make your relationship with Him right? If God loves you, he's not going to drag you somewhere you don't want to go - that wouldn’t be love. Maybe forgiveness and a new start is holding out it's hand, but if it was, would you even be willing to consider it?