Saturday, 10 January 2009
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Since When Did Christianity Become a Cut and Paste Religion?
Guest post from wanderer1088
Why do we pick and choose what verses we want to follow? Since when did Christianity become a cut and paste religion? Why is that certain verses are only applied to our lives in personal way? Their meanings are placed in a box, limiting them to personal application only. In our attempts to control God we ignore the fact that His words transcend our personal lives. The teachings of Jesus apply to every aspect of life, the personal. the private and the public. No aspect of life is untouched by the teachings of Jesus. Consider the following passage:
Romans 12:17-21 (NASB)
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written," VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Maybe our modern minds can't comprehend or understand this passage so let's look at it put in a way we understand.
Why do we find ourselves fighting with each other? Why do we think we are God's gift to the world? What gives us the right to tell others what to do? What right do I have to judge you? Even if you're my enemy or I disagree with everything you do and say it doesn't matter. According to this passage and others like it I have an obligation to treat you well, to go the extra mile and kill you with love.Romans 12:17-21 (The Message)
Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
When did we get the idea that we can pick and choose what verses we want to follow?
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- From: wanderer1088@xanga
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Comments (65)
I think the main problem is that Christianity is sold as a solution to certain perceived problems. "Feeling guilty? Lonely? Afraid of going to hell? Try Jesus!"
It is not surprising that Christians who buy in for these reasons find it difficult to embrace the aspects of Christianity involve becoming slaves to a better master.
What's more, Christians have been trying very hard to be a respectable pillar in society, so lifestyles like the ones you mention in the post become less practical than they were in a church that was already a persecuted minority. "If all Christians rejected violent solutions," they say, "society would fall apart." When, ultimately, Romans 12 should lead us to believe that God is supposed to be in control, and not humans, not even the church.
-NDSR
I suppose it depends on what you mean by picking and choosing what to follow. Honestly, religion is what you make it. Christianity is about Christ, and after that the rest is up to you. So in that aspect, everyone picks and chooses what to follow, because its all your perception of what YOU think Jesus meant for YOU to do. I believe that christianity is a deeply personal religion, and that often it seems like we're just picking and choosing what aligns with our life, when in reality thats what religion is all about. What YOU think YOU should be doing/believing in. We learn in literature, that no matter how many people study one text, there will always be an interpretation different than you own, so you have to go with whats in your heart. We were all born with intuition for that reason.
This is the toughest question for me to answer about why I am religious. To an atheist or skeptic I don't think there is any way to answer this without seeming hypocritical. I've had people ask me why, if I see my neighbor mowing his lawn on the Sabbath, I don't march over to his yard and kill him. I've been asked why I wear clothing of mixed fibers, why I don't cover my head when I pray in public, why I don't endorse slavery, etc.
My response has always been to look at these verses within a cultural context, but to no avail. True, the Bible was written in a period where women were property and considered inferior to men, the rich owned slaves, etc. Truth be told, I have no answer for your question, but I think that indiechaos said it right: most importantly, Christianity is about Christ. Loving my neighbor and practicing forgiveness seems more important to me than worrying about the material my clothes are made of (unless it's fur...gross) so maybe I am a hypocrite, I don't know.
I agree we shouldn't merely ignore verses that seem questionable. We ought to always try to find a method that can objectively apply the bible to today while being true to God's intent.
@sirnickdon - I totally agree with you.
the Bible is interpreted by the person who reads it; the person who reads it is unique, therefore the interpretation is unique. even my twin and i do not interpret a verse the same way. but Christianity is about Jesus Christ, hence the word Christianity.
as Buddhists follow Buddha's style of living, so we Christians should follow Christ's. that's what the Bible is all about.
and if you want to know, there are all sorts of books based on applying the older laws/customs of the Bible into modern life; i'm sure God understands that laws have adapted to different ways of thinking. i mean, He wouldn't have given us free will without expecting us to grow and develop our culture. i've asked myself this question many times before, and i think the story of Jesus before Pilate fits well with this.
when Jesus is asked if he is the King of Jews, he replies, "You say so."
it is this statement that amazes the governor and causes him to believe Jesus is innocent of wrongdoing. it is because Jesus said YOU - YOU think what he is. so do according to what YOU think you should do based on Jesus' teachings.
I think it is because people are putting themselves in the center of the circle instead of putting God in the center, so they're trying to find what will benefit and is best for themselves (maybe not everyone, but this is just my opinion).
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - I totally agree with the Christ being the central part of who we are as Christians.
I think what's more of an issue is our picking and choosing when we want to apply a particular scripture. Like the one used in the post. We choose to apply it when it will get us something but why doesn't this verse apply to actions in the world everyday.
I think I failed to explain myself as well as I should have in this post. I am willing to clarify, go more in depth or whatever.
@wanderer1088@xanga - In my experience I have seen picking and choosing to be more of a justification for "bad" behavior rather than pointing out the fallacies of religion. I know plenty of people who call themselves devout Christians, yet have sex with their boyfriends on a regular basis without repentance.
Their justification is that sexual sin is no different than any other kind of sin, yet these are the people who openly oppose gay marriage because homosexuality is wrong. I am certainly not to be used as a proper example because I sin too obviously, but I just don't get how they can feel that way!
The wide variations of interpretations have led to a large amount of different Christian denominations (around 33,000 according to the 2001 World Christian Encyclopedia). I don't think this is necessarily wrong. Jesus said that we're all part of the same body even though we have very different functions. The important thing, like others have already commented, is what we do with the Faith we find.
Labels don't matter, we all believe the Bible. Can't we agree on that?
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - It's very true. Justification is probably a better way of putting it.
@captureacloud@xanga - i'm sure God understands that laws have adapted to different ways of thinking. i mean, He wouldn't have given us free will without expecting us to grow and develop our culture.
That is the argument my boyfriend used when we argue about whether or not to have sex, haha. He insists that since our culture has evolved drastically from the way it was in biblical times, sex before marriage is no longer the big deal it once was. I strongly disagree. And yes, he is a Christian as well.
@wanderer1088@xanga - But is that any less wrong than the people who point out the "extreme" verses to prove how religion is corrupt?
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - i agree with you, actually, about sex before marriage. i think i was referring more to stoning or putting people to death for certain acts.
@captureacloud@xanga - Well, for that reason, and the fact that girls of that time period were married off before they barely reached puberty, so saving yourself for marriage wasn't that hard. In today's world, many people don't get married until their late 20s or 30s, so he insists that it's unrealistic and just plain unfair to wait that long.
At 23 years old he still has yet to find a job and marriage is the last thing on his mind right now (not to mention that he has no money). We love each other, but neither of us is ready for marriage...hence the dilemma.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Simply saying "the culture has changed" can be used to justify ANYTHING the bible prohibits. Really understanding the bible is to determine the difference between what instructions were culture specific, and which are universal.
In addition, Paul said that it was better to marry than to "burn with passion" - so the argument that people back then got married earlier and didn't have to deal with being abstinent in the face of desire is simply not true.
@Theophilus166@xanga - Really understanding the bible is to determine the difference between what instructions were culture specific, and which are universal.
Well I'm sure a lot of things in the Bible can fit under both of those categories, pre-marital sex included. Me, I believe it's universal, but I guess that varies depending on who you talk to.
@Theophilus166@xanga - Oh and who knows if Paul was referring to the raging hormones of pre-pubescent men? :-p
Love thy neighbor (but don't get caught)
I believe the Bible, the Word of God, transcends time. Does anyone actually believe God cannot see the future? Do we think He was so short-sighted that He wouldn't have written "the rules" for our daily Christian lives without considering how we would progress and grow as a society? No, God is perfect, His Word is perfect and is "given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim 3:16-17) There is no time limit; the instruction given us in the Bible never expires!
Just because the world changes, society changes, doesn't mean Christianity or the rules of Christianity change. In fact, it is because the world changes that we (Christians) must not change. We do not have the authority or the power to change the rules!
The New Testament is our playbook, the Old Testament is our history book. Our greatest commandment is to Love one another (Jn 13:34). If we do that, then the other rules are easy to follow.
it happened with Constantine, and then the Lutherans kept it up.
@dcotton87@xanga - you're wrong. The page that separates old and new testament is not inspired scripture. It is one book, and the only reason that there is a new is because its quoting the old. 1 john 3:4 defines what sin is... now how do get a break down on what that law is?
It's all applicable for day to day living. It is all our history. It is one book. One.
@Safella@xanga - I so agree, :)
I personally believe people want to be Christians, live for God, RIGHT UP UNTIL it becomes an inconvenience to their lives/lifestyle. They tend to want to have God revolve around their lifestyle versus them around Him.
For instance, there are some people who can't stand the thought of someone doing them wrong. Therefore, they overlook the scriptures that refer to such because their desire to get even is SO much greater!
It's taken me this long in my walk with God to realize that the whole problem is related to "self," just like the "pride" issue. People tend to want to live for Him, as I said, right up until the point that they have to give up something, like walk away from an argument. How easily we forget that we are called to be "servants," not the King, :)
Hi,
God gave various laws out of His love for us and because He knows that we need protection...from ourselves. When we love Him and have a relationship with Him, we change inside and want to do what's right.
We make things so complicated, sometimes. Sigh.