I hate it when people use God to try and boost their image. Just because you believe in God, or, at least
claim to believe in God, you are not automatically a good person. So you've probably heard about that Chris Brown/Rihanna brawl. This was his released statement:
"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person."
Aww..
. Now that we know you're a good Christian boy, it's okay that you beat up your girlfriend! Just keep going to church and all is forgiven!
And then there was
that Miley Cyrus picture where she made fun of Asians or something.
(Sidenote: I wasn't a little bit offended by that picture. People need to calm down.) This was her statement:
"I have learned a valuable lesson from this and know that sometime my actions can be unintentionally hurtful. I know everything is a part of God's ultimate plan, and mistakes happen so that eventually I will become the woman he aspires me to be."
I cannot even begin to understand why she mentioned God, because it has nothing to do with the situation. Oh, that's right. You wanted to remind us that you love God, so that makes your apology more genuine, right?
Also, when Paris Hilton was going to jail, she suddenly started carrying around a Bible, letting the papparazi take plenty of shots of her holding the holy book. Oh, Paris. We feel so bad for you now! Don't worry about the whole DUI thing- now that we know you read the Bible, you don't deserve to go to jail!
And it's not just celebrities- a few years ago, I was friends with a girl who would always say things like, "You should really try going to church, Eden! It'll really help you!" I always politely declined, telling her the usual "
I've tried it and didn't like it, it's just not for me, etc." But she kept nagging me about it. I again just kept evading her comments.
So after she nags me about how I could "be a better person" or whatever, she goes off on her merry way and cheats on her tests, copies other people's homework, and gossips about her best friend. I also didn't
need your "help". I was and am perfectly happy with my atheist lifestyle. Believe it or not, just because I don't believe in God, I have morals!
I'm probably a better Christian than half of the people I go to school with (excluding that whole "believing in God" part).
Don't get me wrong - I don't mind when people are religious. In fact, I like it when people are religious (just as long as they don't try to push their beliefs onto other people)! It's nice when people have faith. And I don't expect all Christians to be perfect, but just don't put on the huge "Good Christian" image, tell people to follow your lifestyle because it'll "help" them, and then go off and be a humongous hypocrite.
(photo by FLQ)
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Comments (106)
I agree! I'm an atheist as well and it makes me nuts when I tell people that and their response is something like "oh so that means you can do whatever you want right?" Yeah, because the second you stop believing in God murder becomes A-ok. It's so ridiculous. Having religion doesn't mean a person is moral or immoral, it just means they have a certain set of reasons for their morals which they may or may not follow very well.
I thought the exact same thing when I heard about Chris Brown's statement. No one cares what your religion is, you abused someone you're in a relationship with, and that's never cool.
Mmm, I think the real Christians don't have to claim to be "Christians." In fact, being a "Christian" means nothing to God, if you believe in him.
People who claim to be a Christian and aren't will be found faulty later on.
Perhaps, and I'm just brain-storming, thinking on the fly, so no one flame or freak out on me, please!
But perhaps it could be said: The biggest failing of Christianity is hypocrisy.
That's not saying that Christianity is a failure or that all Christians are hypocrites. It's acknowledging that hypocrisy of Christians is one of the major reasons people are turned off by Christianity.
I can't begin to tell you how many times I've heard people say something to that effect.
I dunno - what do you think? Is that a valid statement? Or is my caffeine crash addling my brains right now?
I really hate that too! Plus that apology seems written by a publicist.
i used God, and he used me like baaaaaad during last november =\
@trebleclef402@xanga - I would modify your statement to say "The biggest failing of Christians is hypocrisy". The religion itself does not promote or condone hypocrisy.
@QuantumStorm@xanga - good call on that
@ice_yourtea@xanga - I agree with you. When you are a christian, others can see it through your actions, the things, you say, the way you react to things. Christians shouldn't even have to say that they believe in God. They should act in certain ways to glorify God. They should not have to openly say that they are doing it for God.
If Miley Cyrus reacted responsibly and in a God-pleasing manner, it wouldn't matter or not it was in "God's plan" or whatever rediculious reasoning she has, it should show through her actions.
@trebleclef402@xanga - I agree with you as well. I'm so happy that you can see the other side, and not jump onto the bandwagon, believing that all christians are bible thumping conservatives - there are so many other people out there, who ARE openminded, and don't fit the stereotypes. I'm glad you're giving it a chance! And I'm sorry that some people have ruined it for you. Theres this one kid at my school whos 100% redneck "God Bless America" "Obama an an antichrist" and unfortuantely, I can see where the anti-christiain views are coming from.... >___< Anyway, don't really know what my point was, but I'm glad you're giving it a chance and staying open minded.
@its_me_katie@xanga - Actually, I am a Christian. lol
so I don't think this post is all fair. Just because people aren't fully living a 'Christian example' does not mean they aren't people who believe in Jesus and believe that THEY really are believers.
Being a Christian isn't the easiest thing and sometimes it takes really hard times to realize, "Wow, I've strayed so far from what I believe and this has really put things into perspective." Be it hitting your girlfriend which you would normally never have done. Be it making a face in a picture that was obviously NOT to make fun of Asians because other Asians are there.
I do understand that some artists use God as a way to seem friendlier, or 'better,' but I also believe that sometimes fame and excitement and media overshadow true faith that some people might have. It's easy to get sucked up into certain lifestyles and images that the world puts out there.
@trebleclef402@xanga - I'm really embarassed now >___< Please don't think I thought so because you were acting ungodly - you really really, were not. I am so sorry!
@its_me_katie@xanga - Haha! It's alright! No worries!
@trebleclef402@xanga - Unfortunately, I don't think that's the only reason, but it is certainly one of the bigger ones. Hypocrisy and the judgmental mentality of a vocal minority are the two biggest things in my mind of why people want nothing to do with God/Jesus.
It's not just the caffeine ;)
caffeine is good for you :)
I personally dislike when people are so hateful and like to puff themselves up by gripping about others, passing judgment on them without even knowing them and their personal lives.
But that's just me.
This has always been a controversy and continues to be. It all boils down to "People aren't always what they claim themselves to be." Granted, people (including Christian's) aren't perfect, but who are we to judge the faith of others? I'm not defending celebrities - I think God is often taken advantage of in such ways, that he plays into people's hearts.
But we really can't judge anyone's relationship with God. We're not Miley or Paris or Chris. We're not our best friend, or out neighbor. I know often we see Christian's doing bad things, but when it comes down to it -- it's God's job to judge this person, not ours. The only thing we can do is pray for people who are struggling in their faith and actions.
I know it's hard to feel sorry for these folks (and by sorry, I mean not in a 'pity' sort of way, but in a 'hopeful' way, in that they learn life lessons and change their ways), and it's annoying to see people being hypocrites in general, not just in the media, but everywhere. It's a part of life though, and we'd be much less bitter-hearted if we focused on our own faith, and if not, our own actions and morals.
Just my 2 (or 3, or 4) cents : )
@sheepthatsblack@xanga - Ah, judgmentalism! Another thing that bugs me, yet we're all guilty of it at some point or another, am I right?
I tend to be judgmental of judgmental people. Then I realized the hypocrisy of that. Just now. As I was typing. Because I've never really thought about it before now.
Oops.
I'm going to have to work on that one.
@trebleclef402@xanga - haha...sorry? I think? Or happy I fulfilled my duty as your Christian brother to help you in your walk? Which would then require me remove the plank of judgmentalism in my own eye....now I'm all sorts of confused as to the ordering of priorities.
Come to think of it, I think we might have just found reason #3...and it's not one we can really change...
Alas, I'm not going to claim to be innocent of judging people, but I'm probably more guilty of hypocrisy than judgmentalism...which is a statement of the extent of my hypocrisy
Though I love your statement, "I tend to be judgmental of judgmental people," it's so true (for me at least, and I'll assume you since you said it) and so easy to fall into!
@trebleclef402@xanga - "The biggest cause of atheism in the world is Christians. Who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
-What If I Stumble, DC Talk
@sheepthatsblack@xanga - I feel like I'm caught in a vicious and somewhat confusing cycle here.
@ice_yourtea@xanga - actually I had that quote pop in my head before I wrote what I did. I couldn't remember the entire thing, though, and I was feeling too lazy to look it up.
Thanks for putting it out there!
@trebleclef402@xanga - no problem :)
As a Christian, I don't like it when these celebrities use God in their publicity statements (or stunts, in Paris' case). If they're Christians, fine; they can seek atonement in private. Don't wave God's name around for the purpose of looking less guilty for your mistakes.
Miley's apology sounded less like an apology though, even without the part about God. Because she turned the blame onto the media, saying they're trying to make her look like a bad girl.
I can understand celebrities whose faith and religion are made aware outside of scandal, because in that case they would talk about God/their faith even when they haven't done something wrong. Instead some people just like to use God to gain sympathy points.
@trebleclef402@xanga - That's actually true.
I'm probably a better Christian than half of the people I go to school with.
I felt this same way in highschool and now that I'm more mature I consider people who can't look past religion to be missing out on a lot in life. I am Pagan and it's not unusual for people to treat me different after I tell them...it's like after hanging out with you while you probably assumed I was Christian as soon as you find out I'm Pagan means I no longer have the same morals and values when I obviously do.
I've been damned to hell more times than I'd like to remember by people that use to known me pretty well...no matter how different, I would never damn a person for believing in something else. To me is sounds ridiculous.
To be fair, there is a hardcore Christian I know that use to be a little uncomfortable with me being Pagan but he realized I didn't believe in something unholy and has gotten past it. The person I have in mind, in turn, grew a lot from being friends with me...and it goes the same for me.