No Room in the Inn
It’s interesting how ideas will churn in my head until one day a concept pops out. It is one of those ideas that I share now. First some of the ingredients that went into the recipe.
Last year there was much fuss over stores saying “Happy Holidays” instead of Merry Christmas. Their attempt to be inclusive and inoffensive was greeting with scorn by those who apparently believe that commercialism is only proper if it invokes Christ. The phrase from years before about putting Christ back in Christmas was more an attempt to reflect on the real meaning of the holidays instead of requiring Christ’s seal of approval on the materialism society has created.
Walmart has become the everyman’s golden calf. We worship before low prices. We will sell our souls to the Chinese to save a few bucks. We sacrifice safety and standards for greed. But I digress.
The second ingredient that went into my mental stew was an article I read on a progressive Christian web site. It talked about if we really want to elect leaders with religious values we should stop focusing on whether they go to church or how do they stand on my pet value and instead focus on hw many things they do that the Bible recommends.
What are their plans for healing the sick, feeding the hungry, providing justice to the oppressed, clothing the naked… Which ones are blessed as peacemakers, soft hearted, generous and forgiving. These are the things that make a truly values based leader.
These two ideas collided and tasted great together and out popped my ideas.
Put the Christ back in Christianity.
So many Christians seem to dismiss the words and actions of Christ in favor of pontificating over the writings of Paul or even select passages from Leviticus. The preach a hate-filled vengeful God who is a polar opposite to the person God was when he walked the earth in the form of Jesus.
For me, the words and actions of Christ are pretty much all that matters in the Bible. Everything else is supporting interpretations. If you’re going to quote scripture, try limiting it to Christ’s message.
How beautiful Christianity would be if all Christians practiced Christs demonstrations of tolerance, inclusiveness, forgiveness, the challenging of our traditional convictions, compassion and most of all love for all.
Let’s put Christ back in Christianity.
Last year there was much fuss over stores saying “Happy Holidays” instead of Merry Christmas. Their attempt to be inclusive and inoffensive was greeting with scorn by those who apparently believe that commercialism is only proper if it invokes Christ. The phrase from years before about putting Christ back in Christmas was more an attempt to reflect on the real meaning of the holidays instead of requiring Christ’s seal of approval on the materialism society has created.
Walmart has become the everyman’s golden calf. We worship before low prices. We will sell our souls to the Chinese to save a few bucks. We sacrifice safety and standards for greed. But I digress.
The second ingredient that went into my mental stew was an article I read on a progressive Christian web site. It talked about if we really want to elect leaders with religious values we should stop focusing on whether they go to church or how do they stand on my pet value and instead focus on hw many things they do that the Bible recommends.
What are their plans for healing the sick, feeding the hungry, providing justice to the oppressed, clothing the naked… Which ones are blessed as peacemakers, soft hearted, generous and forgiving. These are the things that make a truly values based leader.
These two ideas collided and tasted great together and out popped my ideas.
Put the Christ back in Christianity.
So many Christians seem to dismiss the words and actions of Christ in favor of pontificating over the writings of Paul or even select passages from Leviticus. The preach a hate-filled vengeful God who is a polar opposite to the person God was when he walked the earth in the form of Jesus.
For me, the words and actions of Christ are pretty much all that matters in the Bible. Everything else is supporting interpretations. If you’re going to quote scripture, try limiting it to Christ’s message.
How beautiful Christianity would be if all Christians practiced Christs demonstrations of tolerance, inclusiveness, forgiveness, the challenging of our traditional convictions, compassion and most of all love for all.
Let’s put Christ back in Christianity.
posted by Scott | 9:38 AM
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