Various topics in the state of Christianity in America. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
It happened again. Gun violence in America. In a school. Today, it’s about Nashville. Tomorrow? It’ll be another school. Some people cry out to stop the violence. Others cry out to keep the assault style weapons that are so often used in these mass killings. Will we ever stop gun violence in America?
Christians should be careful about being people pleasers. Really? Aren’t we supposed to be loving? Do things like meet people where they are? Accept everyone for who they are? Get along with everyone? All that good stuff? Well, let me answer that with a question. Was Jesus a people pleaser?
Four years ago, I wrote Christians and abortion: Will Christians abandon God over abortion? The impetus for it was Disney, the state of Georgia, and proposed abortion legislation. Well, things have changed dramatically since then. Therefore, my new question for this update is Will abortion drive people away from Christianity?
Do short-sighted Christians make you want to avoid church? Not short-sighted as in eye problems. Short-sighted as an not thinking out of the box. Far enough into the future. Beyond the walls of their own church. Things like that.
Do entitled Christians make you want to avoid church? People who say, I’m Christian so I can do what I want. I’ve been saved. I’m forgiven. No matter what I do.
Do complaining Christians make you want to avoid church? It might. Sometimes, maybe it even should. However, having said that, it depends on who’s complaining, why, and to whom? Believe it or not, Biblically speaking, some complaining can be good. But some complaints can be very destructive. Oh, by the way, don’t leave the church in general. Leave that church – and find another.
Why do rich people give their money away? Is it because Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor …”? It seems to be happening a lot lately. Is Jesus the reason? Or is there something else behind it?
Do you know what Christian practical atheism is? Have you ever even heard of it? It was new to me when I read about it this morning. The bigger questions are: once you know what it is, are you a Christian who’s actually a practical theist? In any case, you probably know some. Intrigued yet?
Does Christian gossip make you want to avoid church? Do Christians gossip? Yes. Even in church? Yes. We are people, so the answer’s got to be yes. No, we aren’t supposed to. But just stopping at yes we do and no we shouldn’t – well, that’s just not good enough. Let’s face it, Christians who gossip do make people want to avoid church.
Do Christian Nationalists know what Jesus taught? They probably do. At least they can probably pull out some words here and there to support their beliefs. Maybe the real question is, do Christian nationalists understand what Jesus taught? In that case, I have to say the answer is a resounding “No!”
