Because They Are...
"Because she’s a Christian, she the one that’s right," "Because he’s a Christian, he’ll be the best leader" "Because they’re Christians, they are doing the right thing," and "Because they’re a Christian, they’re a good person." I don’t know how many people, Christian and/or other religious groups, think this way – but I know, from my own observations, that such thinking does occur – and I don’t always "buy" such thinking (in terms of a person’s religion).
I know people who seem to believe that anyone who claims to be a Christian is always better for a job/position than a non-Christian – which might be true if the Christian were seeking a preaching job. I, however, am a Christian but I have to say – not all Christians are perfect – no man is. Some of us seem to forget that. We are all sinners and can only do our best to learn from and repent for our mistakes. Just because someone proclaims to be a "Christian" doesn’t mean they’re always "the one that’s right," "the best leader," "doing the right thing," "a good person," and/or even "a Christian." I know that first hand: When I was a young girl, I loved going to church – not just because my grandma would take us kids to 7-11 for snacks afterwards – but because we had a good, fun preacher leading the congregation. Everyone loved him. Thus it came as a shock to us all when he was rung up on sexual assault charges – accused of molesting several of the girls within our congregation. He did some hard prison time. To this day, I still can’t believe such a thing like that happened. I always thought he was such a good, "perfect" Christian. He was a Christian, but far from perfect. One might say, "we’ll that was just him – he was just a bad seed" – maybe. But aren’t we all "bad seeds" in one way or another? Have you ever felt "hate" in your heart? Have you ever judged someone when it really wasn’t your place to be judging? We all have a little bit of that "bad seed" within us from time to time. It’s human nature.
When the 2004 Presidential elections rolled around, I wasn’t sure who – if anybody – I was going to vote for. However, I knew that I was not going to base my decision solely on whether the candidate was a Christian or not (the majority of the candidates where Christians). I got some slack from a hometown friend about my decision to vote for Kerry – despite the fact that Kerry is a practicing Roman Catholic, he evidently wasn’t "Christian" enough for a "Christian" to be voting for. To me, that is sad. No human nor Christian alike is perfect (we are all sinners). Jesus himself knew this when he ate dinner with the despised "tax collectors." I also have a theory that all humans are hypocrites in some way or another – but I’ll save that for another blog. Anyway, I would have voted for a non-Christian candidate if he would have made the best leader and had the best qualities/ideas (However, I honestly don't see a non-Christian ever leading a country that is over 70% Christian). I believe non-Christians are just as capable of being decent presidents. Call me a liberal – I don’t care. I am still a God-fearing Christian. I believe God comes to different people at different times in their lives. Life’s not linear.
In conclusion, does anyone remember when Jesus warned His people about false prophets? He said, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matthew 7:15). And – when Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about the masquerade of false prophets, "And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:12-14). It is important that we Christians keep these in mind before presuming that "all Christians are good people and all Christians are right people." Beware or be decieved.
I know people who seem to believe that anyone who claims to be a Christian is always better for a job/position than a non-Christian – which might be true if the Christian were seeking a preaching job. I, however, am a Christian but I have to say – not all Christians are perfect – no man is. Some of us seem to forget that. We are all sinners and can only do our best to learn from and repent for our mistakes. Just because someone proclaims to be a "Christian" doesn’t mean they’re always "the one that’s right," "the best leader," "doing the right thing," "a good person," and/or even "a Christian." I know that first hand: When I was a young girl, I loved going to church – not just because my grandma would take us kids to 7-11 for snacks afterwards – but because we had a good, fun preacher leading the congregation. Everyone loved him. Thus it came as a shock to us all when he was rung up on sexual assault charges – accused of molesting several of the girls within our congregation. He did some hard prison time. To this day, I still can’t believe such a thing like that happened. I always thought he was such a good, "perfect" Christian. He was a Christian, but far from perfect. One might say, "we’ll that was just him – he was just a bad seed" – maybe. But aren’t we all "bad seeds" in one way or another? Have you ever felt "hate" in your heart? Have you ever judged someone when it really wasn’t your place to be judging? We all have a little bit of that "bad seed" within us from time to time. It’s human nature.
When the 2004 Presidential elections rolled around, I wasn’t sure who – if anybody – I was going to vote for. However, I knew that I was not going to base my decision solely on whether the candidate was a Christian or not (the majority of the candidates where Christians). I got some slack from a hometown friend about my decision to vote for Kerry – despite the fact that Kerry is a practicing Roman Catholic, he evidently wasn’t "Christian" enough for a "Christian" to be voting for. To me, that is sad. No human nor Christian alike is perfect (we are all sinners). Jesus himself knew this when he ate dinner with the despised "tax collectors." I also have a theory that all humans are hypocrites in some way or another – but I’ll save that for another blog. Anyway, I would have voted for a non-Christian candidate if he would have made the best leader and had the best qualities/ideas (However, I honestly don't see a non-Christian ever leading a country that is over 70% Christian). I believe non-Christians are just as capable of being decent presidents. Call me a liberal – I don’t care. I am still a God-fearing Christian. I believe God comes to different people at different times in their lives. Life’s not linear.
In conclusion, does anyone remember when Jesus warned His people about false prophets? He said, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matthew 7:15). And – when Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about the masquerade of false prophets, "And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:12-14). It is important that we Christians keep these in mind before presuming that "all Christians are good people and all Christians are right people." Beware or be decieved.
posted by Holly at 1:20 AM
3 Comments:
I know what you mean about the preacher of your church and how you couldn't believe he was sexually assaulting girls.
My favorite preacher growing up was a GREAT fun guy! I adored him and his family. My role models! Then him and his family moved away to another church in another state. Then only a year or so later he began having an affair with someone else at the church and left his wife and kids. I couldn't believe it. I loved him and his family so much...i was like...dang.
You're definitely right, all Christians aren't perfect. Far from it.
I don't think the assumption that someone is a better person because they're Christian is automatic. If someone proclaims themselves to be a Christian, or a devout follower of any religion, it simply means that it is easier to hold them to an ethical standard - one that they have established for themselves.
The ethics/morals of a "non-believer" are in question only because no one is able to know by what standard he/she lives by.
When someone professes a faith, it is much easier to call them out when they transgress. I think that is part of the appeal of not choosing a faith - one can't be called on the breaches of one's own standards because none have been specifically outlined.
Well said and good for you for saying it. It's a good thing I at least try to look at the blogs I surf onto or I would have missed this.
Dianne
http://diannemaire.tblog.com/
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