April 27, 2006

sleep comes like a drug, in god's country

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."

-The Bible (Matthew 6)

This has always been one of my favorite passges in the Bible. It has always bothered me when I see people out in public trying to force their beliefs down other people's throats. A recent thread on Boardix got me thinking about this subject again. It made me remember a story.

(Cue flashback)

On my way from class to work one day, I saw a group of evangelists out on the Quad, waving banners and yelling slogans at people. It was a windy say and I thought the wind might use their giant signs as sails and blow them away. I tend to ignore these kinds of demonstrations because they happen so frequently. I listnen to a little of what these people have to say as I pass, just to make sure that I still disagree with them. (One of my favorite assertions that I ever heard is that the reason people get drunk is because of insecurity.)
On this particular day, the message was that everyone walking across the Quad was going to burn in hell if they didn't "accept Jesus." In reality, accepting Jesus means perscribing to this particular groups narrow definition of Christianity.
As I was just about the walk off the Quad past the Natural History Building, a woman tried to hand me a pamphlet while warning me of my impending doom.
"Not a chance," I said.
"That's what God is going to say when you get to the pearly gates," she said.
"I'm Catholic, I think I'll be ok."
"Catholicism is a cult!"
Now, she's entitled to her opinion. Lord knows I have my opinion of hers. But to confront someone like that so rudly is very out of line with my view of the teachings of Christianity. It wasn't enough for this woman that I do believe in Jesus. I believe he was born of a virgin mother, died for our sins and rose from the dead. She needed me to believe in the exact same brand of Christianity as she does.
When the conversation about fundamentalism came up on Boardix, this little anecdote came to mind, as did the quote from the Bible above.
The Jesus that I know wouldn't approve of this kind of work being done in his name. He was a guy who made friends with tax collectors and prostitutes and all forms of sinners. He didn't try to scare them straight. His method of teaching was living by example and preaching to those who would listen.
It's my belief that Christ does call us to spread the faith. But he does so by asking us to live a good example, to use what opportunities we have to spread his message and be loving and accepting of our neighbors.
I don't usually take my beliefs this public, but I thought the discussion on Boardix provided me with a good opportunity.

Sorry this is a day late. My Dad was in town last night and my brother had a concert. And I spent the time I usally use at work on this doing homework. I'll be back on time next Wednesday. I promise.

SONG OF THE MOMENT:

Handle with Care - Jenny Lewis (feat. Ben Gibbard and Conner Oberst)

Posted by dpetrella at April 27, 2006 3:19 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I've got to agree with that being probably my favorite passage, also. All of Matthew 6 is really good.

In fact, I think you hit it all on the head completely. Nice work, totally agreed.

Posted by: Neil at April 27, 2006 10:58 PM

Yeah, Dan, I've got to agree with that. I think i used to be a fundamentalist. Don't blame me, i was young and impressionable.

The thing about Catholicism being a cult is pretty much the most laughable part of the whole thing though. I mean a cult is something that doesn't line up with religious dogma and tradition. people sometimes speak badly of tradition and dogma. sometimes they are right. But it sure helps keep the heretics out, no doubt. Catholicism, being the oldest form of Christianity, is easily the least cult-like form out there. They must just like throwing the word around.

When you think about the kind of people that Jesus rubbed shoulders with, it does sort of make you like him. Its never the high-brow types you'd think. And Jesus wasn't ever the type to use sweeping social programs and paid advertisements to get his message out. He had no manager, no slick ad campaign, no financiers. He just relied on good old person-to-person love and stuff. Okay maybe i'm becoming a street-preacher now too. Sorry. Anyway I liked your story and think you're spot-on.

Posted by: matt good at May 1, 2006 12:53 AM
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