From this week's readings, I liked The Christian Paradox the best. Since I was old enough to realize what was going on, I've been confused by people around me, and probably myself, who identify themselves as "Christian" but don't seem to follow very "Christian" ethics. Let me say this up front: I am NOT bashing Christianity. What I am doing is talking openly about the difference between the people that use the word "Christian" and those that live the word "Christian." I also understand that there is more than one interpretation of Christian values.
Anyway, this article interested me when it pointed out the differences between the predominently Christian America and the "godless" countries like Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. So, if we really are a Christian country...why are these "godless" countries taking better care of their poor? Why is there less hunger? Less murder? Less war?
Sometimes I feel like Christianity is a label people hide behind, much like having a Range Rover keychain to make people think you own a fancy car. Is Christianity becoming all about appearances and less about actions? I think we as a country, and as Christians, need to remember why we identify ourselves that way.
I know I am a hyprocrite, just like many others. I identify myself as Christian, and do believe in God, but I do very little to help others. I give to GoodWill, food shelves, and charities for medical causes (If you can count $2 here and there as giving) but is that really enough? Am I a true Christian yet?
This article confused me a little when it spoke of how this country has become very self-centered with all our self-help and self-empowerment lifestyles. I am in favor of self-improvement. I feel that God wants me to be the best I can be, though I guess the question lies in does the best me have a profitable job that gets me a flat screen, new truck, and gives generously to charity - or is the best me the person who lives on little pay but gives what I can?
But perhaps, I am being too hard on myself. I love my neighbor, I try to make this world better a little at a time. But there is a small voice in my head saying that is a cop-out. That I am never doing enough, because in reality, I could be doing more. Just look at Greg Mortenson sleeping in his car to save money for Pakistan schools.
I don't know, I'm apologize for this wandering post. I just wonder how this Christian country can have so many problems that "godless" countries seem to handle better and more effectively.
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4 comments:
I believe it is all in our actions and the way we look at one another. We like to talk the talk but never walk the walk. You are doing far better than many are! Being a Christian has many that go along with it. This includes giving to others who do not have and following God's doctrine of loving our neighbors as ourselves as well as following the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.
I am with you Laell...
It's almost like we need a new term for Christianity that means actually being Christian and now just putting the hat on to save face. There will ultimately always be more things that each individual can do to help out others, but if it were not for those who continue to hold to their real Christian beliefs and strive to help others the little that they can, I would hate to imagine what our country would be like.
Look at it this way...
As long as there is conflict over Christianity, there must be something someone is doing right...why else would Satan try so hard to cause dissension among us? If Satan already had us, he wouldn't be trying so hard to get us.
I love the fact that "non-Christian" countries/people are putting us to shame. We have a lot to learn from everyone else and we need to stop thinking that we know everything and that since we are supposedly "Christian" we do everything right. Far from it!
Deeds matter. I don't think that it matters from where those good deeds are rooted.
Also, we can't get too hard on ourselves for failing. We all fail. However, that doesn't mean we can use that as an excuse. I think that we need to keep our eyes open for every opportunity to act out our faith/good deeds wherever possible. Maybe that practice will make a difference. Small things do make a difference.
i think one reason why the "godless" countries are doing better at taking care of things is because (and i am taking this example from one of my experiences with an uncle) some people believe that if things were really wrong, god would come along and fix them. sorry, harold. but i'm pretty sure that god put people on this earth so that we could take care of it, not so that we could destroy it and then wait around for god to bail us out.
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