What's with fundamentalist Christians

Yep - Imagine

 

In a way Lennon was good...

 

He is talked about.

 

Speaking as a non christian,but as a fellow human ,I can see your dilema and I feel for you. What's sad and hypocritical are the attitudes you describe ,because those true believers are the first ones to utter god or jesus's name while engaging in that anti-jesus behaviour. "Forgive them ,for they know not what they do" must be very difficult for christians that try to follow in his teachings, when those around them do not adhere. Someone mentioned universal unitarians--I haven't been to their services,but I have read about them and I don't think you'd have to stress about their way of thinking were you to give them a try.

 

It is remarkable to me that the precepts of Jesus are so universally understood, regardless of whether one is christian or not.

 

My dear departed grandma that "raised" me, taught me early on "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". What else does the world of humans need?

 

A few of my favorites --
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 18:25)”

“Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'
And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'"
(Matthew 25.35-40 ESV)

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"
(Matthew 5.43-45 ESV)

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

19] "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. [20] At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores [21] and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
[22] "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. [23] In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. [24] So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in lu
[25] "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. [26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' [/I][/B][/COLOR]

 

Yeah, he's talked about. But, it's not all in a good way.

 

I think the stifling atmosphere in fundamentalist Christian churches (speaking from my own experience) is good for one purpose, at least: It feels so good when you leave.

You can try to make inroads in your Sunday School students' thinking, but you have to be very aware of what they might tell their parents. And you will most definitely hear from parents in no uncertain terms if anything they hear strikes what they consider the wrong chord.

 

"I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong."
- John Lennon

 

Thanks for the advice - I agree. But it's hard to contradict what I teach when I teach the words and concepts that Jesus teaches. I teach Jesus and hopefully the concepts will take hold in what is often a poisoned atmosphere of convoluted thinking.

 

If you just teach what Jesus taught, seems like you can't get into any trouble. But I'm thinking there's kind of a "standard" interpretation for some of Jesus' parables and metaphors, which you might need to be careful not to run afoul of. I'm sure you can handle it.

 

Rather than seeking Jesus through a church, I advise that you find a church through Jesus. I never came to Christ because someone laid it out perfectly and I said "Oh, that makes perfect sense!" I came to Christ because He came to me. If the people in the church are making Jesus out to be what you know He's not, do you side with Him or with them? Jesus is about love, freedom, peace, righteousness, etc. I happen to lean in the conservative direction on many things, but I support gay rights (discourage it as a lifestyle, but I have to worry about securing freedom for people to choose before I can advise them towards what I believe is the correct choice), support war only when it is to defend our nation or another nation, etc. A walk with Jesus isn't politics, anyhow, so focus on what's important, my friend.

 

Just saw the coolest bumper sticker-----"Please God,let me be the person my dog thinks I am".

 

That my friend is a very compelling argument - well spoken with sincerely. Thank you. I have to think on what you said. My rationalizations have been that I have been in that church for 30 years, I have invested my time and resources in it have have made many friends. But perhaps I am using the wrong arguments on myself. Why must it be so hard to find a group of like minded Christians to worship with?

If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

What do we gain if we love those who love us?
It sounds to me like you would do well to seek communion with like minded people and worship as your father knows you, in secret.
I am curious if this has been a dilemma for all 30 years you have belonged to this organization?

 

The leader of the pack?

 

No - not always. Sometimes things will happen that cause us to step back and take a look through a more critical eye. Generally, I serve as best I can and don't worry about this sort of thing. I do find it nearly impossible to participate in some of the activities of the church.

For instance, I teach little kids in Sunday School - but if I were not doing that and was in an adult class, it would be very difficult for me go. Conversation sometimes turn to petty issues that demean certain groups - ie; the poor and gays and public schools. I know this because my wife, whom I have converted to my way of thinking over the last 35 years, is in a class. She does not mind stirring the pot when someone says something outrageous. One lady said in s/s that Obama lies about everything - which is blatant, mean spirited exaggeration. I would be more apt to sit back and stew over it.

The answer to your question is no- but it bothers me more often than I feel it should.

 

I agree with you that it is a blatant exaggeration, forgive the "mean spirit", they do not know what they do.

Did you ever think of discussing the way you feel with your pastor, he may be able to address the issue from the pulpit. I know in some churches the Sunday sermon is relevant to the real activities of the community.
I think your Sunday school activities are great. I leaned about Jesus from the kids song Jesus loves the little children. The words of that song introduced me to the hypocrisy of many members who obviously did not love all the children of the world. If an 8 year old can see this, I think, Houston, we have a problem.
As far as politics goes, I think it is one of those things that belongs to
Ceasar, and doesn't really belong in the church.

 

...is good meant to be God?

...what came first? I would say morality was part of our DNA long before Jesus came onto the scene. We have to remember Jesus does not span the whole of human history...