All right. That's it. I've HAD it!

[darth_stitch]

I'm Christian. Roman Catholic to be precise. It's the faith I was born into, the one I grew up in, the one that has seen me through the best of times and at the very worst moments of my life. It was a rosary my hands clutched as I spent another sleepless night in the ICU unit as my father lay dying, pacing around, letting my exhausted mother sleep. It was in prayer that I found my comfort and an unbelievable strength I didn't know I had.

So my faith and religion is a part of my life, something that's there as easily as breathing or eating or sleeping. I don't wear it on my sleeve, bandy it about, quote Bible verses to preach sermons from the mount. My faith and religion simply are.

The last time I looked, the Boss of this particular faith - that nice, sweet-faced Jewish boy who's a fine carpenter - summed up all His teachings in two simple sentences: Love God above all things. Love Thy Neighbor as you love yourself.

And I can not, for the life of me, figure out why my fellow Christians, whether Catholic or in other sects, can't seem to understand or comprehend just what those two basic sentences really mean.

It both saddens and completely pisses me off when I see someone claiming to be a "Christian" attack another person because their faith is different, their beliefs are different, their lifestyle is different, their sexual orientation is different etc. Or worse, look down on them with condescending pity and simply shrug and say, "that I will pray that you will see the light." Please. Give me a break. Buddha and Jesus and Mohammed were probably sharing notes and are now currently having long wonderful philosophical discussions over coffee and bagels in heaven.

It both saddens and angers me to know that there are so-called Christians who have made otherwise decent, loving human beings wary of other people who are of my religion. That when someone says, "I am a Christian" - it's like a danger or alert signal to other, intelligent, kind, loving beings that blares: WARNING! THIS IS A HYPOCRITICAL, SELF-RIGHTEOUS NARROW MINDED BIGOT! RUN! KEEP AWAY! STAY BACK!

It both saddens and angers me to see that these fellow Christians, who've probably memorized the Bible front and back, upside down and sideways, have forgotten the essence of our religion's teachings.

Love.

Compassion.

Understanding.

Hope.

That's what Jesus is basically all about.

He didn't shy away from the so-called outcasts of society. He hung around with prostitutes, with tax collectors, with lepers, with the kind of people everyone else thought was beneath notice and beyond the pale. He talked to them as fellow human beings, showed them decency and kindness and compassion and love most of all. He listened to their woes. He told them that it was okay, that they had every reason to hope and to find love.

He never turned any of them away.

And in today's world, I'm sure that Jesus, if He'd come now, instead of 2000 years ago in a manger in Bethlehem, would probably be hanging with the people these so-called Christians abhor. I'm sure He'd love to babysit the kid of that nice Muslim couple next door, have coffee with the lesbian couple on the next block, playfully tease the old Jewish grandmother in the apartment building and talk Zen philosophy with the young gay Buddhist college student in the other apartment. He wouldn't waste His time telling them off for their religious, personal beliefs and lifestyle choices.

He would love them and accept them for who they are. Because that's what being a Christian is really all about.

So yeah, I'm a Christian. And if by some mischance you've encountered people of my faith who say you're not welcome - ignore them. Forget them. Pity them, even, because that's not what we're about and they'll never ever understand that. They just don't know what they're missing, wrapped up in their blind hate, their prejudice and ignorance.

I'm a Christian. Regardless of your color, creed or sexual orientation, you are welcome here with me. Because my Boss is a good, open-minded fellow who welcomes everyone with love, compassion and respect. Because my Boss created me with a conscience and a brain to use, who won't just blindly swallow dogma and rules and forget the real essence behind said dogma and rules.

I'm a Christian. That's just part of who I am like being furry, blue and alien-ish. But it also means that I do my best to live up to what my Boss taught me, to be good, decent, kind and loving. And if I never do anything great or world-shattering in my life, the fact that I've done my best to be that and shown that to my fellow aliens and human beings, will be enough.

Comments

[tanyad.livejournal.com]

I love you for this... unfortunately, I've met too many Un-Christ like people who call themselves christian. Can I repost in my LJ? You make a wonderful point and some people need to be reminded.

:hug:

[darth-stitch.livejournal.com]

*is stunned*

*blushes*

Um. Yeah. You're welcome to do so.

*hides behind furry ears now*

[tanyad.livejournal.com]

*tickles your furry ears* come on out, see what I wrote. :)

[ajmckay.livejournal.com]

I want to say thank-you for this post. While I was raised Roman Catholic and still attend church once in a while when I visit the parents I don't really consider myself a Christian necessarily, but through my past and many of my friends I know without a doubt there's many, so many Christians that are getting branded, especially here in the US. It's almost like a dirty word for people and that's sad that the hatred of a few make people bring back hate to the ones who don't deserve it. My friends that say they're Christian get branded as zealots, bigots, and even uneducated hicks often times.

We're playing the old game of hate: you hate me, so I hate everyone like you. Even the tolerant are not as open as they thought once the hate game takes root.

Not to say that some spouting to be Christians aren't bigoted, wrong people. Sad, sad thing it is.

Thank-you for your post.

[darth-stitch.livejournal.com]

I know. And it makes me both sad and angry that in this world, "Christian" is becoming this new four-letter-word that symbolizes hate and intolerance and self-righteousness.

Irony - because that was what exactly what Jesus found when He came round here and He preached against it.

*sigh* *hugs you* It used to be that when you say you're a "Christian," one thinks, this is a good person. Not a narrow-minded moron. I wish we can bring it back to that point again.

[wenelda.livejournal.com]

people like you give me faith in humanity, and are really what i believe to be true christians. those who are hypocrites aren't christians, in my mind, no matter what they claim.

[meshell-mybell.livejournal.com]

Coming from a Lutheran who gets a ton of flack for all those who like to blow up clinics that serve women in more ways than abortions...Amen!

Your words speak truth and they explain how I've always lived my life. Everyone is human, we are to love all our fellow men, women, children, transexuals, gays, and undescribables...they are human with flesh and blood. I don't have to take them in and make them breakfast, all I need to do is show them the same niceities I'd like shown to myself. (Yay Golden Rule)

I'd like to share your 'rant' with my friends who all feel the same as me...

Loving you and giving you uber hugs...
~Blue

[darth-stitch.livejournal.com]

I'm mostly against abortion but I don't believe the solution to that is to condemn the abortionists and the women who've had them. I don't have the right to judge them; I don't know what on earth they've been through or how they had to arrive at such a decision.

And it's not a solution to blow up their clinics either *rolls eyes* Good God - I thought these people were "pro-life" - doesn't blowing up a clinic, where an abortionist and the patients could get killed or someone else could get hurt, make these so called radical, fanatic pro-lifers just as bad as the ones they hate?

[darth-stitch.livejournal.com]

Um. You're welcome to share my "rant" with your friends too.

Heh. *blushes & hides behind long ears*

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

I'm Jewish, but my father's side of the family are evangelicals.

WORD to what you're saying. Sometimes it can be very awkward to spend time with them, because they think we're going to hell unless they do something. In many ways, they're mean, bitter people. But THEY think of themselves as "good Christian folk."

I fail to see how nearly bringing my mother to tears is being a "good Christian."

[sullacat.livejournal.com]

Wow - this was beautiful. It made me remember that there are wonderful, loving, tolerant people out there, even if the loud, harsh, ugly voices rise above the rest.

Wish I had written something as good as this!

*hugs*

[fatascribunda.livejournal.com]

Another "Word" to this, and a request to link to my LJ. I (and many of my RL friends) grew up RC and I think that even if we many not be happy with some of the current teachings of the church, it's still a big part of who we are. So when people live unChristian behaviors, or worse, make assumptions about the Church, it's hard to just stomach it.

Heh. This was just a wordy way of saying "Word" Shoulda stuck to that!

[darth-stitch.livejournal.com]

Sure. Go right ahead and link.

Hail to thee, fellow RC! XP

So maybe our Church isn't perfect. So maybe it's made huge mistakes. And will probably keep on making them. But it's human. Like we're human. And God loves the lot of us regardless.

[thepinkangel.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry if this is impossibly long.



No, seriously, I'm choked up reading this. And I'm not one to cry, either (I haven't cried since May...and before that I went a whole year without it).
I, too, was raised Christian. Methodist/Reformed, though. In my child's eye view, I thought that Jesus was the one who would send divine punishment if I was bad (even if that's not really Protestant belief ^^;), and would love me when I was sad. I sang the hymns very loudly, and I participated in the Christmas pageant gladly.
However, I since turned away from Christianity. Part of it's my fault; I started turning away when I was angry and depressed in 6th grade; I blamed all my problems on God, and questioned why he didn't help me or chase away my pain. Jesus seemed to mock me. However, this was only enforced when I met people like you describe. Forgive me; I respect the Catholic faith a lot, but the Church bothers me greatly for its hypocrisy and lies (especially concerning homosexuality, but I'm biased pro- in that respect).
I honestly feel somewhat lost. I have beliefs, VERY strong ones, but no deity and/or mantra to follow, and I feel the loss. Whenever very nice, open Christians talk to me one-on-one about how much God and Jesus love me, I burst into tears. I can't even describe what I feel at the those times; there's too much, 1, and 2, it's been too long since such an encouter. Which is really disheartening.
I have tried to come back to Christianity several times; mainly in the April of 2004 and for a few months afterwards. I don't know what happened. I think because I live in a very liberal area, where many aren't spiritual or religiouspeople, sort of suppressed my trying to reach out to the Christian faith again. There aren't a lot of churches around here. Also, there are few people who are spiritual, but an unfortunate overload of religious people, who are those small-minded Christians.
My cousin, Pebs (her family nickname), is a very cool woman. Mother of two, happy marriage. VERY Christian. Used to say "Gays are OK. I don't agree, but they're people too." However, when I last saw her, she was saying things like "Gays should be kicked out of the country!" and saying "gays" like a disgusting swear word. That may be another reason I've been turned off...my own crazy family... =.=;;

One thing I keep alive about Christianity within myself (it's the one thing I really like about myself, too) is that I do live the "love everyone" mantra. I tend to see the good in most people, and accept them with their faults and not despite. I'm not perfect; if someone rubs me the wrong way, or they just don't "feel" right, I tend not to want to stick around. However, "hate" is something almost nonexistant in my vocabulary; there are only two people on the planet I truly "hate". So, that's what I'm proud of: my capacity to love. Hopefully, I'll find my way back to where I began when I was little, with a better view of how I think things work between God, Jesus, and myself. And that ability to love will be the first step in the right direction. I hope.

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

Please don't feel bad about struggling with faith. Here's something that might help - drawn from The Chronicles of Narnia, of all neat things. Basically, it's this - if you live it, you are it. The titles don't matter. God can sort it out just fine without our labels: Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist. If you live your life with lovingkindness and compassion toward your fellow-beings, you *are* living a christian life. All the rest is temporal window-dressing put up by humans who seem to need all that clutter.

Keep loving for and caring for your fellow-beings and you'll do fine, in this world and any other.

M99 - Lutheran and Buddhist Great combo :D

[thepinkangel.livejournal.com]

Thank you; that's very encouraging :') I'm trying hard. We all are!

[darth-stitch.livejournal.com]

The Church, sad to say, is not perfect. But then, it's a human Church as well - so that's to be expected. That doesn't mean that every one within that Church will be small-minded, mean and petty.

And don't ever let those small-minded, mean and petty Christians -whether they're ordinary people or priests or nuns - ever make you feel you're unworthy of God and His love.

All He's ever asked of us is to do our best to live and show compassion and decency and kindness and love to our fellow human beings, regardless of what they are. Even if you find that the church in your area is not a welcome place for you - that church is merely a building. A real church is a community of people - the kind of Christians who really live Christ's teachings and will welcome you with open arms and not tell you that being gay or lesbian is evil.

That real Church is alive and well and it's in people like you and me.

*hugs*

[thepinkangel.livejournal.com]

I will try harder to find a place to celebrate God. I will try harder to live the mantra. Thank you for your words of encouragement. <3<3
*squeezehug* Aaah, Stitch, I love you... Really I do. *snurfle*
Until my artglacier (tm) decides to melt, I decided to make this for you in thanks... For everything. The fics, your humor, your kindness, and you loveable wackiness. Thank you. This is a paltry, bad excuse for thanks. But the big present is yet to come :)
the least I can do for now

[dryad-duinath.livejournal.com]

You work that soap box sister!

*sniff*

*clings*

[kokopoko.livejournal.com]

AMEN My exact sentiments. That's exactly it. Completely. That's almost exactly how I explain it to my friends.

[h311ybean]

All I can say is...bravo! *gives Stitch a standing ovation*

this is aliciamasters sister...

[hobbits-4-me.livejournal.com]

Being a New Christian *little less then a year into my faith* and being raised quite liberal, I understand your mind set. Recently I went to Belfast Ireland on a mission trip. We visited a suburb called "The Shankle". In it, there was a Peace Wall. A 20 foot tall wall dividing the Protestants and the Catholics....I cried for about an hour.
Hate is not something Jesus taught us. "God so LOVED the world he gave His only son." He loved the world. All of it. We should too. It is not our place to judge and condemn, the heavenly Father has reserved that right. Only He judges the living. We are menat to love Him and eachother. Not pass judgement, and hatred upon His people. No matter how different they are from you. Love your fellow man. Love him, not judge him.
Sometimes I feel very divided amongst my friends. I have Christian friends, who tend to be conservative and "hate" filled. And I have my non-Christian friends who don't give a shit either way. Very few of my friends are actually in between.
It saddens me that they feel so righteous that they too can judge Humans. When, in reality, only the Trinity holds that power. It saddens me to see them so full of hate, and use God has an excuse to feel that way. God loves all of us. He doesn't care. He made us so that we may worship Him. He meant for us to be happy while we were here waiting for eternity with Him in heaven. Happiness is not meant to be judged, and neither are we...at least not by eachother.
Many of the "Christians" who are full of false-righteousness and hatred say in their defense that "God said that *insert rant here*" and they use some verse that only vaguely references it. No offense, but it's a book. A book written by a man. A book, written by a man, over 2000 years ago. Lets think about this people. Yes, I believe the Bible is God's word. But God is God, and we are all merely men. He alone judges the living and the dead. He alone has the power to create and destroy.
Create. Yes, He created us. Every single one of us. I believe that. We are all made in His image. We are all perfect in His eyes, because we are all His children. Mistakes, yes. We've all made them. We've all sinned, and we'll continue to sin and make mistakes, but that's why He forgives us. He knows that we don't know any better. He understands and He continues to love us nonetheless.
Our "job" on Earth is not to hate eachother. It's not to judge eachother. It's not even to love eachother. (Although it's a good thing to do so, becausee love and fellowship are AMAZINGLY important). No. Our job on this rock is to worship our God. Worship Him and Praise Him in every situation. Love Him no matter how good, or how bad things get. Have faith, that He has something better waiting for you in Heaven. Have faith in the Father, that He loves you, and He will not let you suffer long. Suffering is something we all have to do. If we did not, than we could not feel the good. We must feel pain so that we may feel joy. But when we do suffer, if we lay at His feet and weep...We will find comfort.
"Be still and know the Lord is God."

**Gets off soap box, and returns it to Darth-Stitch....**
oh, and I was wondering if I could gank yout rant (and mine too) and post them on my lj....

Re: this is aliciamasters sister...

[darth-stitch.livejournal.com]

Wordity word to you and welcome to the faith! *hugs*

Our Church isn't perfect, believe me, but the Nice Young Jewish Carpenter who started it all definitely is. And you're on the right track with who and what Christianity is all about!

Um. Sure you can post or link my rant over to your LJ. Personally, I'm glad that I'm not alone out here.... sometimes, with all the other hate-filled voices out there, I can feel so alone.

*hugs you again*

Oh. And you're welcome to hang out here whenever you want - join the Potter-Snape madness! Hee.

Re: this is aliciamasters sister...

[aliciamasters.livejournal.com]

You know, religion is a very interesting and emotional topic for me. I was baptized Roman Catholic, and raised Episcopalian. My stepfather is an Episcopal Priest, and I never missed church. When I was in college, I toyed with the idea of entering seminary, since the Episcopal church ordains women. I attended a very inspirational spiritual weekend, where I had a crisis of faith. I love the church, and I love Jesus' message, but I didn't really believe the resurrection. Ever since that moment, I've exposed myself to all kinds of religion, in the hope that the faith may somehow re-emerge. Instead, I've kind of settled into a loving atheism.

I love and admire people of faith, who let that faith shine in their kindness to their fellow man.

I love and admire moments of stillness, that allow us to reflect on our lives and the example we set.

I love and admire those who minister to others without judgement.

I love and admire those who struggle against adversity.

I love and admire those who seek fellowship and respect each other's differences.

I do believe this one thing: we are made of the same atoms that make up the stars, and the galaxies, and the flowers in the fields. We are all part of the innate cycle of life, of energy, and of the cosmos. We are all connect at the most basic level. Therefore, what we do to each other, we do to ourselves. If we treat each other with kindness, we give that energy to the universe. If we are cruel and judgemental to each other, we give a different kind of energy to the world.

I think you are an admirable little blue alien. You are a wonderful example to others, and it will always be enough. Thank you for your wonderfully expressed essay; it brought tears to my eyes, and gave me lots to think about. As you can see, I told my girls about it. (My girls are my sisters, whom we have been taking care of since their mom died.) The younger one commented as hobbits_4_me.

My Kinda!

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

You put this so well, Stitch! Amen.

Of course, Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammed are probably all shaing coffee donated by Morrie and bagels are good for any denomination. (I started to spell that 'demonation' need a nap and a new brain, not necessarily in that order.)

Morrie: Hey, 'demonation' is OK by me! XD

Re: My Kinda!

[darth-stitch.livejournal.com]

*is trying to imagine Jesus and Morrie in the same room together*

*is picturing Jesus doing the guitar with Morrie on the piano*

*giggles*

*brain explodes*

[ookii-risu.livejournal.com]

Hello, I'm tanyad's friend, and I read her repost of this on her LJ. I just wanted to say, THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS! I've thought of these very same things so much. I had many conversations with Christians who came across as "smarter than thou," and I really felt uncomfortable when, at the time, I was really trying to find a place for religion in my life. (I was born Catholic, and over time I became uninterested in it.)

I am quite happy with barely acknowledging religion these days, but when I come across nice Christians who really represent their claim, I notice. That's how bad it's become, in my eyes, especially with the president fighting for an amendment to promote inequality for people who just want the right to love and show their love, while the Christian groups promote this. It's RIDICULOUS!

If they don't already have a group of Christians fighting for human rights and combating the narrow-mindedness of bigot Christians, it would be nice if people like you created one.

Anyway, thanks again for writing this.

P.S. I love Stitch :) Cute icon.