Thought over coffee this morning

 The Bible is the one place where God and man can meet and commune.

Bible as a Philosphy

 

I had a professor in religious studies that had a position on the Abrahamic tomes.   He stated that the Hebrew, Christian, and Islamic religious texts should be treated as a philosophical and moral guide and not taken so literally as has been the case for the last few decades.

This flew in the face of the stated objectives of the seminary.   But he was an excellent professor to teach the introduction to the Bible.  He broke down the books and organization better than I had ever had it before.  He and I shared one thing in common, besides age, the hating of labeling a person's belief.  He said at the very start everyone is either Christian or some other belief.  There is no liberal or conservative or moderate and there never should be when it comes to your belief. 

The start of the conversation that led to his statement on the Bible started with a simple question, which Bible is best for studying.   Of course, anyone that has spent time in religious studies knows there is no one single answer.  

It was during cover the difference in each version and the need for anyone that wishes to be a theologian and/or a scholar of Christian you will need at least three to four versions of the Bible.  This is when he went all open thoughts on us.    He pointed out that the 15 to 35 age bracket in American is moving away from all mainstream organized religions.  They have taken offense at parents pushing their religions and beliefs on the kids.  This had the effect of causing a movement to a-religious or atheists. 

What effect did this have?  Well based on him, he should have the effect of finding a way to bring the younger adults back to Churches.   Instead,  the Churches have dug in and most have become more conservative.   He felt we need to approach the Bible in a more modern method.   That we need to start instructing the Bible as a Philosophy and Moral Guide to life.  That is what it is and was meant to be.   Christians have moved away from that and have tried to make it into something it is not.  

Needless to say, this caused a lot of intense discussions that lasted throughout the length of the class.

I have thought about it allot the four years since the class.  The more I have seen our country fall into divisiveness, the more the Churches and religion have become divided.   The more I think the professor may have a point.  The hate and vitriol coming from pulpits as homilies and sermons are not what Christianity was meant to be and we all know that.   So maybe it is time we take time to re-read the scriptures and treat them as a life philosophy and moral guide.

Just a thought.

My Rant for the day

 I recently had a young lady, as in her 30’s,  come to me in a despondent mood.   It appears a church she has been going to for an extended time, she was not clear on how long, refused her baptism.   I was dismayed to hear that and preceded to inquire why and to get more information.   What I learned was that she had done all the course and study and found herself wanting and needing baptism to finish her journey.  The last step was an interview with the pastor.  When he was at the end of the interview he asked if she had anything she wanted to confess or tell the Lord.   Being fully in the spirit she informed him that she was Bi-sexual with a preference towards her gender.   Those were the words she used to explain it to me.

She said he stood up, paced, and finally sat down again.  Looked her in the eyes and said to her, and I quote her here “We can not baptize you with this new information.  Your sin is too great to be overcome, I am sorry but you have damned yourself to hades.”   I was stunned.

So we discussed while I research in the Bible for the damning part.   First, let me be clear, she came to me because she knew I had a degree that involved religious studies.   Secondly, I am a Moderate with liberal-leanings when it comes to Christianity.   She also knew this.  

Here is what I discovered as far as I went.   I did not see one mention in the baptism story in the Bible where there was qualification for being baptized.  In Matthew 3, not one mention of qualifications needed.   Same thing in Mark, no mention other than repentance, like in Matthew.    I keep searching the Gospels, no pre-requirements are found.   In Luke and Act’s there was more information given, but still no pre-requirements.  He baptized, soldiers, Tax Collectors, Prostitutes, and many others.  He did not care what or who they were. All they had to do was want to be baptized and to find their way to God through baptism.

So why do we in this time in history put qualifiers on being baptized?   Are we better than John and Jesus?  I think not.   We as a society and those in charge of the dogma and protocols of churches have strayed so far as to put our agendas ahead of Jesus and yes even above God.   This is applied to baptisms, attendance at church, weddings, and in some cases I have heard of last rites and funerals.

Where is this coming from?  A very few sentences in the Bible Scriptures that the clergy and church rulers give them the right to exclude anyone they don’t like to feel are of the right beliefs for their church.  They feel that they can put their interpretation and their beliefs ahead of the teachings and inspired words of God.  This bothers me immensely.   Thus they have made Christianity exclusive instead of how Christ taught it as inclusive.

When you exclude a person because they are a Lesbian or Gay, or they have been Divorced, or they are not a tithing member from being baptized, getting communion, or receiving any of the holy sacraments, you have in essences put yourself above the bible and God and have ignored the teachings of Christ.   While you may not agree with a person's personal choice, it is not your place to sit in judgment and to deny anything holy to them.

James 4:12 ESV /  There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

So for me,  remember that Jesus died for our sins.  If we seek God and we ask forgiveness then what we do or have done becomes mote.  Safe them, give them your time, give them God’s forgiveness as it is his, not yours.   Provide the person a way forward.  You might be the only person that has taken the time to listen.  If you then condemn then, then you are no better than those that sent them on the path that led to you. 

I took the time to find a place that she could go and continue her journey.  Then I came here to rant at the hypocrisy of the present Churches state.

From The Reformed Catholic Church.

 

First thought of the New year.

 I think it is time we all reset our mindset from We are entitled and we have rights to the We have obligations and we have responsibilities.   Once we do that, those things that we were entitled to or had rights to will be given to us by the Lord and no longer taken by man.