Several years ago, I attended a
local concert with a coworker and several of his friends. I was having a
conversation with a friend of his that was drinking quite a bit. During our conversation,
he told me that my coworker had informed him that I was a minister but not to
worry because I was cool. I thought on this quite a bit since that time.
What made me an exception to the
rule of being a minister that he did not have to worry? What made me acceptable
as being cool? I even asked my coworker about it. The conclusions I have
reached may not be completely accurate, but I would like to think I am close.
The statement did not bother me.
In fact, I took honor in it. To some degree, this meant that both the church
community and the non-churched (for lack of a better term) community accepted
me.
Today, people do not like
stereotypes. However, as humans, we still have a hard time not categorizing others
in a stereotype. Ministers and other “churchgoers” are in a stereotype of
being religious. Religious according to Webster’s dictionary is “believing in a
god or a group of gods and following the rules of a religion.” I think that is
part of the problem. Religious people follow rules. Different religions have
different rules. This causes people to judge others based of their particular
set of rules.
People do not enjoy others
telling them they are wrong. People do not like others judging them.
What most people want is to be accepted.
If you look at life of Paul in
the New Testament, he was very religious. He followed the Jewish religion to
the letter. He had such a zeal for it that he imprisoned and killed many who
did not believe as he did. He did not understand that loving God and being
religious were two separate things.
I look at the how religion has
physically killed millions of people. Islamic Jihads killed millions over
twelve centuries. The Aztecs had human sacrifices killing nearly 20, 000 people
a year. Nero, emperor of Rome in 64AD persecuted and killed Christians for about
a hundred years. The list of religious atrocities goes on: the witch-hunts, the
Inquisition, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and India’s Thuggee Murders.
Since this is what is on my mind,
you must understand that I am a Christian, and my thoughts reflect my beliefs
in the life and teachings of Jesus.
Religion is dangerous. Jesus came
to love. He came not to condemn people. He came to save them from sin. He did
not come to initiate a new religion. He came to set people free. The people
that gave him the most trouble were the religious people. They gave him so much
trouble that they beat him and hung him on a cross until he died.
Today, many people grew up with
certain religious viewpoints. To some degree, whether those viewpoints are
valid or not, it is how they continue to live and by which they judge others. You
accept people by how you think they should be according to your rules.
Let us be rule-breakers. I do not
mean breaking the law or following after some sin. Jesus talked to people that
others thought he should not. He taught love in his words and by example. He
preached acceptance, not of the wrong people did, but of the people themselves.
Do I have faith? The answer is
yes. Do I love, honor and obey Jesus? I most definitely do. Do I follow a set
of rules that man has made up to please a God that has given me freedom and
liberty? I hope that answer is no. I am not perfect. I try to love and accept
without judging. Many times, I succeed. I hope to succeed more in the future.
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