Most of you will not read this all the way through and the part you do read will most assuredly fall on deaf ears because your hearts have already been hardened. Of those of you that do manage to read it all the way through, you also will most likely disagree with it because your hearts are also hardened. Knowing that, why am I writing this? Doesn't that mean I'm wasting my time? If even one person reads this and understands and opens their heart, then this isn't a waste of time.
I've been sitting with this for days. I've been surprised, confused, and disappointed, but then I realized that this is actually normal for religious Christians throughout history. Realizing that, I'm no longer surprised or confused. I'm only left disappointed.
For as long as there has been religious Christians, they have "brought Christ to the world" through conquering and persecution. They have forced other religions to bow down to Christianity or face dire consequences. The crusades? All of the holy wars fought throughout time? The forced indoctrination of the Celtics and Picts? The religious Christians would come in tear down The monuments and altars. They demanded that their God be the only God that he followed. They took over their festivals and holidays gave them a Christian twist and called them their own. I could keep going because there are SO MANY examples, but I'm going to stop there.
Time and time again, religious Christians have gotten it WRONG. Jesus didn't say "Go and conquer in my name." He said to share the good news of God's love. When people see Christians they are supposed to want what they have. They are supposed to yearn for that love and compassion. Instead, religious Christians are spreading hate. Instead of "God loves you" they shout "God hates this" and "God hates that" "Repent or go to hell! God hates" "God hates." That isn't the message Jesus said to share. Instead of sharing God's love and bringing people into the church, they're pushing people away. There's a common saying going around, "There's no hate like Christian love" have you ever heard it? Sadly, it's true in many circumstances. I no longer consider myself a Christian. I feel that my values no longer align with those religious beliefs. I still believe in the Bible, I still believe in God, but I no longer believe in the church. The love and compassion that is supposed to be there is missing. I think Jesus is missing.
I think many people need to reread Matthew 25 where Jesus explains that many people that think they are doing what God wants we'll find out that they were wrong. (Matthew 25:41-45 NKJV
[41] “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: [42] for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; [43] I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ [44] “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ [45] Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.25.41-45.NKJV)
I've been saying for years where has all the kindness and compassion gone? And I think the truth is it was never really there for many people. I think they were good at pretending and they no longer have to pretend.
Today, I consider myself pagan. I reverence nature and I celebrate the festivals on the wheel of the year. I believe that all things in life are important and vital and I don't believe humans are superior. I believe there is life and energy in everything. But that doesn't mean I stopped believing in God; although, to be perfectly honest, I believe that in the beginning their was also a Goddess that ruled beside God. I believe MAN removed all mention of her to rule over and control women. (That's another matter entirely) Although I believe in God, I refuse to associate with most churches because I refuse to associate with hate.
Speaking of control, I believe the biggest issue with religion itself is the men in power over the religion. Rich men in power will tell you whatever they need to tell you to continue being rich men in power. Unfortunately too many people get pulled in by what the rich men say and get led astray. And while the rich man will one day have to answer for what he's done, so too will the everyday man have to answer for what he's done. The choices he or she has made. Wide is the gate that many will go enter. Narrow is the gate that few will attain entry.
The Bible speaks of the faithful being persecuted and you will see many religious Christians claiming that they are persecuted. However they are the ones doing the actual persecution towards the faithful in the church. I am not saying it is every Christian and that is why I keep saying religious Christians because there is a difference. I've seen many Christians who are leaving the churches in droves because the churches are no longer teaching Christ's word. They are being persecuted and called out by the religious Christians for teaching about God's love and forgiveness as opposed to everything that God hates. The rich leaders in the church have convinced the congregation of what the Bible says and very few people are interpreting it themselves anymore. God isn't hate. He is love. And if you are spending all of your time focusing on what God hates then you are not sharing God's love nor are you living your life to share it as an example to those who don't know him yet.
Jesus said to not judge for however you judge you will also be judged. And I've seen many people say that "as Christians we are supposed to point out the sin of others." But I tell you this is wrong. You are simply to lead them to God by showing them examples of God's love. You are to live your life in such a way that they want to live their life that way as well. Leave the rest up to God. It is HIS place to judge and only HIS place to judge.
If you've read this far thank you for your time. I truly hope that if you consider yourself a Christian you will pray on what I've said here and you will let God open your heart. My father proclaimed that he was a prophet of the Lord. I do not claim that for myself, but I do feel that there have been many times where I have been led to share a message. Most of the times that happens I ruminate on it and ruminate on it and never actually get around to sharing it. Partly because I know it won't really matter to most people and partly because I don't want to have to deal with all of the comments proclaiming how wrong I am. Just as most people ignored the prophets and most religious people ignored Jesus, I expect to be ignored here. For I am less than those.
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