First, I realize that this is a pretty loaded topic. If you have thoughts or opinions on this subject, please share. But please keep an open, educated mind and a thought out response.
Today, a man posted a sentence on a friends status about how Christian use the Bible as a weapon, using it to tear people down instead of build people up. That's when it all clicked, literally, I literally clicked "like". Tools are most often inanimate objects that can be picked up and used to create some sort of energy or reaction. There are generally only two types. One can be used to build things like a hammer or nail, the second can be used to destroy things like a sword or a bulldozer.
I do consider my self a "Christian". I believe and follow God, I pray and read the Bible but I don't identify myself under the label of Christianity. Mainly because of what Christianity has become. Many "Christians" nowadays use their religion as a tool to destroy those who do not believe the way they do. They judge before they see and say before they think. They are very quick to defend a belief that has been handed down from pastor to pastor and rarely create opinions and thoughts for themselves. They quote the Bible without knowing what the words really mean or what is on the next page.
In Sunday school, when I was young, I was force fed Bible verses. I never read the verses for myself, I was just told to memorize and recite. Being a pastors kid, you did what you were told. Growing up, I was told that believing in God was my only option. It was imperative, no other choice. Well, there really isn't. But I never got the chance to know God for who he really is, instead I was told to believe in him without knowing why. As I developed more of a conscious, God was no longer a relationship but more of some far away distant being that would zap you with lightening and thunder if you didn't strictly adhere to the way you were brought up. Going against the church was more wrong than disobeying God or treating people without kindness.
Now, there are good Christians out there. We are currently attending a church that surprises me every time I go there. The people there are true and good and it's amazing-and intimidating- how close they are with God. However, I am scared every time I cross the threshold of that church. Not because of the good people behind the doors but because of the other people that used to be hiding behind the pews, judging and whispering. Condemning you to Hell if you wore pants or watches or even if you talked to someone outside or your "church". Unfortunately, those "Christians" are the ones who stand out in the world. The world only sees the radicals. It's not cool to be Christians, not because the world twists the image of Christianity but because Christians themselves send out a negative image of what God is. They use the Bible as a weapon instead of a tool. They use it to cut people down, not build them up. As soon as they see sin in the world, they attack, destroying and distorting everything around them. They use the Bible as an excuse to judge and ridicule and gossip, quoting and manipulating scripture to fit their ideals.
As Christians, our first priority to love God and love people. Our current position in the world is one of judgment and force-feeding religion to people who simply don't want to hear it. If our own opinions are too loud, we can't hear the people reaching out to us. If we tear people down, we won't be able to build them up. So listen before you speak and love before you judge, let God take care of the rest.
Stay shiny, loves.
