As Christians and people of Eastern Orthodox faiths observe their holiest day this Sunday, one of their number has a few questions about what they think it means to follow Christ.
Christian commentator Roland Martin speaks for many.
When did it come to the point that being a Christian meant only caring about two issues, abortion and homosexuality?
Roland Martin: “I’ve grown tired of people who pimp God”Ask the nonreligious what being a Christian today means, and based on what we see and read, it’s a good bet they will say that followers of Jesus Christ are preoccupied with those two points.
Poverty? Whatever. Homelessness? An afterthought. A widening gap between the have and have-nots? Immaterial. Divorce? The divorce rate of Christians mirrors the national average, so that’s no big deal.
The point is that being a Christian should be about more than abortion and homosexuality, and it’s high time that those not considered a part of the religious right expose the hypocrisy of our brothers and sisters in Christianity and take back the faith.
Martin puts his finger on one of the reasons I and so many others have all but turned our backs on faith, and can’t be pushed into an organized religious service with a Mack truck.
…it’s troubling to listen to “Christian radio” and hear the kind of hate spewing out of the mouths of my brothers and sisters in the faith.
In fact, I’ve grown tired of people who pimp God. That’s right; we have a litany of individuals today who are holy, holy, holy, sing hallelujah, talk about how they love the Lord, but when it’s time to walk the walk, somehow the spirit evaporates.
I mean no disrespect to the people closing their businesses to celebrate Good Friday, or those joining the throngs at church on Easter Sunday. But the joy of religion is long since past for me. And until it becomes more about quietly setting the highest example for others to follow and less about judgement and scorn, it will probably remain that way.
I’m puzzled by the first sentence in this post. Christians and people of the Eastern Orthodox Faiths. Do you mean that Othodox Christians are not Christian. At least find out about Orthodoxy and Orthodox thought I’m not really offended but just wonder what it is you meant by this
You’re absolutely right that they’re all Christians. Very often, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Etc. Orthodox folks follow a slightly different calendar from the Classic Christian Ordinaire types. This year, Easter’s the same day for everybody. That’s all I meant.
Religion is a prison for the mind. You do not need any religion to believe in god. In fact I would imagine that god disproves of religions as they are inherently evil.
Easter is nothing but a Satanic fraud. The Christ was murdered in the middle of the week. [Wednesday] [SO THE BIBLE SAYS} That would make him arise on Saturday morning. What has rabbits and eggs to do with the death of Christ? Nothing but a way to get gullible so-called Christians to worship a false god. Christians are supposed to observe THE “PASSOVER” and nothing else. {DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME} The passover is supposed to be observed 14 days past the spring eqinox which is supposed to be the new year and it was in the Christs day. April one is supposed to be on the spring equinox. It was at one time called ABIB. The passover this year was on April 2nd. Sorry you missed it .
I’m with you Trish. Has anyone ever heard a Pastor lead a prayer FOR our enemies. Do we really turn the other cheek. Do we in fact work on the BEAM in our own eye. I could go on but I think I’ve made my point. Too much lip service not enough walk.
have you heard of communitarians? I suggest you find out about this term..hegelian dialectic….the whole church is deceived I believe…not that I cant be but in this instance I am not…purpose driven crapola..isnt it strange that the new agers have their foot and mouth in the door of the church and not a peep from the shepherds? they welcome it cause it works to put butts in the pews and money in the coffers..forget what God the Father says…..
I find it rather disturbing to see the way religion has diversified itself to incorporate the current “trends” in theological and “mythological” beliefs that are what most citizens consider the “right” way to believe and do things..
I have watched the advent of P.C, become the normalcy, seen where the slightest disagreement becomes “heresy”, felt the sting of a culture lost in petty selfish “self indulgent” things who go to church on a weekend day and say that they are “faithful” and God fearing people……such a waste of ones life…
God means for us to learn a lesson (each one of us) individually, to try and understand what is necessary for us to understand, and the different “cultures” we have today are not based upon anything other then a different way of “speaking” which was of course due to mans reach too far, too fast, and too soon in ancient past at Babylon..
Why is it so hard to simply realize that you cannot change man at all? why is it so difficult to learn to leave man alone is he so chooses to be left alone, and why is it so difficult to always leave a door open for those that seek to truly look for companionship in related views?..
Mans free will is not even subjugated by God himself (you know, the one that “gave” us the free will in the first place?) so what makes one think that they can control or change another’s mind or way of doing things? ….
I could go on, but then again, I feel I am just speaking to a vacuum of needlessness where ones opinion is drowned out by the desire of so few..
I always support God and his son, man however, is never to be trusted ..
James
Everybody seems to be missing the point that the author is making with this. It’s not about New Agers, the value of religion, when Christ was really crucified or anything like that. It’s about what has happened to Christianity in the last few years and how it has no resembelance for the ideal the Jesus sacrificed himself for nearly 2000 years ago. and for what? So a handful of people can feel superior to everyone else. You know, alot of people still wear t-shirts that say “WWJD”, or “What Would Jesus Do. I know exactly what he would do – He’d weep.
…it’s troubling to listen to “Christian radio†and hear the kind of hate spewing out of the mouths of my brothers and sisters in the faith.
They’re not Christians.
By now it should be obvious to all how our corporate churches have been infiltrated by those hate Christ’s message. I can no longer attend the Catholic Church as it has become corrupted like all institutions but I still be
lieve in God and His Word.
Anyone with internet access knows by now that our New World Order masters worship Lucifer so why are we loath to condemn that? Because their is no risk in condemning Christianity while you would have to withstand ridicule if you speak a forbidden truth.
If there is no God can there be hope? Given the concentration of power and technology in the hands of the globalist cabal willing to kill billions as some sort of sacrifice to their god I can’t see a just conclusion for the innocent without God.
I agree with Eric…most of Easter is a pagan practice, nothing to do with Christianity. The mixing of the two practices has really confused a lot of people it seems. Simple math shows that Christ crucified on Friday, and arose on Sunday morning, is not three days and three nights dead/buried, as reported in the bible. From what I perceive, he was crucified just before a Jewish holy day (passover)…which was on a Wednesday…so three days and three nights after that fact…makes him arisen on Saturday evening. My opinion, most religion is nothing more than BIG BUSINESS, with just as many sinners, cheats, liars, and thieves.
If you want to correct, technically, the term “Christian believers” is more accurate, because the number of real Christians in the world is practically nil. I’ve never known anyone who actually practices the teachings of Jesus of is really a Christian an any substantial sense. But they all do believe that they are Christians, so, whenever I’m referring to them, I always call them Christian believers. Sometimes I call them “Jesus believers,” but they really don’t like that. It classifies them correctly though.
who is in a position to condemn? only christ. christ died for us, christ rose for us. christ reigns in power for us. christ heals us. if a man or woman is in christ, they probably don’t listen to these folks, because they are too bust doing what they are compelled by christ to do. the remnant is always only a portion of the whole that appears to be the people of god. this group will pass, fall aside, be defeated. the remnant faithful will remain.
This has been very interesting reading. Lately I have been saying that I have no quarrel with anything Jesus said or did. And now I can honestly say that I believe he rose from the dead according to the scriptures. It makes sense to me that God would communicate to us through man and in particular his son, Jesus.
My Korean/Chinese wife asked me if we should go to church at her Korean church tomorrow and I said yes because the churchgoers there
are nice, respectable people who do not spend a lot of time criticizing and judging each other, in fact, my wife is a masseusse and so are other members of the church… I believe that Jesus came for the sinners, and especially those of us who know it. I think Jesus is going to return soon and he’s gonna be mad as hell at a lot of people for what they do in his name and against his name and eternal soveignty. May his Kingdom Come soon!
Lets see how Christian is Mr Buah…He just killed 110.000 in Afghanistan plus 620.000 in Iraq Plus near 30.000 killed by suicide nombers plus 3000 declared americans plus 20.000 not declared americans in Iraq so near 800.000 and he wants to complete this with 80.000 more in the next War created witn Iran.
I think that is really a very Good Christian soldiers in the words of the Devil but not in the words of Jesus Christ. This in only a Photograph of Mr Bush state of mind. Thank you.
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
You are so correct in your statements. If any of us had a clue of what the hunble righteuos one was like when he walked amongst us we would all see the same. Religion has clouded our vision. The Righteous One was murdered by the religious/political establishment of his time and yet to this day they can’t find his grave. Spirituality has nothing to do with religion. Religion is from the mind of man. True spirituality and knowlege is a gift given to the ones who seek. Knock and the door will be opened. It is a gift from the original giver of the spirit of knowledge and wisdom.
We await his return.
Christiians by the millions in the world.How many walk in his foot steps ? A few handful maybe
Save me from the praise the lord crowd.I am made in image of God and look how the christians treat me and others.Thats why I love dogs they are the only christlike creatures
I know despite the fact they never read the bible.Woof woof praise the DOG
Nice clay. The words you speak sounds like something the one we follow would say. Stay strong and continue to seek him. When he returns it won’t be in anger, it will be in judgement.
Roland, you, are a moron. Poverty and homelessness are not sins. Abortion which is murder and homosexuality are abominable sins against God for which unrepentent sinners go to eternal Hell. You haven’t a clue. Is this a condemnation? No! It is an admonishment. Look it up.
those lwho believe in me shall not perish, but have eveerlasting life. bottome line is, you have to believe, there is no straddling lthe fence, which is the root of the problem. just ones opinion
those who believe in me shall not perish, but have everlasting life. bottome line is, you have to believe, there is no straddling lthe fence, which is the root of the problem. just ones opinion
Congratulations, guess you have seen it all now. Well, I have seen a few things too. I have seen what Jesus does for people who don’t know all about religion, like you.
Religion should be banned from every community in the world. Their greed and thirst for power is sickening. Trying to wake up the dummies from the deep abyss is the problem. Religion is a spirit killer and keeps people from taking responsibility of their own lives.
amazing. I read through all the comments and I can see that there are many of us that are here who see the truth. A lot of profound and excellent comments that lets me know that even though we don’t see those of true faith that we walk amongst daily, when I come here and comment I can see that there are many of us who see the truth. Thank you my brothers.
O. I forgot. I wont’t be in church on easter. I’ll will give priase to the righteous one from my living room on my knees.
Easter has lost its meaning. Xtians only care about persecuting gays and non-xtians.
The age of Christ has passed. You, the fake xtians have crucified him again.
GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!
GAIA
The Bible’s message isn’t the scam business that exists today. The message is simply this: You can kill the messenger, but not the message.
Clay, you have almost got that right, Jesus came for sinners who REPENT.
As he allows us to make our own choices, Jesus walked away from sinners who wanted to continue in their sin, he let them chose to do that and face the consequences.
But the ones he railed against most were Pharisees, or religious people who said they knew God, but yet were happy to crucify God when he came, and kill anyone who really loved God.
I think Jesus’ whole message was
1) Love God
2) don’t be a Pharisee, love people.
I do have to say, what is sinful about being a masseuse? Unless your wife is “that kind” of masseuse, which I am sure she isn’t. Why would anyone look down on a regular masseuse? They are skilled medical professionals.
I will not be in church for “Easter” either. I left off going to church when it no longer was relevant to me. I have had my own personal spiritual experience. These personal experiences have led me to a belief in selflessness, service and unconditional love. Many small local churches still reflect these same values, God bless them. But, the big box churches and television preachers do not. The consequences on christianity has been devastating. Do not give up on your personal spirituality or your relationship with God because of the conduct of others. The power of love remains as strong as always.