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The Meek Christian

Many very spiritual people identify with the author of the following letter. It’s a view that differs from the oft-heard loudmouthed hypocrites on TV, or the self-righteous emails touting one way or the highway to hell, or the intolerant who giftwrap hate with scripture. In a word, it’s refreshing!

The original letter is posted at bristol.craigslist.org: the letter.

Enjoy…

I’m a Christian. I don’t thump on a Bible, or prop myself up in public proclaiming to be more rightous than others. My Bible says you shouldn’t do that. I don’t belong to a church more opulant than a palace in a city where thousands sleep on the street. My Bible says to help the poor, not riticule them or judge them for their “weekness”. My Bible says something about how difficlut it is for a rich man to get to heaven. I don’t believe a church that seems more concerned with fund raising than helping others is really doing God’s work. I don’t believe in juding others. I don’t believe it’s ok to drive by a begger and calm my concious by saying “they’re just a drug addict.” I believe a Christian cares for a drug addict. I believe a Christian socieity should have a way to reach out to a drug addict. If they turn away our help, I beleve we should reach out again. And again.

The Jesus I follow spent a fair ammount of time in the company of a prostitute. He didn’t judge her. The Jesus I follow said a lot about the old laws being wiped away and being replaced by one simple law- love each other as I have loved you.

I am a Christian and find it ironic that its difficult to find a Christian church that represents my values. The Jesus I follow would be more concerned with figuring out how the richest country on earth could help it’s southern neighbor- where people are living like animals- than how much tax money is being spent on “illegals”. I don’t think my Jesus would call anyone “illegal”.

My Jesus spent much of his life in the company of those socieity found unfit. I believe my Jesus would have loved gays as much as hetrosexuals. I don’t think my Jesus would lobby for a constitutional amendment that legalizes descrimination against them.

I’m a Christian, but never say so in public. I’m an American, but am embarased to fly my flag. I wish the symbols of my faith and country represented what I believe. Once they did. I used to wear a cross around my neck. I used to have a flag on my house. Now people who represent values that I find very non-christ like have taken ownership of what theses symbols represent.

I hope there are others who believe what I believe. I hope there are others who feel like I do. I hope that one day we can do Christian work that matters- helping the poor, healing the sick, protecting the earth- and stop fighting about things that are simply devisive ploys politicians use to get our votes. I don’t like abortion. I don’t like war even more. I don’t like turning a blind eye to the poor even more than that.

If you agree with me, join me. It’s easy. You don’t have to sign anything or agree to a docterine. You just have to do what you know is right.

Read More: religion, Christians, church, Bible

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 20th, 2006 at 12:02 am and is filed under Religion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 Responses to “The Meek Christian”

Jodi says:

Monday, November 20, 2006 at 7:29 am

I like this guy! We should invite him to our church. ;)

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Joe says:

Monday, November 20, 2006 at 7:43 am

I agree. There ARE good organizations out there who are trying like crazy to improve people’s lives and “do the right thing” without being preachy or condemning about it. I’m very fond (and a member) of Good Shepherd UMC. The staff at this place is great, totally unpretentious, good-hearted folks, who are actively helping the needy in the world.

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Anna says:

Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 11:41 am

A lovely person - more power to you!!

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Joe says:

Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 11:25 pm

Thanks for visiting, Anna, and I hope you don’t mind me saying what a lovely cool name you have! (my daughter’s name is Ana: Beautiful Baby Ana )

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fred says:

Monday, April 30, 2007 at 5:48 pm

If you don’t love enough to confront people when it is needed you aren’t very much like Christ. Jesus didn’t hesitate to raise his voice and it is written that He hit people.

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fred says:

Monday, April 30, 2007 at 5:48 pm

Meek doesn’t equal wimp!

Reply
Yuriy says:

Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 9:08 pm

I believe my Jesus is also God who is also a judge. I believe that the Bible says it is what it is, i.e the word of God, and so therefore I should not allow my emotion to eliminate God’s Truth from His Word - Bible. I believe that Jesus is who He said he was, not just some ” cool dude, who gets down with the sinners “. His mission was very specific , to bring the light, but not to “hang out”. I believe that Jesus said, you are the light and you should not stay hidden under the bed , I understand this as ” I am a Christian, but I don’t say that I am”. I believe that being a wimp who has been shut up by the devil is not who can lead multitudes to Christ. I think Cross will always be the symbol of Christ and never of the people who stole it. Just like the rainbow is God’s and NOT homosexual’s. I also believe that allowing homosexual indoctrination in schools is not what Jesus would approve of. I believe even Christians walk and talk in flesh and this is why you say some of the things that you are saying. You allow your emotions and feelings stand in the way of God’s word. Truth is, with the way you are acting you will never encounter any resistance from this world. Jesus clearly said you will be prosecuted if you stand for truth. Have you truth ?

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La Sirena says:

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 7:56 am

Yuriy,

Unfortunately, people like you have taken the Christ out of Christianity with your narrow-minded finger-pointing. We have allowed you to control the religious discourse and dialog in this country for too long now. So I will be brave.

It is not okay to hate because of your religion, or because you think that’s what your Bible says. Christ’s central message was not hate and judgement, it was love and peace. If you can’t acept that simple fact, than clearly you do not understand the New Testament and therefore you are not a Christian — whatever you may call yourself.

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JoeC says:

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Yuriy: I think Jesus said people who stand for the truth will be “persecuted” not “prosecuted,” or at least that’s the most accepted translation of what somebody said were his words, probably originally spoken in Aramaic, not English.

What many Christians miss is that it was the religious right which persecuted Jesus in his time, and he was just telling us that if we stood for truth, we will be persecuted…probably by the religious right, too. That would be you. So, by your own argument, I could easily come to the conclusion that you are condemned and I am not.

But, by Jesus’s argument, as explained so well by La Sirena, the kingdom of heaven is here and now if we’d only see it, and if you look around, now includes everybody, no? And that’s a very unpopular message, and I think that’s why some very religious people manipulated the Romans into killing him. But that’s just my opinion, and I understand other people have their own opinion, and as long as we don’t hate and kill each other over them, I’m ok with that.

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The Meek Christian

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