Know it, Love it, Live it

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor: Britain can't become "God-free zone"
From Times Online
May 9, 2008
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3901531.ece

This is an article dealing with the battle in England between "secularists" and Catholic Christians (and Christianity as a whole).  The comments are fascinating.  They reveal a disdane and ignorance of Christianity (and government) that is growing worldwide like a cancer and it is my belief that the church is to blame.

One commenter states, "But the increasingly small religious minority want a voice greater than their numbers deserve. We must say NO."  To understand the flaw in this logic one must understand the difference between a Democracy and a Republic as "democracy" is often misunderstood and misused.  There are no national democracy's existing today because it is not a viable form of government.  It is known as a "rule of the people" form of government and is similar to "mob rule".  The form of government practiced by the U.S., England, and other "democratic" nations is a Republic also know as "rule of law" and a "representative democracy".  The reason republics are preferable is that it protects the rights of minority groups and ensures they have a voice.  In a pure democracy minority groups are oppressed by the people; this has occurred every single time a nation has attempted a pure democracy.  (See http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm2.htm)

Another writes, "I see no reason whatsoever that I should allow or accept the sufferings of others, because your gods "Move in mysterious way.""  This was written by someone who clearly does not understand the Christian faith.  That is not his fault, however.  He is the victim of a weak and ignorant pastorate that plagues Christian churches worldwide.  Our pastors need more training in apologetics who then need to teach it to their parishoners.

And, "As religious superstition has, throughout the ages, been a major contributing factor to most wars I fail to see any "common good.""  This is a common statement by anti-christians and is absolutely untrue.  It is a believable statement because of its broad nature.  Look at the words used.  By "religious" do they mean all religions or just Christian religion?  If all religion then the statement has nothing to do with Christianity, if they mean Christian religion then its a false statement since Christianity is only two thousand years old which is much shorter than the lenth of time of all the ages put together.  Throughout...ages, how long is that anyway?  A major...factor, what constitutes a major factor and were there other more major factors?  Most wars, do they mean 50.1% of wars (that would be most)?  If you count up all the wars "throughout the ages" you will find that the number of wars whose one major contributor was religion to be quite small.  Most wars are caused by greed, envy, covetousness which are not Christian values.  And, just because someone waging war claims to do so for Christ doesn't make it true.  Jesus told us not to worry about wars as they must happen.  (Matt 24:5-7 | http://tinyurl.com/4j2jsx, and Mark 13:6-8 | http://tinyurl.com/4o9xpa).  The "common good" of Christian religion is for us to put an end to war by loving one another.  (John 13:33-35 | http://tinyurl.com/4v9vtw).

Please don't misunderstand me.  I place absolutely no blame on those who attack Christianity.  We need to love them the way Jesus and Stephen love them.  At the cross Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  (Luke 23:33-35 | http://tinyurl.com/3ovtyg).  And when Stephen was being martyred he cried out, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." (Acts 7:58-60 | http://tinyurl.com/4oxjeb).  Here is the problem as I see it.  When you talk to someone who hates Christianity one word that you will hear is religion, religion, religion.  These people justly hate the religion of Christianity not Christianity itself.  Following Christ is not about religion, it is about love.  It is a lifestyle.  And we are not living it.  We create legalistic institutions that would make the eyes of a pharisee water with pride.

Here is the funny part.  Anti-Christians know better than Christians how Christians should live.  They really do.  They know we should live by a higher standard and we disappoint them.  They know we should walk-the-talk and we disappoint them.  And believe me my brothers and sisters, they know when we are not walking what we are talking.  We cannot hide our hypocracy.  Funnier still is that anti-Christians always believe when someone says they are a Christian that they really are a Christian.  I can put on a cowboy hat, talk with a southern drawl, and sing country songs proclaiming, "I'm a cowboy, I really am a cowboy!", but none of my friend will believe it.  Why?  Because I'm not living a cowboys life.

Why is it so difficult for an anti-Christian to tell the difference between a real Christian and someone who just claims to be a Christian?  I suspect it is because there are not enough of us out there being the good example, the role model.  We are not out there being the salt of the earth.  We are not letting the light of Jesus Christ shine through us into a world.  I am reminded of those fish emblems people put on their cars.  They annoy me without end.  Why?  Because the people who put them on their cars are idiots who drive 15 to 20 mph over the speed limit, who cut you off in traffic, who recklessly weave in and out of travel lanes.  As if to say, "Hey everybody, I'm a Christian, but I don't have to be courteous or kind or loving and the middle finger I'm holding up isn't for picking my nose."  Give me a break people!

We need to stop believing in Christ and start being in Christ.  We need to stop talking about Christ and start living like Christ.  And we need to learn how to answer the difficult questions that make it so hard for unbelieving friends and family to know the one true Savior, Jesus Christ.