Christianity Is Broken, but Can Be Fixed

Will you be discussing Christianity INC?Will you be talking about the major for profit company totally shielded from taxes, accountability or supervision?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Let me try to outline what I think TL is trying to say.I don't think that TL is saying that Christians are in some way superior to any other group. Instead, I believe he is trying to set out a description of what he think Christians fail to do.He is setting a standard that you or anyone outside the Christian Community might use to judge Christians, one with a very high threshold.TL is saying that Christianity has failed if

• as a body, they do not inspire you.
• you would not want your kids to behave as the Christian children do.
• if you would not want to be more like them.
• if as a teacher, you did not wish all your kids paid as much attention or tried as hard as the Christian kids.
• if you did not wish they were your neighbors.
  

Any criteria YOU choose.TL would like to see you so impressed by someone that you need to find out how they did it. There is no need to know they are Christian. There is no need for you to want to be a Christian. Rather, their behavior should be such that you wish you lived as they do.This message has been edited by jar, 11-18-2005 02:27 PM

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Good question. Let me try to answer.The first part has to do with identifying failure. People that do not meet that criteria have failed. It has nothing to do with whether or not they are Christians but they fall into the category of goats. They are folk that

• as a body, they do not inspire you.
• you would not want your kids to behave as they do.
• you would not want to be more like them.
• as a teacher, you did not wish all your kids paid as much attention or tried as hard as they do.
• you did not wish they were your neighbors.
  

So there is a body of folk that simply are not inspirational.The next step involves that group of individuals. If they also happen to declare that they are Christians, then they, not you, have identified a primary characteristic of "goats".This in many ways is what is happening today.The YEC movement is one of willfull ignorance.The Defense of Marriage movement is one of bigotry and oppression.The Salvation movement is one of exclusion and intolerance.The presentation of Christianity as proclaimed by televangelists and pulpit is of hate, despair and destruction.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I'm saying that Christianity as a whole fails miserably to do those things. Absolutely. And for Christianity to succeed, we need to produce a whole series of individuals, each one of which so inspires you that you begin to wonder how they do it.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

wander up to chat.Thanks. I hope I'm not getting too involved here.I really do believe that things are simple; not easy but simple.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I'd call the Promise Keepers comic relief if it wasn't so serious. At $20.00 a pop it's a money maker for sure. And it is definitely symptomatic of the current bankruptcy of Christianity.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

There a few I've met over the years. Bud (WC Burriss) Young was one good example until he died a few years ago. He was an amazing person, mentor, teacher, friend, advocate and guide. There are probably others out there but they will certainly not be primarily identified as Christians. Very important point. And what this thread is really about.I have some very definite ideas of my own but would rather let TL lead that part of the discussion.

But I think you may be misunderstanding my point.The people I speak of would not be concerned with appearance, or even with inspiring you. They would only be doing. I would say that is hardly an objection.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

TL is not addressing potential causes. The actual cause is pretty much immaterial. TL's point is that Christianity as seen in the world today is failing miserably.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

There is a big difference between being Christ-like, or following the teachings of Christ and being a Christian. The Klan was most definitely a Christian organization, and the members most definitely considered themselves as Christians, doing God's work.That was not just a limited response, we can see the same thing going on today. Those Christians in the US today that support the Defence of Marriage act, that oppose marriage rights for same sex couples, are showing exactly the same mindset as the members of the Klan.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

to which truthlover responds:

quote:

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I would agree with this, but for different reasons, I think, than you. I am glad that Christians consider same sex marriage wrong. I think Christ agrees.

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We might be closer than you think.I'm not at all sure that all Christians consider same sex marriage as wrong. I know that I for one don't hold that belief. But that is between the individual and GOD and will be judged.But I absolutely believe that denying someone protection, passing laws that actively discriminate against another is totally against the teachings of Jesus.I have no problem with those Christians that believe homosexuality is a sin and so do not practice homosexuality. That's great. But when they then use their personal beliefs to discriminate against others, I must stand as a Christian in opposition.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

It certainly is one of the biggest barriers between the individual and GOD.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion