http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVU3e6t0kfk&feature=related
In case you didnt know, John Cleese is talking about the Monty Python movie "Life of Brian," which was set in the time of Jesus and openly mocked the divinity of Jesus and organized religion. At its opening in New York, a bunch of churches had come by to protest the movie. Seeing the mayhem, Eric Idle, according to this video, quipped "at least we've brought them all back together again."
Lately, I have been sitting in my class while we carry on tearing each other apart over issues of doctrine and such. Now dont get me wrong, there will always be a place for theological discussion, but it seems to me that it does nothing but tear Christians apart these days.
Take my school for example. We are a "Christian" school, that is we believe in basic Christian doctrine. However, I can almost guarantee that you can come up to almost any of the students here and ask them what religion they belong to and the words "Christian" would not even exit their mouthes. Instead, you would hear something like Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Pentacostal, or Reformed. Call me old fashioned, but what ever happened to calling yourself a Christian? Arnt we supposed to identify ourselves by Christ himself, rather than an earthly church?
Reminds me of 1 Corinthians, which is a book I have been reading recently.
10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas[a]"; still another, "I follow Christ."
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into[b] the name of Paul? 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
I realize that its impossible for EVERYONE to be united in their beliefs, but I am so sick and tired of denominational walls in my school, where it is most apparent. My church is non-denominational, and I could probobly come up to alot of people and get some people that are Calvinist and some who are Armenian, but this doesnt divide us. We should debate these things, but we should never let us divide us. Just as Paul says, let there be "no divisions among you."Are we forgetting the things that are really important? Like loving your neighbor? Maybe its time for us to stop following Calvin, Wesley, and Armenian and follow Christ, to be a Christ-ian
Thats all the ranting for today.
~Jared
6 comments:
Amen Brotha!
Thank God somebody else realizes this!
oh and also, I RSS subscribed to your blog, so you should to mine and then wer can be the awesome people on these blogs.
cheers! ! !
I quite agree. It is quite unfortunate that the Pythons decided to do that movie. Even though it is not about Jesus himself, it is a mockery of religion.
i still like monty python though...hehe
As to your point, I also agree. I tried to tell my last Jehovas Witnesses the very same thing you said. The problem is, these people believe that it is important enough to argue. I on the other hand, believe that C.S. Lewis painted the correct picture in "The Chronicles of Narnia". In the last book, the last battle, when the world ends and they are all in heaven, one of the main characters realizes that one of the soldiers or Tarkin's (the bad guys) has made it into heaven. Upon asking Aslan about it, they find out that even though this man did deeds in the name of another god, he was really serving Aslan in his deeds because of their nature. In other words, though he was confused in some of his doctrine, his heart was good and his actions were also good.
I personally don't think that a belief in predestination is either going to send me to hell or heaven. I think my actions as a believer are.
Good blog mate' ;)
I like Ron Paul's views regarding some things, taxes and education being the most predominate. I disagree with him on his foreign policy views though.
I agree that we should pull out of Iraq, but I don't believe that we should pull out until we know that democracy is safely installed in the country. I don't think it will be possible to completely withdraw from Iraq, at least no till we have toppled the regime of global terrorism.
I honestly don't know if going into Iraq was "just" in the first place or if it was the right thing to do. All I know is, we have started a War, and we need to finish it. I don't think pulling out now will do anything but encourage our enemies.
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