Breaking with tradition, today's article comes from the 9-23-04 edition of Sojomail. Sojomail is produced by Sojourners; an evangelical journal, and calls itself a 'weekly email-zine of spirituality, politics and culture.' I personally object to their use of the term spirituality, because they are decidedly Christian oriented. For them to replace the word 'spirituality' with the word 'Christianity' would be a lot more accurate. I do feel that the good people at Sojourners do have very wonderful intentions. I just wish they didn't feel the need to route all their efforts through Christianity, to the exclusion of billions of the earth's inhabitants.
I'm also uncomfortable with the four core beliefs of evangelicals. Here they are; 1) The Bible is without error (that alone is enough to stop me), 2) Salvation comes through faith in Jesus and not good deeds (so cancel all those good deeds you had in mind), 3) Individuals must accept Jesus as adults (is there a cut-off age for that, is it 18 or 21 or what...?) and 4) All Christians must evangelize. To evangelize means to 1) Preach the gospel and 2) Convert to Christianity.
Christianity says that you HAVE to claim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior in order to get in to heaven. Where does that leave all the Buddhists and Muslims and all the other non-Christians of the world? Spirituality says that EVERYone goes to heaven. Spirituality says that God loves unconditionally. That means that God loves everybody; not just Christians! Spirituality is all-inclusive, whereas Christianity, and most other major religions are exclusive. Either you belong to our club, or you're out. No heaven for you!
Anyway, the article in Sojomail is entitled; "Jimmy Swaggart tells congregation he'd kill gays." Isn't that nice!? Here we have a self proclaimed Christian 'man of God' telling a global audience that "If one ever looks at me like that I'm going to kill him and tell God he died." To which he receives laughter and applause from his audience. This is not a movie, this really happened, on Sunday; 9-19-04! I honestly can't believe this! How could a man who claims to be a 'man of God' preach something so un-Godly!? Mr. Swaggart quotes the biblical passage where God says that homosexuality is an 'abomination.' There's just one, of the MANY proofs that the Bible is WITH error! Any passage in the Bible that contradicts the truth that God is unconditionally loving, is false. Those ideas came from some man or men with the agenda to control us through fear.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again; there are a lot of 'homo-phobes' out there. Many people see gay peoples' differences as justification for hating them. This hatred is based in fear; "I don't understand them, therefore I don't like them, and I'm gonna kill them." A more Godly response would be; "I see their differences, and I may not understand them, but I will embrace them anyway, as they are also God's beloved creatures, as am I."
We've got two role models to choose from today, folks; God & Jimmy Swaggart. Take your pick...
PEACE!
John Ford - Life Coach
(512) 657-1584
http://www.happinessforsale.net
Your questions and/or comments are welcome and encouraged! Please feel free to pass this on, in its entirety, to everyone you wish. If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe, please let me know at http://www.happinessforsale.net. Also, please know that your email address will never be bought, sold, traded, folded, spindled or mutilated, for any reason, by anyone. Thank you.
About The Author
John Ford
I live in Austin, Texas; where I have lived over half of my life. I am a graduate of Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Accounting & Marketing.
I have always been interested in personal development, and have studied many books and tape programs over the years. I have read over 50 books on the subject in the last 3 years alone. I also have the CDs to many of the books I've studied, which I am constantly rotating through the CD player of my vehicle whenever I am driving. I have applied many of the concepts I've learned, to my own life and business, and have developed a "real world" knowledge of what works and what doesn't.
I began the rewarding and fulfilling career of being a full time Life Coach after 20 years of being a certified public accountant for a wide variety of numerous businesses. I knew in my gut the first time I heard about the coaching profession, that I had always been a coach in my heart and that this was my new career. I enrolled in coach training programs and learned what I needed to know to get started, but my education continues constantly. Self development is an ongoing, life-long process.
I am PASSIONATE about Life Coaching because it enables me to serve mankind in the most useful way that I can spend the days of my life. Not only do I greatly enrich the lives of my clients, but I get to benefit as well. As I coach my clients to greater happiness in every area of their lives, I also get to receive the gift of having provided that service! Nothing else in my life has ever given me greater fulfillment and satisfaction, than helping others dramatically improve their lives.
http://www.happinessforsale.net
scheduled maid service Northbrook ..Come on now!? Really? This is going too far, you... Read More
As Christian's we are often very independent. We try to... Read More
According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T.... Read More
"It's a big challenge. It's a journey into the unknown.... Read More
AN ARISTOCRATIC UPBRINGING:There are many people who write about sex... Read More
In Corrogue I am seeking the source of inner beauty.This... Read More
Celebrities and common people all over the world are known... Read More
Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although... Read More
We desire to understand the world by giving names to... Read More
The bible tells a story about four men who sat... Read More
In life, sooner or later, we come to the midnight... Read More
Jack Nicholson (Col. Jessup) (marine cornel) YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE... Read More
At any given moment, there are 'things' occurring within the... Read More
As communion was being passed this morning, I listened to... Read More
As a walked across the gym floor with perspiration coming... Read More
The practice of meditating on loving-kindness may be over two... Read More
Last month, one of my readers needed a new car.... Read More
The magic of the tarot was obvious to me the... Read More
"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line... Read More
Now, we all know that we shouldn't be lead by... Read More
"There must be a higher love/Without it life is wasted... Read More
We've all heard the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as... Read More
An Introduction to MatthewSETTINGHave you ever been promised something wonderful,... Read More
When my dad was nearing the end of his life... Read More
The first gospel written by Matthew,who is Levi, is the... Read More
reliable maid service Highland Park ..Has America known its finest hour? Are we losing our... Read More
Listen to the sound of silence. Enjoy the peace and... Read More
We know that David did much to stabilize the Kingdom... Read More
The deeper beauty of spring is its process. In winter's... Read More
When the storms in your life are raging, just believe,... Read More
I had the intention of writing about Soul Mates but... Read More
I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More
Last week, I sat at my computer and watched the... Read More
To find out how psychic you are, try answering the... Read More
When the Tsunami struck Asia and East Africa on December... Read More
"Self-Actualization" is the process of making our self "actual." Our... Read More
The following fragment was found in Qumran along with the... Read More
When we feel that something has gone wrong and are... Read More
While there are alot of warnings and admonishments regarding what... Read More
One of the biggest myths to evolve in the growing... Read More
Although spring is just around the corner, there have been... Read More
AN ARISTOCRATIC UPBRINGING:There are many people who write about sex... Read More
Angels are making their presence felt everywhere. Once I started... Read More
At first glance it does seem that law and grace... Read More
The greatest frustration in a Christian's life is not being... Read More
Prayer doesn't just happen when we kneel or put our... Read More
Unconditional love means unconditional freedom. Love and freedom are two... Read More
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that... Read More
"In the sixth century of the sixth millennium, the gates... Read More
... Read More
Spirituality |