Re:Fear vs. Love
Submitted by Chris on December 26 1999 at 08:42:31
In reply to Fear-based Christianity Submitted by Mark on December 24 1999 at 18:38:54
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Hi Mark, You have asked some VERY good questions here, and made some very good points. Have you been gong to "Close Encounters" also? I have been there a few times now. A very exciting place! Anyway, let me ask this... If I were to want to introduce you to someone, say a friend by the name of...Larry, ok. And before I ever brougt Larry over to your house to introduce you to him, I spend a lot of time telling you things like,"Now Mark, you have to be REAL careful around Larry, because he stands 6 ft., 10 in., weighs 350lbs. and is so strong he can lift his own weight over his head all day long if he wants. He is also a fifth degree black-belt in Karrate. He ALSO has a quick temper and a nasty disposition, and is liable to get very angry, maybe even violent, at even the sligtest of comments or if you just LOOK at him the wrong way. But I want to introduce you to him, Mark, because I am sure you will just love him!" Well, do you think you would "just LOVE Larry"? Man, I doubt it! In fact, even if, after I introduced you to Larry, perhaps you find out that most of what I was saying is false about him, you may STILL never feel comfortable enough around him to allow any kind of feeling of love. Because everything I spent all that time telling you about him will still be in your head, influencing your feelings and actions, even if you find out later that most of it is untrue...if you ever get close enoug to him to find these things out in the first place. Isn't this what these churches are trying to teach their members about God, though? "Better watch what you do, what you say, who you know...etc, or else!" Isn't this the real message so many of them really teach? It's no wonder there are so many boylovers who turn away from thier Christian beliefs, or who would never consider becoming a Christian in the first place. They do not see how being a Christian is actually having a real and LOVING relationship with God. How can they? How can anybody? A person CANNOT love another (whether it is God or another person) if that person FEARS him. I cannot happen. Fear and love do not mix...never have, never will. God dosen't want ANYONE to fear him. Respect him, yes, but be afraid of Him...no way! Love cannot grow in a field of fear, the fear will choke it out, like weeds choke out garden plants. God never intended for us to fear him, but to run to him when we are in trouble or have done something wrong. Like a good child will run to his father whom he loves more than anything in the world...without fear! Your right, Mark, it's very sad how fear shapes our society, right down to our churches. It has to change...maybe that's why God made "missfits" like us. We HAVE to change our view and concept of Him in order to feel right about our faith. I think the rest of the Christian world could learn much from us "missfits". Love, Chris |