Dear World, Sorry we weren’t there for you. Sincerely, the Church.

**SageTree** · 07-12-2011, 11:54 AM

In all the Fred Phelps-Islamofacists-blah blah blah religion yada yada yada out there, I thought I'd pass this along for something a little different.

There are positive, social active People out there acting in the name of their Faith, so i that there is some good news left in the Good News.

I wasn't blown away or marveled by the concept or the manner in which is was expressed, but I read this, linked from a Friends wall, enjoyed it enough and just thought I'd pass it along if for nothing else showing some diversity in the words and actions in people of Faith.

Of course, sorry doesn't make it all better and the tone is a little 'sorry for themselves',imo.
But I know there is positive action out there, I hope there is a lot more of it.
If people are seemingly bound to 'follow' hopefully this is where the leadership is steering them.

Quote:

Dear World: Sorry we weren’t there for you. Sincerely, the church.

DEAR WORLD:

It’s understandable if you don’t think that we in the church understand you, “get you,” or even like you. After all, you see our Summit-sized buildings, soaring steeples, SUV filled parking lots scattered around our city while Christians lead the fight to eradicate social services that you need to live. With looming budget cuts for schools essential for your children’s wholeness and health, Texas’ Christians instead deemed as “emergencies” legislative agenda you perhaps thought was ridiculously off-task. I would understand if you didn’t think Christians didn’t like you if you are new to the area and came without papers, or if you were born with an “unacceptable” sexual orientation; because many don’t like you.

As the world rages in turmoil & violence, struggles over limited resources and massive changes in weather patterns, unemployment and foreclosures, we in the church might appear not to notice. Take for instance what my fellow blogger Ken Chitwood points out in his blog this week: that some Christians have decided the core issue we need to catalyze our resources around and work diligently to pursue is whether or not heaven and hell exist. Important, sure. But perhaps, if we listened to you, we would hear this is not the most helpful use of our time.

For all this and more, ”We’re sorry.” We haven’t been there for you when you needed help in the messiness of life. You needed a ride to the doctor and we were splitting theological hairs. Your son is scared now that daddy is back from Iraq, lashing out in anger and fright at the slightest sound; and we needed to know who was right. Undocumented, you live in an immigrant community riddled with crime but don’t feel safe calling our police; and we’re concerned about how many chances you’ll get to “receive Jesus” after you die before our god sends you to hell. You’re living in hell as a victim of human trafficking held against your will and forced to perform unspeakable duties here in Houston, the nations slavery capital; but we wonder aloud if your hell will continue after you die.

I apologize. Please forgive us. This is not the way we are supposed to be. You see, our leader and namesake, Jesus Christ, would understand you if he were here. He would “get” that you are ostracized and feel bullied. He would know if the choices you’ve made, even if they are illegal or unethical at times, were the best thing you knew to do to put food on your kids table. He would understand how bad it feels to be passed by on the street and not noticed. He would totally understand you if you told him your religious leaders weren’t there for you.

And, he would like you. A lot. He wouldn’t waste your time with the afterlife when you are consumed with making it in this life. He talked a lot about love. Loving ourselves, loving our neighbors, and even loving our enemies. He’s pretty good at that. I’m sorry you don’t always experience us, his followers, in the same way. His vision of the world and we humans in it was that everyone would have enough: enough food, enough stuff, enough community and love. Perhaps if we were better at loving you like he asked, it would make more sense when we invite you to love God. Our most important book says that “God loved the world,” and I deeply hope you know God’s love whether you feel love from Jesus’ followers or not.

If you need anything, let us know.

Sincerely,
A follower of Jesus

Marty Troyer tries to “get” you as pastor of Houston Mennonite Church where he practices loving people as they are. You can follow him on Twitter as ThePeacePastor.

Dear World: Sorry we weren’t there for you. Sincerely, the church. | The Peace Pastor | a Chron.com blog

And yes, I intentionally put this in FFA, so do what you will with no worries.

~SageTree

deadhead94 · 07-12-2011, 11:59 AM

I can't take people seriously after they express a genuine belief in god, or if they use ideas such as hell in a literal sense. I promptly let them know.

Will he "get me"?

**SageTree** · 07-12-2011, 12:02 PM

I think allegory and metaphor should be THE first thing they teach in Bible study

Funda-literalists confuse me too buddy.

Terry · 07-12-2011, 12:02 PM

Deadhead, I can see not taking ppl seriously when they use the hell argument to convert or scare people, but I think it's kinda ridiculous to straight up dismiss people who are religious, as their are plenty of religious people alive and dead that are most certainly smarter than you and me, my friend.

The Rev · 07-12-2011, 12:06 PM

That's the one thing I hate about smart people: a lot of them are serious idiots. Check out the philosophical discussions at the Physics Forum sometime if you want some quality smart idiot lulz.

The Rev

**SageTree** · 07-12-2011, 12:07 PM

Thanks for that Terry, I certainly agree.

I think putting the weight of the world on three letters and trying to pigeon whole what that means 100% without a shadow of variance is just asking for trouble.

deadhead94 · 07-12-2011, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry

Deadhead, I can see not taking ppl seriously when they use the hell argument to convert or scare people, but I think it's kinda ridiculous to straight up dismiss people who are religious, as their are plenty of religious people alive and dead that are most certainly smarter than you and me, my friend.

If they can put science ahead of "faith" that's different. But its usually a one way street. Or if they lived before the scientific enlightenment period, that's just how they rolled back then.

**SageTree** · 07-12-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev

That's the one thing I hate about smart people: a lot of them are serious idiots. Check out the philosophical discussions at the Physics Forum sometime if you want some quality smart idiot lulz.

The Rev

Something that fascinates is during Islam's Golden Age people thought Scientific study of the world WAS an act of Worship and Gratitude; that that is what Allah wanted us/them to do.

~1~ · 07-12-2011, 01:14 PM

Gandhi and Reverend Andrews, a Presbyterian missionary, were walking together in South Africa. “The two suddenly find their way blocked by young thugs. Reverend Andrews takes one look at the menacing gangsters and decides to run for it. Gandhi stops him. ‘Doesn’t the New Testament say if an enemy strikes you on the right cheek you should offer him the left?’ Andrews mumbles that he thought the phrase was used metaphorically. ‘I’m not so sure,’ Gandhi replies. ‘I suspect he meant you must show courage - be willing to take a blow, several blows, to show you will not strike back nor will you be turned aside. And when you do that it calls on something in human nature, something that makes his hatred decrease and his respect increase. I think Christ grasped that and I have seen it work.’”

The Rev · 07-12-2011, 01:17 PM

Gandhi never met a psychopath. The psychopath would figure that if you weren't hitting back, that was better for him, as he could continue beating you as much as he wanted with no problems.

The Rev

Roach · 07-12-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

I can't take people seriously after they express a genuine belief in god

for once I agree with you deadhead.

but do take their beliefs seriously, even the psychotic who believes he's Napolean, actually believes it.

deadhead94 · 07-12-2011, 01:45 PM

my_scatterheart · 07-12-2011, 01:53 PM

"We are all of us very arrogant and conceited about running down other people's ghosts but just as ignorant and barbaric and superstitious about our own."

Roach · 07-12-2011, 02:03 PM

strongly disagree.

I have no "superstitions"

A superstition is a credulous belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge.

The word is often used pejoratively to refer to folk beliefs deemed irrational. This leads to some superstitions being called "old wives' tales". It is also commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy and spiritual beings, particularly the belief that future events can be foretold by specific unrelated prior events.

my_scatterheart · 07-12-2011, 02:18 PM

Read that quote again, slower.

Waves · 07-12-2011, 02:23 PM

people who dismiss all religion flat out are worse than people who take religion and its metaphors literally and live their life as actual good people.

theres nothing worse than a douchebag know it all

Roach · 07-12-2011, 02:27 PM

^ I agree with you on that.

And there's no problem with my reading/comprehension ability.

this is just another religion debate, which is pointless.

believers believe, non believers don't.

Waves · 07-12-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my_scatterheart

"We are all of us very arrogant and conceited about running down other people's ghosts but just as ignorant and barbaric and superstitious about our own."

that sounds like a smart fella. he or she gets it.

i used to be hardcore athiest until i took psychedelics.

its so easy to dismiss other people. whats difficult is to find your own truth. life is mysterious, beautiful, and awe-inspiring. those qualities alone should be sought out in each persons life. if everyone were to focus on finding something mysterious, beautiful and awe-inspiring for themselves this world would be mysterious, beautiful and awe-inspiring.

my_scatterheart · 07-12-2011, 02:33 PM

Pirsig

Roach · 07-12-2011, 02:38 PM

another senile old man

07-12-2011, 12:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
SageTree ~Kalyāṇa-mitrā~ Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In Love Posts: 23,414 Blog Entries: 26 Thanks: 13,070 Thanked 6,767 Times in 4,664 Posts	I think allegory and metaphor should be THE first thing they teach in Bible study Funda-literalists confuse me too buddy. __________________ "What's oppressive is letting your life be confined by old definitions of what everything is." -Zen Meister my_scatterheart YaHooka is.... Cannabis lovers from around the world pulling up a comfy chair, picking up a vaporizer, a bong, a brownie, a pipe, or a joint, getting high, stoned, buzzed or healthy. Uniting our minds in conversation...While Portraying a Positive Image of marijuana and marijuana users to the world. Treat your fellow YaHookans with kindness,respect and tolerance.

07-12-2011, 12:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Terry Militant Pacifist Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Moscow, Idaho Posts: 8,532 Thanks: 2,127 Thanked 2,387 Times in 1,187 Posts	Deadhead, I can see not taking ppl seriously when they use the hell argument to convert or scare people, but I think it's kinda ridiculous to straight up dismiss people who are religious, as their are plenty of religious people alive and dead that are most certainly smarter than you and me, my friend. __________________ There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them. -Sylvia Plath

07-12-2011, 12:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,865 Thanks: 5,018 Thanked 5,420 Times in 2,865 Posts	That's the one thing I hate about smart people: a lot of them are serious idiots. Check out the philosophical discussions at the Physics Forum sometime if you want some quality smart idiot lulz. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

07-12-2011, 12:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
SageTree ~Kalyāṇa-mitrā~ Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In Love Posts: 23,414 Blog Entries: 26 Thanks: 13,070 Thanked 6,767 Times in 4,664 Posts	Thanks for that Terry, I certainly agree. I think putting the weight of the world on three letters and trying to pigeon whole what that means 100% without a shadow of variance is just asking for trouble. __________________ "What's oppressive is letting your life be confined by old definitions of what everything is." -Zen Meister my_scatterheart YaHooka is.... Cannabis lovers from around the world pulling up a comfy chair, picking up a vaporizer, a bong, a brownie, a pipe, or a joint, getting high, stoned, buzzed or healthy. Uniting our minds in conversation...While Portraying a Positive Image of marijuana and marijuana users to the world. Treat your fellow YaHookans with kindness,respect and tolerance.

07-12-2011, 01:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
~1~ Successful Failure Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: where 'they' can't see. Posts: 10,925 Thanks: 466 Thanked 1,581 Times in 925 Posts	Gandhi and Reverend Andrews, a Presbyterian missionary, were walking together in South Africa. “The two suddenly find their way blocked by young thugs. Reverend Andrews takes one look at the menacing gangsters and decides to run for it. Gandhi stops him. ‘Doesn’t the New Testament say if an enemy strikes you on the right cheek you should offer him the left?’ Andrews mumbles that he thought the phrase was used metaphorically. ‘I’m not so sure,’ Gandhi replies. ‘I suspect he meant you must show courage - be willing to take a blow, several blows, to show you will not strike back nor will you be turned aside. And when you do that it calls on something in human nature, something that makes his hatred decrease and his respect increase. I think Christ grasped that and I have seen it work.’” __________________ "And those who are successful, be always on your guard. Success walks hand in hand with failure, along Hollywood Boulevard" Ray Davies --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Click Here Asshole

07-12-2011, 01:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,865 Thanks: 5,018 Thanked 5,420 Times in 2,865 Posts	Gandhi never met a psychopath. The psychopath would figure that if you weren't hitting back, that was better for him, as he could continue beating you as much as he wanted with no problems. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

07-12-2011, 01:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
my_scatterheart Today, I am alive. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 1,486 Thanked 3,328 Times in 1,870 Posts	"We are all of us very arrogant and conceited about running down other people's ghosts but just as ignorant and barbaric and superstitious about our own." __________________ Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

07-12-2011, 02:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
Roach Victoria Aut Mors Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7,183 Thanks: 2,372 Thanked 1,986 Times in 1,509 Posts	strongly disagree. I have no "superstitions" A superstition is a credulous belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge. The word is often used pejoratively to refer to folk beliefs deemed irrational. This leads to some superstitions being called "old wives' tales". It is also commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy and spiritual beings, particularly the belief that future events can be foretold by specific unrelated prior events.

07-12-2011, 02:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
my_scatterheart Today, I am alive. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 1,486 Thanked 3,328 Times in 1,870 Posts	Read that quote again, slower. __________________ Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

07-12-2011, 02:23 PM	#16 (permalink)
Waves Duderino Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: chiburbs Posts: 15,405 Thanks: 991 Thanked 4,036 Times in 2,224 Posts	people who dismiss all religion flat out are worse than people who take religion and its metaphors literally and live their life as actual good people. theres nothing worse than a douchebag know it all __________________ On this life that we call home The years go fast and the days go so slow

07-12-2011, 02:27 PM	#17 (permalink)
Roach Victoria Aut Mors Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7,183 Thanks: 2,372 Thanked 1,986 Times in 1,509 Posts	^ I agree with you on that. And there's no problem with my reading/comprehension ability. this is just another religion debate, which is pointless. believers believe, non believers don't.

07-12-2011, 02:33 PM	#19 (permalink)
my_scatterheart Today, I am alive. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 1,486 Thanked 3,328 Times in 1,870 Posts	Pirsig __________________ Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

07-12-2011, 02:38 PM	#20 (permalink)
Roach Victoria Aut Mors Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7,183 Thanks: 2,372 Thanked 1,986 Times in 1,509 Posts	another senile old man Attached Images

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