5/12/2022 0 Comments Probably Not A Christian AnymoreI don't think I'm a Christian anymore. Frankly, I no longer call myself one at the very least. It's not that I necessarily don't believe in the Bible, it's a whole lot other things that make me realize that I don't think I'm a Christian anymore. So, where do I start? For starters, my theology is too different from anybody else's. Conservatives' fundamentalism and belief in Biblical literalism is stupid as hell. Their fundamentalism is built on beliefs that are mostly outright rejected in the Bible or are built upon purposeful mistranslations (such as the verses that seem to condemn homosexuality. They're purposeful mistranslations). Their Biblical literalism is literally historical revisionism. I'm not even talking about actual history, I'm just talking about church history. Church fathers up until a few hundred years ago scoffed at such beliefs. In addition to that, we have to pretend actual world history and science aren't things that exist. That said, progressives are no better. They reject basically everything in the Bible other than it's social justice stances. The Bible is very pro-social justice, sorry conservatives, and progressives are right to focus in on these verses. Unfortunately, most of their other theology is at best, harmless but void of anything to do with what the Bible teaches, and at worse, blatant heresy. They reject miracles. They reject that Jesus died and rose again. They reject hell, or at least that hell is a punishment. They reject Biblical teachings on salvation. I orginally had a whole rant written out that was going to go here, but then I realized it would probably just make me look bad and hurt some people I don't want to hurt, even though to be honest, I want to just slap some sense into them badly. But, I am actively working on not burning bridges willy-nilly and taking others emotions into account, as much as that runs counter to my nature as an INTP. Anyway, continuing on: Christianity is just an exercise in feeling good. Then, there's more problems, people fretting over the tiny details of everything instead of focusing on the bigger picture which is important. Instead of focusing on the broader vision of the church, who God is, theological positions, etc., too many focus on the minute details. This is stupid, divisive and does absolutely nothing for anyone. This helps people to try to create a God in their own image rather than the one actually in the Bible, because the one in the Bible makes them uncomfortable. They find that anything that makes them uncomfortable about God makes Him "unloving." It's the "logic" of children, and yet, it's the default stance of the Christian church. The church is all about emotion and frankly, appealing to the lowest common denominator. My favorite part is how they tell you that church isn't all about you, it's not about emotion, it's about God! It's ok if you don't feel anything during worship or during sermons, just suck it up and go to church no matter what, even if you don't fit in! Just go, do it for God! Then, they immediately turn around and do everything to make the worship songs as emotional as possible to get a emotional reaction out of you and then craft their sermons to appeal to your emotional state as possible. So, which is it church? Is it not about me and about God, or is about me and not about God? You by trying to make the service an emotional experience automatically makes it about those in the audience by appealing to their emotions. You don't get to turn around and then tell them it's not about their emotions. I'm honestly convinced CS Lewis was correct about music in church: it doesn't belong. Then, the sermons are specifically catered to get an emotional reaction out of you and written as shallow as possible because "you never know if someone who has never been to church before is there." I'm tired of shallow sermons. I'm tired of hearing the exact same damn sermon I've heard one hundred times before. I promise you, whatever it is you're preaching on in the New Testament (the only part you're allowed to preach out of in Christian churches, apparently), I've heard that same sermon many times before. I'm tired of pastors writing their sermons to appeal to the least educated in the crowd. I want something deep and meaty. I get nothing out of your sermons. I can remember many small groups, but never a sermon. Honestly, it's not even worth going to church, just go to a small group. You'll actually dig into the Bible and if they do singing it's not to bring out emotion in you. Anyway, the church is all about making you feel good. It's fake. It's all so fake. To be completely honest, I find conservatives to be far closer to God than progressives. When I think of all the Christians who you could tell there was something different about, when I think about the Christians who pushed me in my faith, it was almost exclusively conservatives. I find their theology on God and salvation to be the only acceptable ones based solely on reading what the Bible actually says. I see conservative Christians acting out their faith far more than I do progressives. Sure, conservatives have horrible theology on marginalized and poor folk, it's horrendous and must be condemned strongly (along with their Biblical literalism), but for the most part I do think their theology and actions are far closer to Christ than progressive Christians. And I will say something that will upset many progressives: having correct theology is in fact, quite important. It's not everything, but it is definitely very important. Not only do conservative's theology align more with the Bible than progressive theology, like I said, I see them actually living out their faith and acting it out far more than progressives, and it's not close. But hey, pride flag outside of progressive church even though they do nothing to serve the neighborhood and aren't welcoming to new-comers. Progressive theology is vapid and shallow. It's void of any substance and frankly, completely disregards the Bible in every way other than it's social justice verses. Then progressives are all ears. Otherwise, the Bible gets thrown out, especially on it's morality teachings. While conservatives are too strict in their views on the Bible, progressives have the exact opposite problem where you wonder why they even bother calling themselves Christians because they have so little regard for the Bible. Anyway, to wrap all this up: the church has no place for logic. It is a realm of emotion and emotions only. It exists solely to make you feel good. In addition to all this, I have no theological home. What church could I go to? There are none. I have the choice between affirming congregations who are liturgical (and I despise liturgical crap) and have nothing to do with the Bible, don't live out their faith, and are unwelcoming, or go to a conservative church which hates my mere existence, but lives out their faith, welcoming to new-comers, and aren't liturgical. I literally cannot even go to church to worship with others. Plus, the only affirming church within walking distance doesn't even take COVID seriously. So, what's the point? What is the point of being a Christian? I cannot find one. I cannot find one reason to remain to a Christian. EDIT: Basically, to be honest, the only reason I say "probably not a Christian" is because I hate absolutes. I like to keep my options open. If I'm being completely honest, I'm not a Christian. But, my desire to have options keeps me from straight out saying it. Once again, it's not from lack of belief. I don't actually disbelieve what the Bible says, there's just no place for me in the faith.
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AuthorHi! I'm Anna, a currently transitioning transgender woman! I started my blog "Ramblings of a Trans Woman" as therapy for gender and identity issues and abuse from my parents and church. Hopefully, someone else out there can get something from this. If you want to talk, just get in contact with me, there's plenty of ways how and we'll discuss the best way to talk! Archives
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