I’ve been thinking about stuff lately; especially with the little guy now hanging around my house. I’ve been trying to think about the lessons that I’ve learned spiritually (not just spiritually, but this is the focus of the post) and what lessons I want to pass to onto Logan. In the process of thinking about this, I actually came up with a bunch of reasons why I’m not a good Christian anymore. These are the first 5.
(1) I Still Think With My Head.
Not only do I constantly questions my own faith; but I also entertain logical arguments against Christianity. On top of that- if you’re argument is really persuasive, I’ll let you “win” the mini debate we’re having so I research the argument further later on. This also leads to me saying things like, “You know what? I don’t know” or “As a matter of fact, I don’t have all the answers.” This is something I’ve noticed that many other Christians have a problem with. But how can they honestly think that if they can’t explain the nature of the universe to a questioning soul within five minutes time that they have somehow failed that soul? It’s almost like some Christians feel their lack of knowledge gives God a black eye.
I will even take this a step further. If somebody can present me with empirical evidence that God does not or, that it is not possible for him to, exist; I will denounce Christianity. Ah… stalemate.
(2)I Don’t Like Christian Music.
99% of Christian music actually annoys me. Bubble gum pop is annoying no matter what label you place it and it seems every time I turn on my local Christian radio station I get to hear some Metro-Sexual barely old enough to shave youth leader singing into the mic about how he’s going to reach out and touch God’s face… despite the complete void of evidence in the Scriptures that this is a realizable feat. Life is hard and ugly most days, and while I am not taking anything away from the impact of worship on a life, I want some honest music to listen to on my drive into work and most of these songs just don’t seem grounded in reality.
On this note, whats the greatest Christian song I’ve ever heard?
“I Came To Believe” by Johnny Cash. Its real, its honest, its biographical and its exactly how I feel most days.
What is my favorite worship song?
“Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin. This song is 3 minutes and 57 seconds of telling God how awesome he is. I think sometimes Christians get so caught up in songs that make God our friend, we forget about that songs that keep him on his throne.
(3)I drink alcohol.
I drink it and I enjoy rather enjoy it. This might not be an issue with most Christians anymore, but the Church I attended as a teen was very specific and clear on the fact the drinking alcohol was a sin and a surefire way to start your soul on a path to hell, damnation, and destruction. Want some wine with your pasta? Sinner. Want a little whiskey in your coke at the BBQ? Sinner. Want to sip some scotch after a long work day? Sinner. Want to… you get the idea. And oh yeah… that miracle in the Bible were Jesus turned water into wine? Well… that wasn’t really wine… that was grape juice. That’s what the Bible means when it says wine. You know, in the verse where it says “be not drunk with wine”? Its really saying don’t be drunk with… um… grape juice?
(4)Politics-Smolitics
Though I am registered as one; I don’t always vote republican. (I am aware that this bullet point is extremely relative to my immediate surroundings, and I am by no means saying that all Christians are or should be republicans. I am simply stating that in my experience all politically outspoken Christians that I know have been republicans.) My official stance on politics is as follows:
The Democratic party is full of idiots and is a party of no ideas.
The Republican party is full of idiots and is a party of stupid ideas.
But I do vote; and my process for deciding who I want to vote for is a three step system.
- Listen to the ideas of both candidates.
- Let the ideas swirl around for a while and bask in the light of my own personal beliefs.
- Vote for the candidate who’s views are closest (notice I said closest, and not completely) in line with mine.
Done.
(5) Mistake Or God Appointed Destiny?
I believe that sometimes things just ‘happen’. I have met more than my fair share of Christians who see a demon behind every bush and an angel behind every close parking space at the mall. Aside from annoying me to all end with their endless stories about how God provided them with a $.50 off coupon through the mail for the latest Joel Ostean CD, these people seem to get spiritually and motivationally paralysed at the drop of a hat. One bad day at work, or an illnesss that last more than a day, gets taken a bit too seriously and will send these people into a cave of despair and drama where they have to beg and plead with God for guidance and spend the next 6 months crying and tyring to figure out what it is God wanted them to learn through this outrageous adversity and infringement on their “god happy” feelings. Is it plausible that maybe you just had a bad day? Or maybe somebody else had a bad day? Or you got sick cause you ran outside to play in the rain wearing only your dress socks and a cowboy hat (and who hasn’t been there)? I think so. In my own life one lesson that I have learned very well is if God wants to get your attention… he will unequivocally let you know; but most of the time its just life being life. Things happen. Pick yourself up and move on.