“80 percent of U.S. adults say religion’s role in American life is shrinking”
Meaningless unless the question “is religion’s role in your life shrinking?” is also asked for comparison.
There was a time, way back when, I might walk into any Christian church except Baptist (where, except during a wedding, I figured that I would not be welcome).
Hmm . . . well, there was a girl whom I liked, and I did to her Baptist church, once, where up on the stage, the leaders dumped people into something similar to an outdoor, above-ground swimming pool.
I was more interested in the girl, than the pool.
Until her father, a pastor, read me his Riot Act - seconds after I was introduced to him - that I was something probably not acceptable.
I took that to mean, Stay Away from My Daughter!
She actually came to visit me a few days later, wanting to apologize for her father’s behavior. But I was too uncomfortable, and cold to any possible entreaty; and, I let her know that.
So . . . on with life; and years later, a kind lady helped me with something I was trying to gather together, and we became friends.
Until, first, she informed me that I would not be welcome at her church (she is black, and I am something else). Yet, I let that pass.
A few years later, when I was talking with her over the phone, thinking about visiting her at her home, she told me about “the drug house just 4 houses away” - the guys there might not approve.
I said, “If they are a problem, I’ll arrest them.”
She said, “No! You cannot do that!”
I said, “Then I am not coming down your street.”
She: Click. So ended another story.
Then, there was another, a girl (also black) to whom I was instantly attracted. A sweetheart, whom I helped with issues that she had with her Baptist church background. She and I were good friends.
Until one day, when she expressed frustration with some peoples’ opinion of her at work.
I said, “Don’t worry, you are an all-American girl.” (That was a compliment, I was sure.)
She . . . silence, and so ended another story.
- - -
Anyway, there was a time.
Now, there are so many people and pastors for whom the Bible is a weapon to be used for passing immediate judgment on my chances of going to heaven.
And I think, Jesus, please forgive me.
I have no answers for my conduct, to offer Jesus, other than please forgive me. Jesus is my judge and advocate if I have any chance.
I tell people, You may forget a lot, but try to remember that Jesus is living water. And to help me remember, I write:
Prefer God
Love truth
Be kind
Jesus is living water,
the well of Bethlehem,
by the gate,
satisfying the thirst of David,
nearby the Siloam Pool.
we as Christians are called to be separate from this world, not leaders of it.
In my opinion, it was always a historical anomaly that we were ever in charge.