Posted on 07/30/2010 7:57:36 AM PDT by NYer
Novelist Anne Rice remains committed to Christ. But she is quitting Christianity.
The “Interview With The Vampire” author, who in recent years has spoken publicly about her faith and written a series of novels tracing the life of Jesus, wrote on her Facebook page Wednesday that she was finished with organized Christianity.
For those who care, and I understand if you don't: Today I quit being a Christian. I'm out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being "Christian" or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to "belong" to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outside. My conscience will allow nothing else.
She followed that post a few minutes later with more details:
As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I'm out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.
On Thursday, Rice posted a series of passages from the New Testament:
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(Excerpt) Read more at weblogs.baltimoresun.com ...
I probably agree with you on your specific point, but we also need to wrestle with the ideas that: Christ DID send his apostles out to spread the good news, and Christ DID speak differently to the masses than he did to his selected disciples.
>>Luther opened Pandora’s box when he said anyone could interpret scripture. Here is yet another victim.<<
Actually, it was a Pandora’s box of accountability. We all die alone and we are all responsible for our own decision to accept or reject Christ. It is actually a good thing, considering Christ is our intercessor in the Melchizedek priesthood.
Sure, a lot of goofy stuff comes from giving individuals freedom, but I see it more as exposing each person as who they really are. The bible is pretty clear and basic issues. This woman says some things I agree with but then goes south quite a bit. One example is that she could have said “I’ve decided to be a Christian but give up Christianity.” After all, “Christian” is the word for someone who follows Christ. And “Christianity” is the group of believers that follow Christ, also known as the Church.
And her comments about Christianity prove she has no idea what it preaches. It would be interesting to ask her what it means to be a follower of Christ, also known as a “Christian”. I wonder if it would follow how the Bible defines it.
Who has the authority to interpret scripture in the Protestant world?
So Luther went from opposing a corrupt RCC of his day to helping form another corrupt Christian branch of religion, Protestantism. That makes me laugh.
Pray for her. I actually feel bad for her. She obviously struggles with demons that won’t let go. I know many people who struggle with many things, spiritual and otherwise. The devil is unrelenting. Pray that she finds her way. I believe she is searching as honestly as she can. Have compassion.
>>Christ DID send his apostles out to spread the good news, and Christ DID speak differently to the masses than he did to his selected disciples.<<
Yes he did, and what he said was then, AFTER HIS CRUCIFIXION, written down for all to read. I believe it was necessary for the people to have him crucified before full revelation was to happen. Even the apostles did not fully understand both before and immediately after His crucifixion. They actually seemed pretty thick and even Jesus got frustrated with them. But He persevered. :)
“Luther opened Pandora’s box when he said anyone could interpret scripture.”
.
I can find no record of Luthor ever saying that.
Only those that have a solid relationship whith the Lord, and have the Holy Spirit to guide them can understand the scriptures. (this leaves out at least 2/3 of professing “Christians”)
Pandora’s box is a metaphor of Eve’s encounter with the Serpent. We’re all ‘victims’ of that event.
Cease not gathering together as is the manner of some. Much of the New Testament is about the church and how we should interact with each other. Christians aren't supposed to stop fellowshipping with other Christians because they aren't perfect.
It's simply impossible for me to "belong" to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group.
She says this in quite a hostile manner. Perhaps she should be asking forgiveness for HERSELF.
The quote you posted has nothing to do with her interpreting scripture. In fact, it has to do with her refusing to follow the scriptures because she finds it difficult at times to be around imperfect Christians.
What would we do without redemption? Redemption is for sinners and sinners includes goofballs,too. When we have issues with others, there are only two ways to handle them. One way is to apply less love. The other way is to apply more love. When I refer to love, I am referring to the selfless unconditional kind. That’s why Christians condemn themselves to a sort of defacto hypocracy, because no one can live up to the ideal of essential love, which is purely selfless. And, I think, this is why churches are filled with goofballs like you and me. Love to all. Foyen
Why dodn’t you either cite the reference for your claim or apologize for having made it.
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That's ok, The Church doesn't want her, Rev. 3:16.
She is neither hot or cold but wants to be luke warm.
“Interpreting is much different than reading it yourself and understanding it. And to think for yourself.”
LOL!
Being BIBLE based, anyone can read and comprehend what it written. Once you KNOW what is written, it is easy to discern that this woman didn't bother to read what He taught directly or through His Prophets and twelve disciples.
She wants her own “religion”.
Really?
How do you explain “gay” Priests?
They're not “anti-gay” either.
Do you know allot of Catholics vote for Demoncrats in the name of “social justice”? Many Catholics voted for Obama and see what he stands for being in line with Catholic teachings.
If I were you, I'd pipe down and save my venom for the individual rather than broad brush a group, namely Protestants, that you HATE.
The Catholic Church has more than enough embarrassment and wrong headed teachings. Thankfully Luther brough singing back into the church by the congregation and pointed out it is FAITH that saves you, not works. Faith is dead without works but it is FAITH that has you doing works for Him through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Eph. 2:8&9
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The Catholic Church is having HUGE financial problems due to paying off folks molested by Priests. Oh, the church could easily get in the black, if they sold off some useless relics but they won't do that ... .
I am not “anti Catholic”. I find it sad that MANY Catholic Schools are closing. Catholics do acknowledge Christ and there is some common ground but if I were you, I certainly wouldn't be haughty about Catholicism and the never ending scandals etc. that are nonstop with the Catholic Church.
What we have here, is a woman that never knew Christ. If she did, she wouldn't be making such silly statements. Her statements are opposite what is written in the Bible. Like others, she is creating her own humanistic religion. This is nothing new ... .
“Pure anti-protestant bigotry.”
Yes it is. I don’t need a child-molesting priesthood to interpret scripture for me either.
Being BIBLE based, anyone can read and comprehend what it written.
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I suppose that anyone could LEARN to comprehend what is written. The Bible was written for a people in a time and place much different from the USA today. There is much good to be learned from Seminary. That being said there is much that can be gleaned from the scripture with a simple cursory look at them.
I begrudge no man the effort he has put into being a priest and the extra insight it gives him into the scriptures. What is more important than the scriptures is having the communion with the Holy Ghost that will let you apply the Holy Word in your own life. The same scriptural reference may have different meanings for different people and all of them be correct.
The advantage the Catholic church has is that they have a person on earth where the buck stops. The bible (at least to my knowledge) does not have a well spoken reference to abortion yet the Pope says it is wrong. Many Protestant churches do not agree. If Christ is the head of their churches how can there be more than one answer to such an important question.
When I look for churches I will not consider a church which does not have the moral strength to say no to a horrendous practice like abortion. When you look for churches with the “right” answer you must also ask how they got that answer. There are but a few churches that can answer that in a good way. Not that there are few churches against abortion but that there are few churches that make the decision based on communion with God through The Holy Ghost.
Luther also executed people at the stake, and had them burned for heresy. His fellow protestants no less.
“What a shame! We must pray for her.”
thataway!
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