It Ain't Easy Following Jesus
It’s Hard To Be a Christian These Days
By Sally Bishai
I was recently told that a Catholic bishop said that it was “hard to be a Christian these days.” I agree with him, but with the added qualifier of “true.” It’s hard to be a true Christian these days. What do I mean? Well, stepping aside from the whole issue of temptation—What? Oh, you don’t know what I mean? Then I’ll clarify it.
Christians are supposed to refrain from certain activities, such as defiling the temple of God (smoking, drugs, gluttony, or drunkenness) and sexual immorality (sex outside of marriage).
While these sins may have physical or emotional consequences, thus making many “moral people” wonder how anyone could ever wish to do them, it must be said that these things can be, for a short time, enjoyable. Maybe cocaine gives you an exhilarating rush (I wouldn’t know). Maybe drunkenness is actually fun (again, I wouldn’t know, but I doubt it). And I’m sure that the rush of meeting someone new, connecting emotionally, and taking the next step (or three) might have its charm (I’m an Egyptian, I’ll leave it at that).
Chowing on macaroni and cheese, a porterhouse, and three orders of Vietnamese soup (in one day) certainly has appeal, too! (What? Oh, it doesn’t? Sorry.)
Point being that “Just saying NO!” isn’t as easy for us as it might seem. (I can just feel some readers out there thinking 'Well, YOU'RE the genius that decided to "be religious.."')
But back to what I was saying about two hours ago.... the difficulty of “walking the walk” aside, it should be noted that “walking the straight and narrow” is made even more difficult for us by those who feel as though Christianity should be abolished. AKA “The Tolerant People.”
I was recently informed by one of these “people” that everyone in the world that followed Jesus should go live on a deserted island, so as not to contaminate everyone else with our alleged neuroses. (Didn’t they used to say that about people with AIDS?)
Seriously, though, you know what I’m talking about. You have to.
Tolerance is preached everywhere these days.
Being “politically correct,” whatever that is, is practically a requirement if you want to avoid a lawsuit.
Being accepting of everyone, even Satanists and atheists and transsexual Buddhists, is the new norm.
But what about the Christians?
Why is it “cool” to protect everyone but us?
Did we do something to offend everyone? I didn’t realize that “God is love” and “thou shalt not kill” were getting on everyone’s nerves.
Christianity is a religion based on love and peace.
Don’t bring the Crusades into this, don’t mention cosmic killjoys and fire and brimstone, because it doesn’t mention any of those in the Bible.
Just because people may have misinterpreted something and acted accordingly—or even gotten thousands of people to act “accordingly”—doesn’t mean that everyone agrees with the validity of the act. Furthermore, you don’t avoid airplanes JUST because one or two pilots have been total drunks, do you? (Well, maybe you do.)
Christians might be deemed “intolerant” by liberals and others and, in a way, we are. We are taught to be “in the world but not of it.” We’re counseled to be intolerant of sin—and the appearance of sin!—in our own lives. Meaning, we should shy away from getting drunk and having flings with the spouses of our best friend(s), but also hanging out at bars and sweeping said spouse-of-friend into a torried embrace on a street corner, even if it’s done with the utmost “innocence” of heart.
This does not mean we should shun those who do sin—if we were to do that, we would not only never talk to anyone, we’d also have to just pack up and die, because we aren’t perfect, either!
My point here is that, while Christians have an excuse for being intolerant, liberals don’t. It’s in the “Handbook of Liberal Thought” that they should be “tolerant” of everyone—even the intolerant.
But, sadly, these “liberal-minded” people can’t live up to their job descriptions. Not that I’m condeming it; I just think it’s interesting to note that “the tolerant people” are (sometimes) the least tolerant of all!
By Sally Bishai
I was recently told that a Catholic bishop said that it was “hard to be a Christian these days.” I agree with him, but with the added qualifier of “true.” It’s hard to be a true Christian these days. What do I mean? Well, stepping aside from the whole issue of temptation—What? Oh, you don’t know what I mean? Then I’ll clarify it.
Christians are supposed to refrain from certain activities, such as defiling the temple of God (smoking, drugs, gluttony, or drunkenness) and sexual immorality (sex outside of marriage).
While these sins may have physical or emotional consequences, thus making many “moral people” wonder how anyone could ever wish to do them, it must be said that these things can be, for a short time, enjoyable. Maybe cocaine gives you an exhilarating rush (I wouldn’t know). Maybe drunkenness is actually fun (again, I wouldn’t know, but I doubt it). And I’m sure that the rush of meeting someone new, connecting emotionally, and taking the next step (or three) might have its charm (I’m an Egyptian, I’ll leave it at that).
Chowing on macaroni and cheese, a porterhouse, and three orders of Vietnamese soup (in one day) certainly has appeal, too! (What? Oh, it doesn’t? Sorry.)
Point being that “Just saying NO!” isn’t as easy for us as it might seem. (I can just feel some readers out there thinking 'Well, YOU'RE the genius that decided to "be religious.."')
But back to what I was saying about two hours ago.... the difficulty of “walking the walk” aside, it should be noted that “walking the straight and narrow” is made even more difficult for us by those who feel as though Christianity should be abolished. AKA “The Tolerant People.”
I was recently informed by one of these “people” that everyone in the world that followed Jesus should go live on a deserted island, so as not to contaminate everyone else with our alleged neuroses. (Didn’t they used to say that about people with AIDS?)
Seriously, though, you know what I’m talking about. You have to.
Tolerance is preached everywhere these days.
Being “politically correct,” whatever that is, is practically a requirement if you want to avoid a lawsuit.
Being accepting of everyone, even Satanists and atheists and transsexual Buddhists, is the new norm.
But what about the Christians?
Why is it “cool” to protect everyone but us?
Did we do something to offend everyone? I didn’t realize that “God is love” and “thou shalt not kill” were getting on everyone’s nerves.
Christianity is a religion based on love and peace.
Don’t bring the Crusades into this, don’t mention cosmic killjoys and fire and brimstone, because it doesn’t mention any of those in the Bible.
Just because people may have misinterpreted something and acted accordingly—or even gotten thousands of people to act “accordingly”—doesn’t mean that everyone agrees with the validity of the act. Furthermore, you don’t avoid airplanes JUST because one or two pilots have been total drunks, do you? (Well, maybe you do.)
Christians might be deemed “intolerant” by liberals and others and, in a way, we are. We are taught to be “in the world but not of it.” We’re counseled to be intolerant of sin—and the appearance of sin!—in our own lives. Meaning, we should shy away from getting drunk and having flings with the spouses of our best friend(s), but also hanging out at bars and sweeping said spouse-of-friend into a torried embrace on a street corner, even if it’s done with the utmost “innocence” of heart.
This does not mean we should shun those who do sin—if we were to do that, we would not only never talk to anyone, we’d also have to just pack up and die, because we aren’t perfect, either!
My point here is that, while Christians have an excuse for being intolerant, liberals don’t. It’s in the “Handbook of Liberal Thought” that they should be “tolerant” of everyone—even the intolerant.
But, sadly, these “liberal-minded” people can’t live up to their job descriptions. Not that I’m condeming it; I just think it’s interesting to note that “the tolerant people” are (sometimes) the least tolerant of all!
Comments
Do you imply that one cannot be Christian and liberal? That you're "either with us or with them"? Do you think Jesus was more liberal or conservative (I'm talking lower-case not "a Liberal or a Conservative")?
2) "It’s Hard To Be a Christian These Days"
Is it easier to be a Sikh Hindu these days? Is it easier to be an orthodox Jew in Russia these days? Is it easier to be a dark-brown Muslim in Mississippi these days?
3) "Did we do something to offend everyone? I didn’t realize that 'God is love' and 'thou shalt not kill' were getting on everyone’s nerves."
I don't assume these are getting on anybody's nerves. I assume verses like
" 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."Rom13:1-4
are somehow problematic, to say the least. Imagine an Iraqi Christian obeying Saddam Hussein because he "does not bear the sword in vain, but by the word of God"... Wow... Now Mubarak too bears the sword to avenge God's wrath on him who practices evil. How about Fidel Castro? Or did St. Paul specify that the Communist and Arab rulers are exempt from his statement?
These kind of things are questionable and need careful interpretation.
When a TV minister refers to Deut 20 or to the Book of Judges, as how God has given the land to His people and that htey should kill everyone and keep no soul, and overlooks the revolution Jesus has ignited, I personally would worry a lot. What Bible are they reading from? Do they know from which spirit they come or are they like the sons of Zebedee who hoped for a fire to burn the Samaritan village?
When the Coptic Holy Synod members do not speak up against torture except if the tortured are Christians, I would question their knowledge of the good Samaritan. When none of the Coptic Bishops in the USA speaks up against the war, yet all of them in Egypt speak up against it, I would question whether they know the difference between "wisdom and spiritual discernment" vs. "conformity, cowardness and political correctness".
4) "Christianity is a religion based on love and peace."
Where in the Bible does it say that Christianity is a religion?
It's nowhere in the Bible. And I remind you: "Just because people may have misinterpreted something and acted accordingly—or even gotten thousands of people to act 'accordingly'—doesn’t mean that everyone agrees with the validity of the act." That was well-said.
Not because millions have called following Jesus Christ (Christianity) a religion that it is so.
If that's the problem, It is valid for many other followers of differnet religions and beliefs, some of which are Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and if I remember correctly: Natural Hygienests!
Is that what makes it difficult to be a Christian these days?
maybe these people have the same problems with 'staying on track' as any of the Christians who choose to truly follow Christ every single day.
as we say in arabic, 'ana maleesh da3wa bel taneen dola.'
i can only speak from being a Christian.
feel free to write an article called "It's Hard To Be a Natural Hygenist These Days," but promise to send me the link, eh?
Actually, what makes it hard to be a Christian these days---in America, anyway--is that the rights of women to kill their children, men to marry other men, and people to sleep around all seem to be protected more than my right to say the name of Jesus.
i can honestly say that i feel that i have less and less rights (as a Christian) every day that goes by. isn't that why america was instituted, though? for religious freedom? i may as well move back home to egypt, if i'm going to be so limited. the rate of exchange would certainly be in my favour..
I guess not, I think the founding father had differnt reasons for instituting America
I'm sorry but I don't get it: does anyone oblige Christian women in America to kill their children? does anybody in America force Christian men to marry each other? I guess you have the choice and By Law no one can force you to do what you do not believe in
And as far as I know: "killing children" is a crime all over the world, so I guess you mean: "Abortion"
So let's see, maybe that's a glimpse of why some people have hard time tolerating Christians: as an example: they decide someone is a "children killer" just because they disagree with them in opinion about a mass of cells, that neither science, nor religion has a hard evidenced opinion about
And honestly I don't see why allowing abortion can make it hard for someone to be a Christian
And about coming home to Egypt: that would really put "American Tolerance in context", I'm not saying American's are "Super Tolerant, however, it's only unfair to ignore the steps they have lead to create a more tolerant society. Please come home to Egypt for a vacation, listen to mockery of Christians on mosque microphones, count how many Christians there are in higher positions, see what treatment you'll get in the street for walking around "unveiled", then, let's rediscuss: Tolerance
America - and Europe for that matter - have problems concerning tolerance - especially for Arabs these days, that's in the general view, but to compare them with Egypt?! That's a bit unfair: Egyptian streets cannot even tolerate a slightly different "looking" person, let alone one with a differnt "belief"
but this is no surprise, it has been this way for so long.
what my point is--and what people keep missing--is that america is SUPPOSED to be a land of freedom. it is SUPPOSED to protect the rights of everyone.
BUT. so many times, it is the christians--who aren't doing anything that could be considered WRONG--meaning, SOME people think abortion is wrong. SOME people think gay marriage is wrong, but name one thing in the christian belief system that someone could consider WRONG or IMMORAL (by any standards); it just strikes me as odd that people get so offended if someone says "God bless you" or something like that.
but back to your original point, america is WORSE than egypt in terms of freedom because at least in egypt, no one is under the impression that it's a land of freedom. no one is pretending that things are paradise. everyone knows the score.
here, however, it can be an insidious thing that is very hard to prove..
Dear Sally,
I don't know what you mean by the Christian belief system, but:
If you mean the scripture: I think R has mentioned verses that might be considered: wrong or immoral by some standards,I found the verses R mentioned particularly interesting: telling people to subdue to authority, regardless of its injustice, claiming that an unjust ruler is put in place by God, let me add the ones about slaves obediance to their master (which by the way raises the question: was the ending slavery wrong from a Christian point of view?)
What about Christian demonstrators who participate in Kefaya movement in Egypt shouting: "Yasqot Yasqot Hosni Mobarak", Are they According to Apostle Paul, seeking to pull down what God has raised up?
Or what?
What about the verses about women?
"let the women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says, and if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is improper for a women to speak in church" (1 Cor. 14:34).
"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord" (Eph. 5:21)
let me stress on my question again: What is the Christian belief system?
anyway, please keep these things in mind..
1- true Christianity is about following Jesus, no more and no less. doing good deeds won't take you to heaven, and a lack of deeds won't keep you out, the stipulation being that your faith would be of the fruit-bearing sort.
going to church every week, giving 25% of your income per year, and being voted 'nicest guy on the block' has nothing to do with going to heaven. you might say, 'but sally, you're a protestant, so that's YOUR spin on christianity..'
but more on the discrepancy between 'denominations' later.. (i'm anti 'denomination,' btw..)
the second thing i really would like you to remember is that christians do not always stand for Christ! meaning, we are imperfect. we make mistakes, and we choose to sin, sometimes.
just because our faith is lacking, or our 'walk with Christ,' this doesn't mean that the teachings of Jesus are suddenly invalid.
in a final note--any christian who hates a moslem, jew, atheist, hindu, etc... is not being true to the Word of God.. we are supposed to LOVE everyone, whether friend or enemy, whether they agree or not. if someone hits you, you're taught to turn the other cheek. i don't think Jesus meant every single time, and now i have this other point to make about the kefaya movement that you brought up, but have to run for the market (need to pick up some cold medicine! :/
anyway, more later and thanks for the nice chat, friend.. :) love, sally..
Sally, you were complaining about Americans unable to exercise tolerance towards Christians, and you were wondering why
This not about what Christianity is
This is not about what a True Christian should do
This is about the fact that there is a mass of people - called Christians - they act in a certain way, and are subject - as you say - to lack of tolerance, even in a supposedly Christian nation like the US
You are wondering why, and raising the argument that Christianity has nothing to offend any moral standard, and that it is becoming hard for a Christian to follow Jesus, as your title says
Now, back to the discussion: Why is it hard to follow Jesus just because you can't eat or drink stuff, and because "other women" can abort their fetuses and other men can marry each other?
What about the verses of the scripture that appear with mixed or negative messages? why do you expect people not to get offended by them?
What is the role of Christians, practically, in feeding this lack of tolerance?