Tiste Simeon, on 10 December 2023 - 09:48 PM, said:
You guys know me, mostly. I'm friends with some of you IRL as a result of this forum so I'm hoping you'll t take that into account. And please know I am not offended by any of the preceding posts. I get it's a weird subject and especially for the Americans among us where this is a much bigger issue...
I believe in God. I read the bible and pray daily. I go to church. I speak to God and believe God speaks to me. This, my faith, is a huge part of who I am, of how I live and how I hope to bring up my children. It's as serious as I can get about anything to be honest.
I, as a Christian, believe in the words and the teachings of Christ. Jesus was someone who spoke truth to power, who fought against the religious authorities in an intellectual and spiritual way. He championed the low, the poor and the needy. Repeatedly. He had an awful lot to say about the rich, especially those who hoarded wealth and power and then hypocritically spoke like they had the higher authority and ethical high ground.
Sounding familiar?
He often spoke out and defended those who society deemed "unfit" or "outcast" or "unworthy." He did not schmooze with the rich and powerful and the times he is recorded as dining with them, he was unafraid in pointing out their faults and hypocrisy. He is, essentially, the conservatives worst nightmare.
Ooh and he never said a single thing about gay people!
When I read the nonsense that the folk at the GOP spew out it annoys me for so many reasons, not least that they have got it so completely and utterly wrong. So when some smug fascist who represents something almost anathema to the teaching they claim to follow says "God spoke to me and he said this..." I cringe.
Because as I said, I do believe God speaks. Heck, I am one of those who moved a long way because I believe it is what God wanted me to do. I'm willing to talk further on that if you want but basically it wasn't something that makes sense in any natural way. It cost us a heck of a lot and living here is way more expensive than where we used to live not to mention inconvenient to get to and from. But we believed I it was part of a divine will and we have seen blessings as a result.
I'm probably rambling a lot right now so I'll shut up. As I said I have not taken any offence from anything said before I just wanted to provide a slightly different POV (hopefully one not too insane sounding) I get that you guys don't believe in God and you probably think I'm just as nuts as the other guys. Or that this is some kind of No True Scotsman fallacy.
But the Jesus I follow is very different to Republican Jesus. If I was running for office I would not hide my faith but equally I would not rant about it in place of real practical things I'd want to do if I was elected.
In my work place now I don't hide who I am but I don't spend the whole time trying to force everyone else to change who they are. Jesus never did that. He just loved people in a radical non conformist way and they wanted to know more.
Anyway I've said my piece thanks to you guys if you actually read all that haha
SO basically, you are... dare I say it, an ACTUAL Christian, as in one who actually follows the teachings.
That's how it should be tbh