Rev. Dustin ParkerYour Choice
If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. I have no idea which genius originally came up with that, but they were right on the money. Winston Churchill said "So you have enemies now? Good, it means you stood up for at least one good thing in your life." Optimus Prime said "After this day, one shall stand, one shall fall." Now, as awesome as Prime's quote is, it has nothing to do with this post, but it's my favourite quote from both Transformers movies.
The fact is that unless people look for something positive, pro-active and worth doing, they tend to become someone who places themselves on a fence and their primary use of oxygen tends to be for the use of self-righteous moral grandstanding. Like that. And like this:
With christianity (I don't feel qualified to speak about any other religion so please forgive me for not doing so) this becomes a great deal more important. The fact is that there are many christians (alot of people that read this have probably met them) that take a path of christianity that is severe, legalistic and without any kind of empathy or compassion whatsoever. This usually involves quoting the parts of the Bible that are about vengeance, good behaviour and generally have the whole "God hates this, that and the other thing." Which isn't to say that He doesn't. But the flip side of this is that if we go the complete other direction, where we forget that Jesus actually DID lay down some ground rules (and when He did there was no sign of compromise, though there was compassion), even when He said "Love God and your neighbour" He said that the love of God is our first priority. You'll also remember, this is the same religious teacher that told people to give up everything, money, land, family, friends, position, influence and whatever else they had in order to follow him. The ease with which a preacher can convince that Jesus was one way and not the other without anyone saying "wait a minute" is disturbing sometimes.
The choice we have in life is what we're going to do. We can take a look at the world, decide it sucks and that there's nothing we can do about it except have a good time. Our world has been put in such a position by people who thought that, and nothing other than that. We can point the finger at others, demanding restitution and vengeance, criticising and shouting our displeasure at them. Great plan except it gets nothing done. Or we can do what we can to do some good. We are here, and this is now. In a hundred years, we might all be dead, but the consequences of our choices may not be. Love your neighbours, do what good you can.
JZ
Optimus Prime, Leader of the United State of the Autobots
The fact is that unless people look for something positive, pro-active and worth doing, they tend to become someone who places themselves on a fence and their primary use of oxygen tends to be for the use of self-righteous moral grandstanding. Like that. And like this:
What the ?
With christianity (I don't feel qualified to speak about any other religion so please forgive me for not doing so) this becomes a great deal more important. The fact is that there are many christians (alot of people that read this have probably met them) that take a path of christianity that is severe, legalistic and without any kind of empathy or compassion whatsoever. This usually involves quoting the parts of the Bible that are about vengeance, good behaviour and generally have the whole "God hates this, that and the other thing." Which isn't to say that He doesn't. But the flip side of this is that if we go the complete other direction, where we forget that Jesus actually DID lay down some ground rules (and when He did there was no sign of compromise, though there was compassion), even when He said "Love God and your neighbour" He said that the love of God is our first priority. You'll also remember, this is the same religious teacher that told people to give up everything, money, land, family, friends, position, influence and whatever else they had in order to follow him. The ease with which a preacher can convince that Jesus was one way and not the other without anyone saying "wait a minute" is disturbing sometimes.
The choice we have in life is what we're going to do. We can take a look at the world, decide it sucks and that there's nothing we can do about it except have a good time. Our world has been put in such a position by people who thought that, and nothing other than that. We can point the finger at others, demanding restitution and vengeance, criticising and shouting our displeasure at them. Great plan except it gets nothing done. Or we can do what we can to do some good. We are here, and this is now. In a hundred years, we might all be dead, but the consequences of our choices may not be. Love your neighbours, do what good you can.
JZ
Samaritan's Stories
go forth and do good works worthy of repentance. The Bible. Somewhere. I think John the Baptist said it.
On a slightly more serious note, St Paul did say that creation has been waiting for the sons of God to manifest themselves. IN basic layman's terms, everyone wants the church to start doing what it SHOULD be doing.
JZ