In his book, Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts Faith and Threatens America, Randall Balmer cites Billy Graham’s concern about a marriage between the political right and religious fundamentalism. Billy Graham warned, “I don’t want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it.” Parade Magazine, 1981. His profound warning is exactly what is happening in our current culture. GOP policy and agenda has manipulated good people into succumbing to the perversion of Jesus’ teachings for monetary gain.
Therefore, I resist with a poem:
If being a Christian means I have to deny healthcare to another human being, for example, transgender humans, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to deny equality to the LGBTQ community, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to ban drag queens from performing their art, therefore taking away their livelihood, and joy of their profession, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to accept building a wall separating me from another human, so I can be privileged, and they can suffer, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to deny scientific evidence of climate change, therefore contributing to the destruction of the earth, and our home, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to desire more guns and support the lack of gun regulations, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means that I have to support building an oil pipeline through the sacred land of Native Americans, disrespecting them, their land, and the earth, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to deny another human’s entry into my country because they worship differently, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to deny women access to birth control, cancer screenings, and education regarding their bodies, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to call a woman a murderer for having an abortion resulting from rape, incest, fetal developmental abnormalities, or simply because she is in a bad situation, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to believe that God is going to destroy the earth and only save select Christians from that destruction after a rapture, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to accept that billions of earth’s species fit onto one boat, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to discredit evolution or science, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to deny suffering people the benefits of medical cannabis, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to pledge allegiance to a flag and nationalism, instead of Jesus and his teachings of love, equality, caring for the poor, and fighting for the least of these, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to deny human beings food because they are addicted to drugs, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to believe in the death penalty, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to believe that women are not equal in their homes, professionally, or in the Church, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to believe that others will go to an eternal hell because they were born in a different culture and religion, then I am not a Christian.
If being a Christian means I have to openly accept things that Jesus vehemently spoke against, then I am not a Christian.
If being A Christian means I have to align with the powerful instead of the powerless, then I am not a Christian.
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Your “poem” is not poetry. It is a political agenda generated by hysteria and lacking any critical, informed thought. Your talking points are social, not spiritual. Being a Christian is about our undeserved, forgiven relationship with our Creator. Being a Christian isn’t really about you, and it isn’t really about the Church. It’s all about who Christ is and what Christ has done. Your 25 years of supposedly being a “Christian” sounds as if it was nothing more than a social religion, not a genuine spiritual relationship. Christ is the Head of his body. You are free to choose to separate yourself from the Christian faith, but if you do so because the Church does not reflect your social agenda, then you have lifted yourself up in authority over Christ. You are your own god.
First of all, art is art, and my poem is in fact a poem. Second, the words of Jesus has transformed my heart and if it isn’t love for humanity, it is NOT of Christ.
You do not know me, you know nothing of what is in my heart. Jesus loved everyone, and taught us to love others. Period. Anything other than that is idolatry.
You are right. I don’t know you. But I know what you said and how you said it. And that is what I responded to. Your truism (“art is art”) fails to justify calling your list of demands a “poem”, no matter how gushy it makes you feel to write it. You’re entitled to your feelings, but just because you feel you are right doesn’t make you right.
I am thankful for this opportunity to see different views and where people are in their walk with Jesus. It’s amazing how a lot of people don’t get what Jesus is about. Jesus gives us the opportunity to have a relationship with Him. Though this world is against Jesus and what He stands for. I know that He loves these people. We need to love them even though they are against Him. I know when I believed what the world said I would stand up for the wrong things. I am just so grateful to share this relationship I have with the world.
May God bless you and help you find what you are looking for.
While I don’t know too much about your faith walk (nor do I push for you to know, unless you volunteer any such info), I will say that being a Christian means one thing and one thing only–you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. As long as you seek Jesus and seek what His teachings are in everything you believe, you are as good of a follower of Christ as anyone else, in my humble opinion. God Bless. (P.S. I actually agree with many of your views, and actually wrote something on LGBTQ+ issues with the whole “love the sinner, hate the sin” thing)
You are fighting for the right thing and people will not always agree with you.
Stay strong and hold on to the power of God, the name christian will not get you into heaven, only the blood of Jesus cleansing your life will.
Have a powerful day
Breakthrough Futures.
Amen
I’m sorry you feel this way. Being a christian is truly a wonderful thing <3
You get to have a wonderful relationship with God 🙂
Thought provoking, you get people really thinking whether all the above are christian or not. Such a tough time for christian belief.
I am honestly curious. What does it mean to be a Christian?
Kimberly, I agree with many of your points, but not all of them. And that’s ok, we are all in different stages of our walk. I will pray for you and that you continue to study, investigate, and read – we will never know all the truths until His return.
Blessings
A Christian is one who follows Christ (so named at Antioch; Acts 11:26). Following Christ means obeying and standing for what Christ taught (Luke 6:46; John 14:15, 21, 24, 15:10, 14) even when it goes against the grain of the politics or culture of the day (Luke 9:23, 6:22; John 15:18).
Unfortunately, several of the things you listed are antithetical to the way Christ views the issues. What you are essentially saying is that you don’t care what Christ thinks because you feel a certain way about things and your feelings trump His. If that is the case, then you are correct: you are, by definition and your own admission, not a Christian. My heart breaks for you.
Explain how any of the issues I presented are antithetical to the way Christ views the issues. Christ was about loving others. Christ was for the poor, the addicted, the oppressed. Nothing I said in this article is anti-Christ. Anti-Christianity, maybe, but not anti-who Christ is and what Christ taught.
There is no need for your heart to break for me, I know Christ and hear his voice.
There is no need for an elitist guilt trip from you, but thanks for your judgement full of pride and arrogance.
I certainly wouldn’t mind giving a more detailed explanation, but only if you’re open to the possibility of being wrong and willing to consider what I would have to say based on the facts available. I don’t mind a spirited debate, but I doubt a public argument would help anyone.
I apologize if I came off as elitist, judgmental, prideful, or arrogant. Truly. It was not my intent to guilt-trip you or anyone else. Rather, I wanted to point out the inconsistency between some of the things you said and biblical truth/principle.
Wow. Thank you for this piece. It’s easily the most powerful thing I’ve read in days. Keep it up. God bless.
@Kimberly Stover
John 18:36 (KJV) Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to THE JEWS: but now is my Kingdom not from hence. (Emphasis mine)
If you need some hope for race or gender issues, you should check out my post. It’s about he first female to ever participate in ANY US political convention. The same convention had strong African American delegates like John Q. Adams. He owned a large news paper called ” The Western Appeal”. Much of the strife in our society is due to HOW we get our information. Many words are falsely put in the mouth of the Church because reporters can’t understand grace. Thanks!
Which political party did Yashua Messiah vote for?
None. Sidestepped Rome. Sidestepped Pharisees, Saducees, and Sanhedrin.
I do find it amazing that progress comes from remote and unlikely places. Thanks!
I love this argument. Jesus stayed out of politics. No he didn’t. He spoke out any chance he got against the political/religious rule if the day.
I respect your opinion, but disagree.He wasn’t here to build a political or religious kingdom.
Maybe. However, the things he said were very political at that time.
Hi Kim! I appreciate your thoughts…they make me think! Here’s my take based on life experience. I was a traveling musician in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia during the Soviet era. Musicians, artists, professors I met spoke of that time where every aspect of life was considered “political”. A Russian hippy writes a song about peace, and somehow its an attack on the system, not the expression of a musician tired of conflict. Same for the artist. “Why did you demean the colors red and green? Why have you made this statement against the Army?” Artist: I toned down those colors because it was aesthetically pleasing to me. Same for the professor and the educated, they lived under the fear that their attempts to learn and express new thoughts that better their culture would result in time in labor camp.
All this to say my opinion, when a gov’t or culture lives with fear, the common expression is to label all threats as political.
I believe this is also the case for Jesus.
Rome wanted the children of Abraham to shut up, sit down, be good little serfs, and pay their taxes to Caesar.
The sects of Jewish leadership of the day, (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots) were on high alert against the defiling influence of Rome on their people.
Do these words sound like the words of a political agitator, agent provocateur, or radical revolutionary?
“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said,”we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of G-d in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “you hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” they brought him a denarius, and the asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then e said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Matthew 22:15-22
Thank you for caring to reply!
I have a completely different take on that story. I believe because we unfortunately live in a political/religious world, that any counter-cultural ideology or artistic message is very much political. Why does it bother people so much if Jesus was being political? Who cares if it’s a label? His words were completely against the status quo political/religious climate of the day.
Every parable a message. Every story a message. All political. We can’t escape politics. Everything is political down to growing organic tomatoes.
When he told them to pay taxes, I truly believe it was one, not to be charged himself with crime, and two, for their benefit so they wouldn’t be charged. Just like the story of the woman taken in adultery, or his doctrine of divorce.
Everything he said and taught was so they couldn’t charge him, and it was to protect the people. Back then adultery was punishable by death!
I understand your take, but feel we are at an impasse. I simply find human nature to project meaning from their experiences. The political see politics, theartists art, the philosopher, quest for meaning. Thanks fir helpibg me ponder!
You’re welcome. And most importantly He sidestepped RELIGION.
Re remote and unlikely places:
The harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are FEW.
Narrow or straight (tough and difficult) is the gate and only a FEW there be that find it.
MANY are called, FEW are chosen
Good thinking! Does FEW mean ‘rare’, a numerical value, precious? That might be the key to understanding those words.
I would draw a distinction between ” religion” and “relationship”. See Genesis 15. G-d makes a covenant, (contract), with Abram. He’s supposed to act out his part of the ritual, but is in a “deep sleep.” (kinda hard to sign a mortgage when one’s asleep, right?) So, what happens? V 17 …”a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.”
The presence of G-d, i.e.. symbolized by firepot and torch here, walk out Abram’s part of the contract.
G-d makes a relationship with Abram based on G-d’s abilities to fulfill because His abilities are eternal. Or else “I AM” is not G-d.
Jesus underscores this mantra throughout His life. We receive Hesed (right relationship with G-d), but all good works, often thought of as “religion”are responses out of love, not duty. In a sense, I have nothing to give a Being who lives in continual, perfected contentment except He wants a relationship with me. That’s my take for now, friend!
Yes it means rare and precious, that is, those who are called and chosen by The Father – predestined.
Correct, there is no religion in a relationship. Yes we receive a relationship as a gift including both Grace and Faith. Our Faith in action, that is, works, store us treasures in heaven and are nothing to do with our salvation – a free undeserved gift.
No man or woman can make a decision to follow Yashua Messiah of their own volition:
John 6:44 (KJV) NO MAN CAN COME TO ME, EXCEPT THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT ME DRAW (DRAG) HIM: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:65 And He said, Therefore said I unto you, THAT NO MAN CAN COME UNTO ME, EXCEPT IT WERE GIVEN UNTO HIM OF MY FATHER.
The bulk of mainstream Christianity (Churchianity) believes THIS LIFE or THIS AGE is the only opportunity for salvation which is blasphemously WRONG! So they run around like headless chickens telling the lost and unsaved that unless they repent and follow Christ NOW, in this life, they are damned and will end up in fiery hell = 100% satanic error.
Hence there are two resurrections and no rapture (another doctrine of devils) One resurrection at the return of Yashua Messiah to this earth and the second at the end of the Millennium.
Yes it is all based upon love – it always was:
Exodus 20:6 (KJV) And shewing mercy unto thousands of THEM THAT LOVE ME, and keep my commandments.
Keep does not mean OBEY.
Best
Brother Charles
Billy Graham is a son of the Devil fake Christian and a Freemason – a servant of the Bolshevik Marxist Canaanite Jews – the Serpent Seed from The Garden – The Tares – The Synagogue of Satan.
Billy Graham is a twentieth century revivalist of satanic doctrine of accepting a Jesus as your saviour when no man or woman can do that. We MUST be called by The Father to His Son Yashua Messiah which He tells us so twice:
John 6:44 (KJV) NO MAN CAN COME TO ME, EXCEPT THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT ME DRAW (DRAG) HIM: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:65 And He said, Therefore said I unto you, THAT NO MAN CAN COME UNTO ME, EXCEPT IT WERE GIVEN UNTO HIM OF MY FATHER.
@Kimberly Stover Yashua Messiah was a NOT a Joo – period.
And what, pray tell, was His ethnicity? Was He American, perhaps? 😛
No a Royal Judahite and not a Joo. You need to learn the difference.
I can see this is a useless argument. Carry on.
I am not arguing. I am telling you The Truth. Do not blame me for your being taught nonsense from ravening religious wolves in pulpits.
You are not telling me historical, cultural truth. You are telling me your truth. You’re being incredibly anti-Semitic with your “Joo” spelling. It’s incredibly offensive. You are welcome to your own opinion but it isn’t academically correct.
Good day, and troll someone else, I am done engaging with you.
Unfortunately cultural and historical truth will not save you, nor will your worldly Freudian Marxist political correctness as listed above in your article, only Spiritual Truth and following Yashua Messiah.
I am not anti-Semitic as I am a Semite so I cannot be anti-myself.
The Joos, however, are not Semites – they are Hamitic Canaanites as described by John the Baptist and Yashua Messiah:
John the Baptist:
Matthew 3:7 (KJV) But when he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation (offspring or race) of vipers (snakes or reptiles), who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Brackets mine)
Yashua Messiah:
Matthew 12:34 (KJV) O generation (offspring or race) of vipers (snakes or reptiles), how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Brackets mine)
Matthew 23:33 (KJV) Ye SERPENTS, ye generation (offspring or race) of vipers (snakes or reptiles), how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Brackets and emphasis mine)
John 8:44 (KJV) Ye are of your father The Devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Perhaps you have forgotten that Yashua Messiah came to be an offence and many were offended by what He said.
Oh and offence can only be taken not given.
I also suggest that you lose the attraction to academics for Yashua Messiah has no use for academic people. The intellect tends to puff people up and make them proud and haughty, not humble and useful.
Let me know if you would like to learn more of The Truth.
Brother Charles
That’s a long bow to draw, brother..I hope you are not basing it just on those verses?
Oh no, it’s based solidly upon Old Testament genealogies – you know, that part of the Bible that worldly, fake, politicised, liberal Christians ignore.
Okaaaaay then..
Good, do you know where to look in The Holy Scriptures?
I assure you, Jesus was a Jew. He preached in the Jewish temple. Please research your position as someone has been brainwashing you.
The brainwashing is all yours. Show me the word ‘Jew’ in the first 11 books of The Bible.
Jesus was of Jewish linage coming out of King Davids line. He was definitely out of Judah tribe of Isreal. This is clearly stated in the Old and New Testaments – The beginning of the Gospel of Mathew traces Jesus’ linage all the way back to Abraham – who anyone who knows about Judaism knows Abraham is their patriarch. This is what happens when people who do not study the Bible get on the Internet. You Miss Stover are correct. Jesus’ earthy linage was in the Jewish nation.
I simply liked your article
I think its sad how you pick and choose what you want to believe is true in the Bible and what should not be read literal. You say that you’ve read the Bible tons of times and that you have studied it but yet you are making false statements about who God is and what the Bible is actually saying. Kimberly, I believe you’re in a place where you’ve studied so much about how to go against christianity (which is what you once believed in) in order to seem wise and to get attention from others because of some type of insecurity or experience in your life that has marked you in a horrible way. I am so sorry that you are in this place. I don’t normally leave comments on wordpress because I am rarely on but for some reason, a God-given reason, Holy Spirit has brought me to your page to read this post and it has caused so much pain in my heart because the theology you are living by is off… you’re missing the big picture girl. I’m praying that you would have a supernatural, convicting, and tangible encounter with the living God and that you would give Him the opportunity to change your views but most importantly to change your heart so that it could look more like Jesus’. And whatever you do, do not reject Him and what He is trying to say to you. God bless you!
This list is not much more than an example of the logical/argument fallacies of the straw man, appeal to emotion, and elephant hurling.
http://www.astorehouseofknowledge.info/w/Elephant_hurling
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/strawman
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-emotion
Here is an example from the list:
“If being a Christian means I have to accept building a wall separating me from another human, so I can be privileged, and they can suffer, then I am not a Christian.”
It’s very easy, using those same logical fallacies, to make an argument that is the exact opposite of the above quote:
“If being a Christian means I have to accept letting anyone and everyone enter another country illegally to steal jobs from its citizens, use up limited resources from a welfare system intended for its citizens, and commit crimes—including drug dealing, gang activity, and murder—against other citizens, then I am not a Christian.”
The only criteria that makes either argument “correct” is the opinion and worldview of the individual reading the argument. This is not an argument at all and neither statement makes any kind of case for itself.
Attempting to offer any of these assertions as arguments is dodgy at best and doesn’t add anything to the discussion of what are complex issues.
I am not trying to publish this in an intellectual academia setting. I took critical thinking too:)
I’m trying to appeal to emotion. I’m trying to make people think. Art often is not philosophically sound, that’s the point, a message breaking barriers.
I think the “Strawman” argument doesn’t apply here. It does appear that large sections of the Church in the US claim that you must subscribe to the above beliefs if you are a Christian . This is a refutation of these beliefs, in much the same way, I dare say that Martin Luther’s 99 Theses were a timely refutation of the unbiblical beliefs that have crept into the church at the time. As such, it’s a perfectly valid article.
Wow, such a political poem. If one reads the Bible they will understand why Americans have their views. The Bible is pretty simple to defend itself. Christian means Christ like, so yes Christ-like is what Christ is. I am sorry things of the world are more important to you. Christians are not perfect. But to reject Christianity over politics is foolish. God is full of love and grace. You are not forced to love him. God has standards set through the Bible, you can’t tell God to obey your opinions that is foolish. Study God’s word and your opinions will change. They did for Roe in the Roe vs Wade… she got saved and said she made A big mistake but it was too late. Don’t let it be too late for you.
With all due respect I have been saved probably 1000 times. I’ve read the Bible, studied the Bible, and have been obsessed with Jesus.
My loyalty lies in following the red words, not man’s manipulation of them.
You can only be saved once and I don’t think you’re saved at all. You’re a Bolshevik Joo Marxist liberal not a Christian. Freudian PC libtard crap pours from your keyboard like effluence from a sewer.
Such love and grace you express here. Not one issue I’ve expressed disagrees with the teachings of Jesus as depicted in the four gospels. Would you call Jesus a libtard? Because he had a bleeding heart, healed others, and fed thousands without conditions?
You’re right I do express LOVE – Godly LOVE – TOUGH LOVE, not the sentimental syruppy yuk of fake libtard Jewlywood Christians – you need to get your act together and big time and then repent.
Can’t tell if trolling or for real. The “Joo” bit suggests trolling to me. Laying it on too thick…ya gotta learn to troll more subtly, brother 😛
I don’t understand what he meant by “joo” looked it up and it’s a derogatory alternate spelling of Jew.
Is this troll suggesting that he is saved and is a Christian? I don’t think if one has a relationship with the awesome Jesus, one could call someone a “joo” as an insult.
You know, since Jesus was a Jew.
Exactly:) Although it’s possible that all the Fox News – watching Christians think that He was white bread American, especially remembering the outrage that erupted over the concept of a black Santa awhile ago,lol:)
Oh yes, the blonde haired, blue-eyed, English speaking Jesus.
The Truth can NEVER be trolling and The Truth is always in yer face. I wonder if you’re a stranger to The Truth? Come to my blog and we’ll see.
https://isthefathercallingyoutohisson.wordpress.com/
I totally agree with you
Do you really feel that’s political, brother? In my opinion , apart from two points I mentioned in my other posts, nothing In this list conflicts with orthodox Christianity.
Amen! Yah bless!
https://www.google.com/amp/s/wyff.relaymedia.com/amp/article/franklin-graham-talks-hb2-president-trump-and-rev-billy-grahams-health/8946816?client=safari
Amen
Only a couple of things I didn’t agree with. I won’t say which but it wasn’t LGBTQ. LOL However it was a great writing I loved it.
Here is what you said in the words of Christ, that differentiate real from fake Christians exactly as you did….A BIG AND LOUD warning here to right wingers who THINK they are followers of Christ. read it..
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Reading this gives me good chills every time. Thank you! Yah bless!
I’m a “Christian” and I agree with you 100%. It’s about love and respect for all God’s creation. ALL not just some. Unfortunately, I struggle with the title “Christian” because of what it has come to represent.
I am now even happier than before to be a libertarian voter. Mysticism is clearly compatible only with coercion, men with guns violating individual rights.
Pope Francis and SisterJoan Chisitter would agree!
Pope Francis would not agree to things that are clearly against Catholic dogma, for example, women priests, birth control and abortion.
I agree with what Kimberly has to say, but perhaps rather than say…”then I’m not a Christian,”(encouraging people to reject Christianity!), say the Evangelical, alt-right view is not our interpretation of Christ’s words and example. There is a more compassionate, loving, progressive, and radical way that Jesus showed, ( loving the “scum” of his day: prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors, shepherds and fishermen friends, women! etc), that is not politically tainted by those “political” Republican values mentioned.
Reblogged this on Journal Edge and commented:
Article Source: kimberlystover.com
Mr. Balmer, if being a Christian means that you love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole mind and your whole soul, and your neighbor as yourself, would you do it?
Many points listed I agree with (definitely not all)…but honestly, this just comes across to me as virtue signaling. As well, let’s not fall into the irony of declaring how un-GOP Jesus would be, all the while implicitly stating he’d be a gung-ho liberal. I think Jesus would be pretty disgusted by us attaching him to any political system or party in general (His kingdom is not of this world, after all).
I think this is an awesome post. I’m ready to sign under every word, apart from:
If being a Christian means I have to believe that women should not be pastors, equal in their homes, or professionally, then I am not a Christian. – agree with the second and third one. First one, not so sure…the Bible does say what is says in Galatians. In having said that, I think that’s down to each woman to decide for herself…not down to me a guy to enforce it.
If being a Christian means I have to believe that others will go to an eternal hell because they were born in a different culture and religion, then I am not a Christian. – This sounds dangerously close to the “One God, many paths” philosophy. Jesus clearly taught that the only way to God is through Him. Now, we might make some allowance for some undiscovered tribe in the Amazon and God being a just God, but that’s not the case for 99.99% of the world’s population. If you are not trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you are going to hell. That doesn’t make me happy but that’s what the Bible says and that’s what Jesus said. I’m just keen that in throwing out the right-wing doctrines that have crept into Christianity, we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater and throw out correct doctrines also:)
Just my two cents:)
You are not a Real Christian but a Counterfeit Christian. You need to be Biblically Saved. You are still in your Sins, and on your way to Hell. Do you enjoy extreme Heat and Suffering then you’ll enjoy Hell. If not Genuinely Repent and Truly Receive the Biblical Jesus Christ as Saviour.
If this is the way you believe, it must be really frightening. I only hope that you can accept the free gift of LOVE, FORGIVENESS, and GRACE, that is a free gift to all people under no conditions.
That’s a pretty full on assertion to make about someone you’ve never met, brother.
I urge you to read more on different perspectives on Christianity and free your mind from evil right-wing propaganda that mixes the real things of God with worldly things:) Peace:)
If being a Christian means I have to swallow all this “God Speak” then I’m not a Christian!
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”…
scripture clearly shows Jesus is the only way to the Father. that is the great commission we have been given, and even though it is hard to witness to those of other faiths we still must. I am just saying this because there is a hell, and its our job to love people and tell them how much Christ loves them, and will do all for them. they just need to come to Him.
I am a born again follower of Christ…my goal everyday is to live my life that will bring honor and glory to his name. Its difficult these days as society accepts everything…things that God says in His word are clearly sins…Romans 21:8. God is a loving God no doubt but He also is a God of wrath…with consequences to sins in our lives that have not been repented of. As a follower…or a Christian, we are commanded to love all as Jesus did…but as He told the woman at the well…”go and sin no more” we all sin daily…there is none wothout sin. If we really want people to see Jesus im not sure accepting everything society throws at us is the way…if our goal is to bring people to Christ then we must be truthful about what the bible teaches.
I agree 100%.
None of those things are Christian nor do they represent the teachings if Jesus Christ. The Lord taught grace and mercy. He taught us to love our neighbor, Neighbor being everyone not just next door. He taught us to treat others the way we ourselves like to be treated. People claiming all the XYZ as stated in your article are definitely not Christian. He also taught us to forgive people who ridicule Him. He taught to forgive false witness, which are sins that people are claiming XYZ in his name. Please don’t confuse the above with The teachings if Christ. He fed the poor, took care of women and children and live all of us unconditionally! So much as give His life for all of us.
The Gospel is lost in politics
Being a Believer is different than being a Christian. A Believer takes the Word at it’s Word. Once you start adding politics to the Word, like you have done (3/4’s of your lists have nothing to do with Faith or Salvation or Grace), you have diluted God’s message.
A True Believer doesn’t follow man’s whims of what is right or wrong:
they follow what scripture and Jesus has set forth as instruction.
As soon as we start inserting personal bias into it, we are changing the meaning of the Word, to make it fit our definition of it. I think your post is misguided, and AWAY from the Word of the Lord, and inwards, towards yourself.
Love this, thank you!!!
I was with you till we got to paragraph on right to choose… Clearly you don’t identify the child in the womb as someone Jesus would love… Could you clarify these vague ‘bad situations’ that you believe give justification for a mother to have an abortion? The one who is most clearly in a very ‘bad situation’ in your scenario is the innocent pre born child
If being a Christian means that I need to judge others and tell them how sinful they are instead of offering them grace and compassion, then I’m not a Christian.
I love what you’ve done here. I hope we can all act like the Fruit of the Spirit is more important than a seat at the political table.
Big Cheese Daddy! 🙂 Yep! We’re already all divinely connected. That’s how we were created. We just have to acknowledge the fact and start acting accordingly.
“Ye must be born again,” Jesus said to Nicodemus one night. (He was always willing to help someone, even when they were too ashamed to speak to Him by day.) This new birth, Christ said, is from the Spirit, and John 1:13 says, “Which are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” But this “born again” teaching means a lot more than making a prayer sometime in your life. It is a working of the Almighty God to change you totally, beginning with someone preaching the Gospel to you. God then enlightens your eyes and opens your ears and, finally, He even gives you a new heart. This work of God saves you because it makes you quit trusting in yourself in any way; it opens your eyes to your own great depravity. But then it allows you to see the great work Christ did on your behalf, to see how only His work on the cross, never any of your own effort, can save you. Finally, this birthing work of God causes you to do the one and only thing necessary to obtain any free gift: “Ask, and ye shall receive.”
The challenge facing both sides of this labored and interesting discussion is, ” what is your hermenuetic?” It’s not about translations, unless you have one that is compromised somehow. Most translations are highly vetted… it’s a matter of your lens (think Heisenburg Principle). Luther’s Sola Scriptura goes hand in hand with sola Christus and sola fide…. the lens by which the person coming by grace through faith to the Word is the lens of the Gospel…that God came amongst us, suffered, taught, lived…died for us, rose again and leads us from death into life every minute of every day…. and yes even through this horror, this atrocity that is occurring right now…the Resurrection leads into a reality that is love, not accessible, except by this doorway, this Metanoia found only in God’s brokeness…. and ours….herein we come smack dab to the heart beat of the Gospel….the Cross. Sola Cristus. Sooo……when people start quoting the Bible like a recipe book or a rule book, they ignore the Gospel and add on works righteousness….then we all start chasing our tails. The Religious Right in my view has utterly forsaken the Gospel of Jesus and worship at the altar of idolatry to unadmitted socio-cultural and political prerequisites, so often with that sneaky little dog whistle of racism thrown in for good measue, and then act all haughty, with that horror called religious certainty around ideas that are not always perspicous…how tragic to obliterate the Gospel…is it not enough on its own???
When I dabbled into Reformed Theology, I discovered that the purpose of the solas were to prove how not Catholic one was – it was designed to systematically deny sources of truth that Catholics accept as valid. I had a problem with that because a good friend of mine is Catholic and more of a true Christian than me. When I think about Jesus, I don’t think he wanted us segmenting ourselves into groups and declaring that everyone else isn’t a believer because they came to a different conclusion about what the book says or how they ought to interpret it.
Great post!! I no longer call or even identify myself as Christian and your post “almost persuades me” to once again call myself Christian just, so I can no longer call myself Christian again.
I once asked people on my Facebook what they would think if I said that I was tired of being a Christian. One or two sort of understood, one basically asked of I was having some sort of faith-crisis. So, I explained…
It was not a matter of abandoning Jesus or deciding not to follow Him. It is a matter of being tired of the religion that Christianity has become and how some among our ranks were little different than the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. It is also about the twisted doctrines, many of which have little to no scriptural basis, as well as the twisted “prophecies” that make no sense from a scriptural standpoint, much less a sane one.
I don’t buy the “Christian nation” claim and I further am disappointed in the Americanized version of Christianity.
I can certainly accept being a Christian, if that means I am a follower and imitator of Christ, relying on His grace and mercy, His power and love, His guidance and pure wisdom. Otherwise, it is difficult to consider myself as one of the mass of counterfeit Church-folk called ‘Christians’.
I agree! My intent was to engage others in questioning the label “Christian.” Jesus wasn’t a Christian. Did he intend for a religion to evolve from his resistance? I am not so sure. I do know that his teachings have transformed me.
His goal was not a religion, but relationship.
Jesus was not a Christian because he was Christ. He could not follow himself at least please get that correct.
I have it correct, you are missing the point I was making and my intention. Took me too literally?
Granted many of the things you cited on your list weren’t very Christian, don’t try to throw the baby out with the bath water. Jesus is the Christ, and his followers are Christians. I could write a list as long as yours about all of the things that the left supports that are also not Christ-like. Let’s start with abortion of children when a woman is in difficult circumstances as you put it. Really?
Unfortunately, as was so critical to the Protestant Reformers 500 years ago (“sola scritptura”) you don’t get to pick and choose the parts of the Bible you like and ignore what the left doesn’t like. That’s as intolerant as the right for which you have such a strong disdain. You have articulated a Jeffersonian form of Deism, but it isn’t Christianity.
Exactly! I believe the Bible has been manipulated by the very same powers as it is being manipulated today.
If the teaching isn’t love or congruent with the words spoken by Jesus himself, I question it’s validity and correct translation.
Labels. And the meanings behind them. Good topic! 🙂
Try Reinhold Niebuhr’s The Nature and Destiny of Man Vols. 1 & 2
Why didn’t “misrepresenting the political stances of those with whom I disagree on complex issues in order to pass judgement on their commitment to Jesus and assume a moral high ground over anyone who expresses disagreement” make the list?
If being a christian does mean trying to act like Christ, then I am a Christian.
What is the definition for us all?
I liked your poem and agreed with 85%. However, I am NOT able to accept that others have translated Christian to mean all the things that you have written, I TAKE BACK the control over the word Christian in my surroundings and I declare I am a follower of Jesus and his teachings, I am a CHRISTIAN because I follow his teachings of pardon, of grace, of human weakness and godly strength, of intelligent study of the governed, the governing, the scriptures and the doctrine.
I will not throw the first stone.. but please meditate this thought: Jesus, although represented as being flawless, he did not throw a stone either.
Bingo! My feelings exactly.
Jesus wasn’t a “Christian” because he was…ya know…the “Christ.” This game with semantics is tiring!
Respectfully, God foreknew all that would happen as a result of His incarnation, so yes, we can be sure that He knew that a religion would evolve – this was His purpose in coming. In response to the earlier comment about whether being a Christian and/or whether being a follower of Christ having different meanings: followers of Jesus Christ are by definition, Christians.
You are NOT a Real Bible Believing Born Again Bible Believing Christian and I can tell you’ve NEVER read the Holy Bible. Salvation is in the Person of Jesus Christ you must believe you are a Sinner that’s on your way to Hell. You must realize that Jesus Christ died for the Whole World’s Sin on the Cross of Calvary. He shed his blood and died. And 3 days later he arose from the dead. You must Receive the Biblical Jesus Christ as Saviour. Salvation is a Free Gift. Supporting Abortion (Murder) is a Rebellious Sin, Supporting Homosexual and Lesbian Marriage is a Sin (an Abomination to God). Transgenderism is a Sin, Supporting Welfare to Healthy People too Lazy to Work is a Sin. You ought to be ashamed of yourself pretending you are a Christian. You actually think your Opinions are of a Higher Value than God’s Word. You sure have a Big Prideful Ego. God’s Word says – “God resisteth the PROUD but give the Grace to the Humble”. Humble yourself stop Resisting the Truth Repent and be Genuinely Converted to the Biblical Jesus Christ, because sad to say you’re a Child of the Devil right now.
This is the fear based Christian rhetoric that makes me so sad for humanity. I invite you to accept love and grace, and tell others that they are loved, accepted, and forgiven as well.
You condemn me to hell? Are you God? You have created an idolatrous image of God that believe it or not, I once had.
God cannot be put into a box, and you, sir are not God and have no authority to talk to other humans this way.
Good day.
You don’t believe the Holy Bible then, God says Homosexuality is an Abomination read (Leviticus 18:22). God said if you hurt a Pregnant Woman it life for life, shall be an eye for eye, tooth for tooth,fot for foot etc..(Exodus 21:22 – 24). God says if you hurt a Pregnant Woman and her Child is Killed the Person who killed the Unborn Child needs to be Executed. Do you Believe God is an Unjust Liar ? Of course he isn’t, he’s Perfect but Human Beings are Unjust and Deceived quite a bit. By the way Israel had a Wall around Jerusalem, God allowed them to have that Wall, is God Unjust, no but Human Beings are all time. Listen Kimberly, I’ve been a Genuine Bible Believing Born again Christian for 36 years now, I’ve been through the Holy Bible at least 100 times and done hundreds of Bible Studies. Being Direct is Not a Sin. If there was a Fire in the Building and told people to get out, that’s not being Mean Spirited, it’s being Truth Spirited. You’ve been indoctrinated into Leftist Liberal Propaganda, that’s obvious. I’ll be praying for you, you should try attending a Fundamental Bible Believing Baptist Church that Preaches and Teaches out of a King James Bible Version. Salvation is a Free Gift by Receiving the Biblical Jesus Christ as Saviour. God Bless.
With all due respect, I was born and raised in a fundamental baptist church. I was taught your fear based cult rhetoric since I was old enough to speak. It breaks my heart that this has been indoctrinated in so many people. The judgement and hate you are spewing is damaging enough to cause recovering fundamentalists to suicide. Trust me, I’ve been there. I have been in support groups over the damage.
What you’re spouting is not the message of Jesus. The words in red. When Jesus spoke of “hell” the Aramaic word he used meant the town garbage dump.
I invite you to hit the reset button, only focus on the teachings of Jesus, and pray that God breaks your heart for what breaks his. Which is what I’ve done.
And you’re rhetoric,breaks my heart.
“You’ve been indoctrinated into Leftist Liberal Propaganda…
Receiving the Biblical Jesus Christ as Saviour”
I’m a Bible believing Christian like you, Sam. I believe that all of the Bible is a divinely revealed Word of God, including the Old Testament. However, apart from the two things I mentioned in my own post above, I don’t believe that anything that Kimberly has written is in conflict with the Bible. The Biblical Jesus is not left-wing or right-wing. But He (and the Father) certainly spoke a lot more about caring for the fatherless and the widows than about the importance of free markets or the government needing to enforce Christian values of people. I don’t doubt your faith, brother. But I really want to caution you about seeing the log in your own eye. Have YOU been influenced by the right-wing propaganda ? Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and reevaluate:)
I am indoctrinated with my relationship to Jesus which has transformed me. That’s it. Read the red words.
So you don’t believe that Old Testament is God’s Word? What are your thoughts on Jesus referencing the Old Testament? Genuine question.
Jesus was a heretical Jew. Which was why he was killed.
The printing press wasn’t invented until the mid 1400’s.
With all the press surrounding “fake news”…can’t you see how stories that were spread orally through generations of time could fall prey to manipulation?
Therefore, no I don’t believe Bible to be literal or inerrant.
I believe in loving others. Period.
What do you think about the sin concept, in that case? Did Jesus die to take God’s anger on himself?:)
I think Jesus was murdered. His message of love, healing, forgiveness, and restoration was completely heretical to the political, religious leaders of the day.
He was willing to die for that. Before Jesus, animals had to be sacrificed and other acts of works in order to be absolved. Jesus knew the religion like the back of his hand and he went against it. Died so that all would be absolved in his death. He was a religious genius, and nothing more needs to be accomplished for us to be forgiven.
We are set free from the guilt and able to be renewed to set us on a daily path of the sin…forgiveness…rebirth cycle. Each time evolving into new creatures resembling more of a loving Christ. If we so choose to absorb his teaching and words.
Do you believe He rose from the dead, in that case?:)
Metaphorically/Symbolically.
Each time we accept forgiveness we are raised from death from sin.
I see:)
So you still pray to Him to accept forgiveness?
I don’t feel like it’s something we need to pray for. He finished it on the cross.
I acknowledge my sin, allow myself to be convicted, and then work on changing, not because I have to,
But because I want to, because my heart and convictions won’t allow me to forget how awful it felt to be aware of my failure.
I understand where you are coming from:)
I believe you have a good heart. I hope you won’t take it the wrong way..I still think that we do need to accept the reality of our sin and the fact that we need to rely on the death of Jesus to be saved when the imperfect us come before the perfect God. I pray that you will come around to that point of view. Not because of fear but because of love. For God showed His love for us by dying for us when we were rejecting Him:)
But I respect your position. It seems to me that American Christianity is deeply sick. Perhaps a new Reformation is necessary.
God bless you:)
Funny how I hope you come around to my view. lol. I used to have your view. It unraveled slowly. I am de-converted.
I am on the path I am supposed to be on. But thank you.
Very welcome 🙂 peace:)
“Supporting Welfare to Healthy People too Lazy to Work is a Sin. ”
See, brother..that’s exactly what I mean. Please provide Biblical references for this sweeping assertion:)
Did Jesus ask for drug tests or job descriptions before he fed the thousands?
No.
Exactly:)
Or whether people had health insurance before He healed them:)
Exactly.:)
Could you clarify “his resistance” please?
Jesus was a heretical Jew. He went against the Pharisees (religious leaders/hypocrites) and political leaders (which were often at that time the same). His message of redemption, caring for poor, equality, etc, was against the status quo.
It’s what got him murdered.
The Leftist Liberal Democrats support Abortion (Murder), Support Gay (Sodomite) Marriage, Letting Men who claim they are really girl’s on the inside to go into Girl’s bathrooms, Welfare for People Too Lazy to Work. Do you really think the Biblical Jesus Christ supports these SINS ? Of course he doesn’t. Did you read what the Apostle Paul said in (2 Thessalonians 3:10,12) “For even when we were with you, this we COMMANDED you if any WOULD NOT WORK, NEITHER SHOULD HE EAT. Now them that are such WE COMMAND and EXHORT by OUR LORD Jesus Christ, that with quietness they WORK, and EAT THEIR OWN BREAD.” Listen I’ve given money to People on the Street and to Beggars, but I also gave out Gospel Tracts to them. and if you want to give money to poor people, by all means go for it. But I don’t trust this Leftist Liberal Government we have had when the Democratic Party rules with my Tax Money. Look how much they are in Debt right now. Leftist Liberalism is Satanic to it’s Core, it’s Ungodly and Unbiblical, if you don’t believe it, I can’t do anything about it. I have a friend that is an Atheist, I’ve already Witnessed to him many a time, but at least he’s Honest is some areas. He said he doesn’t understand how a Real Christian could vote Democratic. I agree with him 100%. I don’t think Jimmy Carter or Billy Graham are Real Christians, I’ve heard them say absolutely Blasphemous Unbiblical Things come out of their mouths and neither has either man apologized for saying those Unbiblical things. I don’t dislike you but I believe with all my heart you are deceived. I’ll pray for you and may ask my Church to pray for you.
At least twice you referred to “the red words”. You can not only read Jesus’ teaching. The entire Bible is God-breathed. You can’t just throw the rest away.
I am not throwing it away. I do not believe it is literal or inerrant.
Really an inspiring post! I have the feeling that if Jesus showed up “incognito” today, he would not be considered “an American Christian.” Really appreciated this post, and I hope it will cause people to do some questioning about themselves. I know that it did for me! Thanks!
It’s a wonderful time to not be a Christian. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about how bright our future is – we’re finally ready to put injustice behind us as a society and that can only be a good thing in my book.
Nailed it. Forty years of me thinking about all this shit and you nailed it all in one page… Bravo! 🙂
The main problem with this essay is that the person who wrote it is most probably NOT a Christian in the first place.
You are correct! Being a Christian and following Jesus are two very different things.
Nevermind. Ignore my comment about the red words. Look up a book by Lee Strobel “The Case for Christ”. In it, he lays out evidence for Jesus’ life, and real resurrection. Also how much original text exists compared to other ancient texts and how the “telephone game” is not a factor in how the scriptures were passed down and eventually written.
I actually read that book. It uses a lot of circular reasoning. I invite you to read Bart Ehrman’s “Misquoting Jesus.”
I don’t disagree that Jesus existed. Neither do most secular scholars. I do disagree in taking the Bible literally. We cannot possibly translate correctly across the language barrier. I don’t agree in mythological tales as actually happened, and the Bible to me is full of color with deeper meaning than the surface, or religion manipulates it to be for centuries. The core teachings of Jesus are love, caring for the poor, healing the sick, and telling others that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and can be accessed right now.
The Bible is hard. You can use scriptures to argue any point you want. It’s been used to advocate slavery, polygamy, etc.
there are 38000 Christian denominations all arguing over theology. The message of Jesus is simple when you discard the riff raff. If your beliefs are contributing to the suffering of others, that is anti- what Christ was about.
A good read! I would just say being a Christian to me in Christ living in me. Doing things like him e.g. being loving and helping others etc. I do not believe in the majority of laws and equality rights that the government is setting in place e.g. the right for gay people to marry and to raise children , it goes against my faith and who I am. I am a Christian the people of this world are not. They are wearing Christianity as a badge and taking it off when it suits them. Children of the most high have to stand firm in his word. Even if it means defying the laws of this world.
Even if the Bible’s manuscripts weren’t all different and didn’t contain different errors, missing words, missing letters, transposed words, transposed letters, added words, added letters – the kind of errors any human might make in it’s copying and transmission; there’s still the matter of interpretation. On a local radio show, a pastor had the audacity to declare that any woman who wasn’t “in the mood” to please her husband and “feigned a headache” had a Jezebel spirit and she was trying to control her husband. Is that in the Bible? No, it is not. Much of American Christianity isn’t in the Bible as a specific teaching, but a set of verses cobbled together from various chapters and passages. Teaching like modesty and against alcohol are prime examples of this. Look at the issues that Kimberly refers to; which of those positions have a biblical basis for the church taking them? Is there a verse that says, in so many words, we ought to deny healthcare to those who need it? Is there a verse that says, in so many words, we ought to build up walls to keep our neighbors out? It’s not always the Bible itself that’s the problem (though it doesn’t always help), it’s usually the interpretation and application of it’s teachings that do the greater damage.
I have a full assurance of the veracity of the Bible but I’m in full agreement with what you said on the American Christianity..couldn’t have put it better myself. Looking at people like Joel Osteen and the general standard of preaching and education levels, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a lot of Christians in the US never open their Bibles and go by what the preacher tells them.
I was a Christian for 25 years before I actually opened a Bible and began studying the scriptures and the historical context. I learned memory verses and knew all of the stories, Christian rhetoric, etc, but actually starting from scratch and learning? Nope. But I was a Christian! Too many rely on commentaries as well such as Matthew Henry’s. Some of his commentaries I agree with and some I don’t understand how he got what he said from the passage.
People should open the Bible and read without a predetermined lens.
For sure..I agree:)