Why I'm not a Christian anymore...

-Let's get straight to the point...
Suppose I walk into a gay bar. I push and weave through the crowd and eventually find myself at a table near the center of the room. Carefully, I climb up onto the table and, in as loud a voice as I can muster, I shout... "I'd like to have a fag in my mouth!"

What result do you think I could expect? Perhaps the answer is obvious. Does it matter that I intended to get a cigarrette?

No. Why?

Simply put, words (or perhaps more precisely) the meanings of words change over time (sometimes drastically) within the confines of any given culture.

-It's all about semantics baby.
The real stitch is that such changes are simply NOT UP TO INDIVIDUALS for approval or disapproval. That is to say, you and I have absolutely NO SAY in what any word might mean tomorrow.

So why am I not a Christian anymore? Because the word doesn't any longer mean what it is that I am. I can't tell you how many times I have had to preface or follow up the word "Christian" with some immediate rebuttal or apologetic explanation of what "I mean by it." I'm sick and tired of having to immediately apologize for the behaviour of my spiritual brothers and sisters every stinking time the word "Christian" comes out of my mouth.

-The word "Christian" is poison.
It didn't used to be...and perhaps it still isn't within certain religious circles...but I am finding more and more that it is very much a poison amongst those who define it as our broader culture now defines it. To be Christian (as I vaguely understand the present cultural definition) is to be churched or churchy or church-like. That's the new meaning. The problem is...that's NOT a compliment. Sadly folks, the church isn't exactly seen as beautiful these days. So sorry, but somebody had to say it. In no uncertain terms, the church is viewed by most "outsiders" as a vicious, dangerous, hypocritical, self-righteous, unholy, unjust, and unmerciful place; a place to be avoided at all costs. To those who are outside looking in, it is more a snake pit than it is the temple of the Most High. And don't give me any of that "well they're just feeling convicted" nonsense. Such a response applies only to itself, used as a sort of spiritual "hall pass" that makes us feel justified in our ultra-religious and overly non-Christlike behaviour. Shame on us...us "Christians."

So I've just decided that I'm not a Christian anymore. I just don't fit the cultural defenition of what that means. I don't belong to the ugly church that I see more often than not. I will not allow myself to be defined by such intolerance and selfish salvation.

I DO fit what I think that it means. But what I think it means just doesn't matter anymore...because what I think that it means is NOT (in this case) what it does really mean.

-So then what am I?
Well that's easy...I'm Luke. And I'm convinced that I no longer need a word to define what I believe. Our words are inadequate at BEST. I'm tired of branding. I'm done with grouping and clubbing. The social party is over for me and I'm not interested in belonging to a label anymore.

I am who God made me and I believe what God tells me and reveals to me. I choose wholeheartedly to follow the model that Jesus Christ set for living. I choose to give of myself and love others despite my selfish pangs. So there you have it. That's why I'm not a Christian anymore. And I don't feel bad about that either. After all, we are never required to call oursleves "Christian"...we are only asked to BE servants, lovers, and ultimately selfless.

So let's hear those thoughts.

Blessings
Luke

Cre8tive Musings is born!

OK.

Here it is.

My Blogspot.

While the purpose of these sorts of things seems pretty pluralistic, I can assure you, my ultimate desire is to find (and eventually own) a deeper and more intense understanding of Truth.

I invite you to join me in this journey at your leisure. Fellow travelers only make the journey that much better.

But know this...I am not nearly as interested in the answers as I am in the questions. I am not seeking the solutions as much as I am hoping to expose the problems. I am in no way as hung up on the probabilities as I am interested in the remote possibilities.

That is not to say that answers, solutions, or probabilities are completely unwelcome. On the contrary, they are ultimately what I seek. But from humankind...I expect far less. I hope for dialogue. Conversation. An open exploration of what we do NOT know...which may in turn develop into that which we DO know.

Much like a handheld GPS device, we couldn't be more clueless about where we stand in the great scheme of things. We require a higher and constant source to define our place, our progress, our position, and our heading. As absurd as it is for a GPS to tell itself these things...so too is it absurd for us to define our selves or one another based on our limited vantage alone. Put simply...in our humanity, we lack all necessary perspective.

It is only through God's perspective that we can decipher our bearing.

May Truth and observation be our landmarks along the way. That mountain over there. The large lake up ahead. May the intellectual volley we engage in act as a clue to our coordinates but never be a replacement for that ultimate sense of temporal and spiritual placement that only comes from God.

Only He knows where we truly are in relationship to where we must be. As we enjoy one another's company on our respective journeys, let us take great care to respect our equal insufficiencies and leave plenty of room for the free flowing river of ideas.

Egos will not be tolerated. Challenges are welcome but only as long as they seek ultimately to find Truth. For those who speak as if they know something to be true...challenges prove to be anything but challenging. Instead, such moments are viewed as exciting opportunities to test theory by questioning it and, in turn, watching to see if can stand under the weight.

So welcome.
You are welcome.

Let us begin!