So Good to Know
Many Christians are actually "True Christians"!
Many Christians honor the Constitution.
In a recent chat exchange on a substack letter I asked where the real Christians were and why they weren’t vocal and active in opposing the White Christian Nationalists? The people like House of Representatives Leader Mike Johnson who have left Jesus and his teachings in the dust. The fascists who want to establish a National Religion that opposes tolerance and teaches hate of the “others”.
I was raised as a Christian. But I am a “None”. I have eschewed organized religion. The horrors perpetrated by “God Fearing” folks are the stuff of our human history. But there is always danger in sweeping generalizations.
I received an answer to my question from Melinda Quivik. A Lutheran pastor, in MT, MN, MI. PhD (worship and preaching), a former seminary prof. Her latest book is: "Worship at a Crossroads: Racism and Segregated Sundays."
Melinda taught me about efforts to reassert a classic principle of separation of church and state - by Christians. Which should be one of everyone’s favorite principles.
Please explore this website. I think you will like it no matter what your spiritual orientation is. I feel better for experiencing it. Thank you, Melinda.
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org/
And I encourage folks to support “Americans United for Separation of Church and State”
https://www.au.org/#
My personal “faith” is simple.
Golden Rule. We’re all in the same boat. Try to think like a species - not a tribe.
Try to leave the Earth a little better than you found it. Pick up litter.
Listen to your mate. She is usually right.
Volunteer for something. Adopt a dog.
Analyze your upbringing and choose to emulate the best parts of your parents - not the worst. Think of yourself as an example for the next generation.
Grow some of your own food. Teach kids where food comes from.
Try a little optimism and try to be nice.
The description of your personal faith resonates with me Bill. It pretty well sums up mine as well.
This made me think of the NYT article on Manchin and the "Christian" most likely to replace him (Governor Jim Justice). They quote him as having said “God will give us time for the smart people of the world to solve the riddle. If there is truly climate change going on, He will give us time.”
Now, it may have been a long time since my own bible school classes but even the children were taught the lesson of the temptation of Christ who, upon being urged by Satan to throw himself from the temple to prove his faith and God's love, answered “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’" This good Christian is using unschooled others' nursery level faith to manipulate politics to yield himself money and power... or else he isn't familiar with some of the most fundamental biblical lessons in humility and faith.
Not to mention that the "smart people of the world" have already figured out the riddle and we've already had plenty of time. He just doesn't listen to them any better than he did to his own Sunday school lessons.