I'd like to write something here that would pique your interest.
I wish I could get people who don't read things like this to look outside their usual interests and let their curiosity draw them in.
At least look at the text below the picture, and be prepared (I am) to be upset with me. Go ahead, read it and make me weep.
~I dare you~
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/important-lessons-we-can-all-learn-from-franklin-graham/?ref_widget=popular&ref_blog=unfundamentalistchristians&ref_post=your-deeply-held-religious-belief-isnt-biblical
I read it. I am weeping for the Muslims, who are persecuted. Where a woman older than I am (really, there are a few ;) who insisted I take her seat in the bus because I was a white woman, and she was taught to bow to us.
ReplyDeleteI weep for the entanglement of church and state, where it should be separated - to the point no one should be swearing to one God, leaving the others behind or outcast. What does a Muslim or a Buddhist do if they have to be sworn in.
I weep for the victims of these mega pastors who fail because absolute power corrupts absolutely, taking followers money and faith and stepping on them.
I weep for those who are marginalized and not welcome in a church, either by divorce, by race, or by sexual orientation.
I do not weep for Franklin, or any of the others who let down not just his flock, but all Christians.
I adore the Pope. He's the first religious leader I have ever seen who walks his talk.
(Sorry, I do tend to go on and we may disagree, but I hope we can agree to disagree and stay friends :)
Oh Janice
ReplyDeleteThat was beautiful. Thank you a thousand-fold. I feel humbled and grateful for your response. You go, girl !
Psst... Elizabeth Childs, did you see this ?
ReplyDeleteYou're allowed to express differing views on my posts btw. :+)
ted kelly I hadn't heard this portion of his life. I didn't realize this part was spiraling out of control as well as his marriage issues, (it was him?)
ReplyDeleteAs far as my view, I can only take a stab at what exactly you want me to express. I think that what happened to him, is something that can happen to anyone when they get too big in the world. When people have a passion for something, they often start with core values, as they get busier and busier, it is so easy to stray away from these core values. I wonder as I write this, it mentioned he started alienating people.. I wonder if he knew he was starting to unravel and get out control and didn't want to admit it? And now the public knows about it. But it's ok that the public knows about it. Too often people put these Bibletitions on a pedestal and think they do no wrong, or we know they do wrong, but we don't acknowledge they have done wrong.
People have to look up so much that they lose track of what is happening under them. Leaders are the same way, they trip because they were not watching where they were going.
They lose sight of Jesus.
I think of the path to Jesus like a smooth path...and we keep our eyes focused, we will not trip and fall..the minute we lose focus and look to the side, rocks start forming in our path. Even if we get back to Jesus and start looking forward again, we have to make sure we don't trip and fall. Don't lose focus, you won't trip and fall. Realistically, we are all going to fall and get bruised often. Fact of Life.
As far his "ban of muslims entering America" I disagree completely. I say it all the time, there are good Christians and there are bad Christians, there are good muslims and there are bad muslims. That doesn't mean every single one of them is bad.
So anyway, this was a really long response.
Franklin was our fellow brother in Christ. He fell and he needs our sympathy.
ReplyDeleteGood reply. I just thought maybe you had seen this but hesitated to reply because you might be a fan or follower.
ReplyDeleteI will freely admit that I while have some points of serious disagreement with him on several issues, his people were the first ones one the scene after our recent ice storms. They helped a lot of people and did a lot of good work very close to here.
ted kelly No, feel free to ask me about anyone. I am not a humongous fan of any of the preachers on tv or the like, I watch Joel once a great while, but I have always been more a local person. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen we travel, we like to find preaching sometimes, especially on Sundays. lol.
As for me, Jesus is my Mega Preacher :)
Philip Childs
ReplyDeleteI weep for an America, which will accept only Christian Political Leaders - others have to convert (Nikki Haley, Bobby Jindal, et al), or have to stave off insinuation of being Muslim (Barrack Obama).
ReplyDeleteIn that way, India, thank God, is far superior. We elect Hindus, Sikhs as Prime Ministers. Muslims, Christians, former untouchables as our Presidents. An alleged Lesbian is the Chief Minister of my home state TN. We implemented Affirmative Action a full 15 years before the USA did in 1965.
There is some good in India, too.
:-D
Some ? Dude India has always been awesome.
ReplyDeleteAnd in our defense - we have elected morons, men with alzheimers, closeted gays, and almost even a Mormon. :+)
ted kelly We have a lot of those morons, and those with alzheimers too. Though no Mormons. We have too many other problems - those that don't exist / have been sorted out in USA.
ReplyDeleteOne thing we have in common though - violence based on 'differences'. In America you call it 'racial violence' like those Black shootings; In India we call it 'communal riots', an occasional bloodletting solely based on perceived religious affronts.
That and of course some amount of unease over our relations with P**istan ? lol
ReplyDeleteted kelly In hindsight, it is better that USA has security relations, rather than be replaced by our Eastern neighbour, with them. With America, one can at least reason or plead. ;-)
ReplyDelete