He said it best when he adapted a quote by John F. Kennedy. He said, “I am not running as a Mormon; I am running as an American.”
I have studied Mormonism extensively, and my beliefs are incongruous with the belief of Mormons. However, the specifics are irrelevant. What matters is that we will have a strong, committed president who can balance the budget and protect us from terrorists.
Is it a joke? It is increasingly hard to believe otherwise.
This will be one of the most personal topics I ever discuss on this site, but I want your feedback so it is necessary to opine.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have openly struggled with whether or not Jesus/Christianity is real. And I’ve come to the conclusion that while He is real, Christianity is questionable at best.
Between the ridiculous ramblings of the “Moral Majority” and the actions of those I know who profess to be Christians I am back to where I was before questioning God’s presence — questioning the “church.”
I believe in God, and I believe that Jesus is the son of God. I also believe in Heaven and Hell. I believe that in order to get to Heaven one must ask Jesus.
What I do not believe is that Christianity, at least as we know it today, is as aboveboard as many would have us believe. While I realize there are probably people trying to live their lives as Christ did, I realize that 99.9% of professing Christians are full of crap.
Over the last two weeks, I have sought answers about Christianity. Should I find a church to attend in New York City? Should I give Christians another opportunity to show me they are not all pathetic posers? Was Paul right when he said Christians should fellowship with each other? Should I let down my guard, and trust Christians though I was hurt by the church years ago?
The answer to my questions was to take people for who they are; instead of judging them by the deeds of others, to trust them on a case by case basis.
Any professing Christians would remind me that none of us are perfect. I realize that everyone – Christians and atheists – will let me down at some point. But aren’t Christians supposed to live by a different standard? In John 15:12 we are commanded to love one another as Christ has loved us.
In order for me to love, I must trust. I recognize that perhaps I have hang-ups that other people do not possess, but it’s the only thing that makes sense to me. To me, it makes sense in this order: trust, respect, honor, love. I know forgiveness should be somewhere in there, but this is where Christianity gets complicated for me.
Sitting at this table with my laptop and a macchiato, it hit me like a ton of bricks – Throughout my adult life I have attempted to put my faith in the wrong thing. If I put it in the church –which is made up of people, I will undoubtedly be disappointed. And if I base my entire opinion of Christianity on people like James Dobson then I am certain I will believe the whole religion is a joke. it was not until I had a discussion with Mrs. Martin, my high school teacher de espanol, that I figured out that it doesn’t matter what Dobson is doing. And it doesn’t matter how “Susie Christian” acts all week. That is between them and God. The only thing that matters is my personal relationship with Christ. It makes sense, doesn’t it? He is the one who is perfect and all-knowing. He is the only one who won’t let me down. I am not attempting to sugarcoat anything. It is a fact that I have struggled with the idea of religion, but I know now that it is because I must place my faith in God.
While it was somewhat debatable three weeks ago, today I have no doubt that God is real. I also believe He spoke to me as I was writing this.
I am curious to hear the thoughts of those who have taken the time to read this post. Do you believe in God? Do you question your faith? The Church? Send me your thoughts.
