Las Vegas

I was watching the show Las Vegas on television the other night and part of the show was about a contest that the casino was having where the contestants had to keep one of their hands on the vehicle the longest in order to win the truck.  One of the contestants on the show was a religious woman who called in her church choir to the event, and in this particular scene it shows the woman and the choir singing songs to God.  I’m not saying that singing songs to God in public is wrong.  But I do believe that there is a time and a place for that.  This woman in this show ended up causing a huge scene and eventually ended up taking her hand off the truck because “the Spirit” got on her.   

This show sort of gives me an idea as to what our culture sees Christians as.  I believe that the Christian faith has become a joke to society.  I just don’t get it.  Being Christ-like does not mean that you have to scream and yell “repent” to everyone you see.  Most people probably wouldn’t know what that means anyway.

I’ve notice while reading the gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John) that Jesus was always trying to build a relationship with the “sinners” and Jesus always seemed to get in an argument with all the church leaders.  It seems like now, from what I’ve seen, that the church has turned what Jesus taught us around and now its shunning the ones who needs a helping hand and receiving the church’s hypocrisy.

Has the Pastor become a God?

Throughout my life I have always heard about the role of the Pastor.  The pastor is the Shepard of the  flock, who guides the sheep (the followers) to the way of life which God has for them.  These people with the role of the Pastor always sound to be in a higher position than they rest of the followers and I don’t think that is right.

Keep in mind that I am making statements about my personal experiences.  I have in the past watched people praise the Pastor of the church as if they were God Himself.  I guess they forget the passage in the Bible, “for all have fallen short of the glory of God”.  I would think they would take into consideration the headlines in the news about the pastors and priest who have went to jail and got in trouble with the law because of their problems that they have faced in their personal lives.  I am not mentioning this to bring them down, but to show that they are just like you and me.

I think it is important to notice this issue so we don’t put these people in this role in a position that they can’t handle.  When we do this, I believe we put them above God. Not to mention how this can cause us to feel as if we have no part to God’s purpose in this life. 

Religion

Questions concerning my religion always arise within me. Questions that I ask myself are usually thoughts about doubt, disobedience, and unnecessary traditional obligations that we are taught to continue in our religious atmospheres that we live in.  But religion doesn’t help us unless our religion is based on conviction rather than tradition. 

I remember as a child I was told I was to go to church, but when I had a question that I didn’t agree with or had questions about those around me didn’t give me answers, they instead based my beliefs on their religion.  I think it would have been best if they would have admitted they didn’t know an answer.

I’m sure there are many people like me who have had questions like me.  When people have questions concerning which route to go in their religious journey, I think it is best to be encouraging and open minded.  Because of people who are stuck in religious tradition, it has in the past pushed me away from seeking more of who I am and who God is. 

I believe the Bible, but whatever is in question we must as a body of Christ take a stand and be open minded to what others around us are saying and we must be less critical with our answers.  The Bible doesn’t answer every question that there is on the face of the earth, if it did everyone would be following it with out question.