For as long as I can remember, people have added adjectives to Christianity.
“He’s a conservative Christian.”
“She’s a liberal Christian.”
“I’m a devout Christian.”
As I see it, this accomplishes one of two things:
- Redundancy (…saying ‘devout’ about anything we claim to believe.)
- Inclusion of ideology that isn’t part of the Christian faith.
Inclusion of new ideology is super-helpful.
Attaching my personal philosophy to Christianity gives me credibility.
It’s a shorthand way of saying, “Me and God both think this.”
I can combine almost any word with “Christian” without criticism from anyone…
…even when the combinations are incoherent.
“Backslidden Christian”
“Pro-Choice Christian”
“Feminist Christian”
The word ‘Christian’ has the magical effect of legitimizing ANY word that precedes it!
You will not be judged or shamed for ANY activity or belief so long as you slap ‘Christian’ after it.
You doubt me?
“Gay Christian”
I rest my case.
You want to cheat on your spouse?
“Unfaithful Christian”
You want to molest alter boys?
“Abusive Christian”
Feel like getting hammered?
“Drunk Christian”
You can have religion on your terms!
Define your faith however you like!
- Pick an adjective
- Stick ‘Christian’ after it
You can dismiss objections by saying, “Get the plank out of your own eye!”
(That’s in the Bible somewhere.)
If you prefer being a “Non-Biblical Christian”, simply say, “I’m entitled to my opinion.”
6 Responses
I can’t help but think of a certain scripture in regards to life and LIFE.
…God has given us eternal life; and this life is in His son. He who has the son has life. He who does not have the son of God does not have life.
How about “Christian” comedian?! LOL
It’s nearly impossible for me to complain if you’re going keep writing things I agree with, John Branyan. So far all I can do is accuse you of being a closet Calvanist and perhaps being a bit irreverent with the grace of replaced fries.
I’m not a Calvinist so we can still argue about that. 🙂
Your post gives me goosebumps, John!
Your including Gay is opening the floodgates for me.
😭
I’ve been so angry over the erupting scandals, and how deep the wormholes go – eroding the church. Hearing the cherry-picked scriptures, and the “Church of nice PC” used to legitimize the filth and predation is distressing beyond words for me.
I hear Cardinal Wuerl’s sickening denials of the depravity he was a participant in, his payoffs; along with what was done to the victims and wonder have homosexual priests, bishops, cardinals,… not even bothered to read the Bible? Where does it say sodomy is ok? What didn’t they understand about Sodom and Gomorrah?
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Two great resources I’ve discovered the last few weeks:
“The Book of Gomorrah: and St. Peter Damian’s Struggle Against Ecclesiastical Corruption”
“… undoubtedly the most stirringly eloquent and impassioned denunciation of sexual perversion ever penned by a Catholic saint. Although it was written almost a thousand years ago, the “Book of Gomorrah” in many ways seems addressed to our own times, associating the phenomena of clerical homosexual behavior and pederasty, and endorsing the imprisonment of clergy who are a danger to youth….”
A great resource that I’ve discovered (welcoming all Christians), focusing on exposing current coverups, heresies and lies the Catholic Church is swamped in, and helping the laity:
churchmilitant.com
The reporting is phenomenal, timely and reminds me of the great, honest, muckraking journalists of old (along with Woodward and Bernstein).
I think of you, your courage in not being PC nor belonging to the church of nice, your integrity, sense of humor and wonderful ways of expressing your unique self.
Thank you, John! I admire and salute you and your family.
Hey, that made me think of a new term…. “atheist Christians!” They’ve been calling themselves “deconverts” but their morals and way of thinking are pretty much borrowed from Christianity. They just (say) they don’t believe in God anymore, but methinks they doth protest too much.