CommentaryThe greatest single cause of atheism
"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." - Brennan Manning
That quote opened a song once. Name that song, name that band, name that year.
Up late, trying to do other work, but as often happens, my mind's drawn to God. Moreover, why I so often question him, using my logic when of course, God, though logical, is in his entirety beyond the scope attainable by the human mind.
This, I've realized, is what drives atheists and skeptics to obsess over science the way they criticize Christians for obsessing over God. Science is tangible, and understandable, and falls within logical bounds we can grasp.
But is only a part of what drives them.
The dominant other part is that quote. It doesn't mean the Christians who go out and party and drink and have sex and commit all the deadly sins. It means the Christians who attack those who do that, because the Christians who attack are defying what Jesus Christ, the religion's namesake, said was the most important commandment, above all others.
Love.
God.
And the second most important commandment is:
Love.
Others.
I've heard it spun -- heck, I've spun it myself -- that loving others is letting them know what they do wrong. But that's not love. That's lecturing.
So Christians, quit denying Christ with your lecturing. Lawyers lecture. Friends love.
Everyone's making this big fuss over Anne Rice "quitting Christianity." I say, let her go. Why does what she says matter? Why do we let it affect us? Why do we need to lecture? Why do we need to respond at all? Because we can?
We *can* do too much these days. Rather, we *can* say too much. But really, can we love?
I struggle. And I know it's the only thing I really should focus on. Paul later writes that those two commandments, if we pursue them, lead us to do everything else we're "commanded" to do.
Love God.
Love others.
People will still hate you for it. The corrupt will hate you because you stand up for those they exploit. The thieves will hate you because you defend their victims. The immoral will hate you because you'll become what they wish they could be. (Happy. Content. In need of nothing, while they seek thrill after thrill in sex that constantly wrecks, forcing the need for more sex, for more escape, to escape the reality of an empty life.)
I don't care much for religion. Really, I don't.
But I care much for God. I believe much in God. I believe he believes in us. But he needs us to believe in us. To believe in our love, not our lectures. To believe in people, not our own opinions.
My living is made from what I do with words. But I've found that my life is made from what I do. Period.
Pictures are worth a thousand words, and pictures are made of deeds. So what are we doing?
Are we loving?
I want to. But I can't. Not all the time.
So it's OK. We all fail.
But try at something long enough, and you'll be able to do it.
In the meantime, you'll at least be trying to love. And there's nothing more satisfying than that. Because love, true love, just loves, with no need for anything in return.
Try it. You'll see.
Love you.
Now, name that song, that band, that year. Who you got?
Bonus points for posting links to the music video. If it's even out there.
Go forth on the Internet and find.
Go forth in life and love.
Reader Comments (7)
Jesus Freak, DC Talk, ...1997?
Okay, that was a fail guess because I've looked up Jesus Freak on youtube and none of them have the words at the beginning. And the year for Jesus Freak was 1995. My memory fails me.
But, now I do recall mom putting in the Christmas letter that when I was 2 Jesus freak was my favorite song. And I would've been 2 the Christmas of 1995. Dang my math skills.
Okay, anyway. Besides my failing at recalling great music,
great post. Love you man.
Close! Real close. But not quite. Try again!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO1Hk_5rKkA
WIN
Winner!
:)
What if i stumble. cmon heidi you're better than that.
I also don't believe that you remember something from when you were 2 years old.