leaving Christianity.

March 26, 2021March 26, 2021 by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 5 Comments

I watched a news program today about the Christian baker who will not bake a cake for a transgender. He was the baker who was in the news some time ago who did not want to bake a cake for a gay couple getting married. He said it went against his Christian faith.

During the program, a woman who was part of a panel said she used to be a Christian. She left Christianity because of this very thing and she did not “find Christ among the Christians”. She brought up the women who was accused by the Pharisees of sexual sin and how Jesus defended her. He who is without sin cast the first stone. That was loving your neighbor and clearly, the baker was not loving his neighbor.

It’s a shame, isn’t it? And I completely understand.

Without Jesus there is no Christianity. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength; and the second commandment is love your neighbor as yourself.

There are no excuses. I have grown to dislike the statement, “well, there is no perfect church”. It sounds too “get-over-it” when, in the name of love (1 Corinthians 13 – love is patient and kind) people who are angry or hurt at an injustice they see deserve care.

Love is supposed to be the core of Christianity. It is the essence of who God is. He loved the world, knowing our desperation without atonement for sin, that he came down to earth in the form of a man and took the bullet for the rest of us.

It’s sad when people leave Christianity having “not found Christ in Christians” because it’s not God’s fault.

I know what it’s like to feel the disappointment, betrayal, and pain of being hurt in a faith that should be loving.

Yet, God tells us to forgive.

When we don’t forgive, then aren’t we not loving our neighbor?

The Church has been advancing throughout the centuries. The Bible refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ and says that Jesus cleanses with the washing of his word, to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish … she will be holy and without fault.

We are not there yet.

After seeing many Jews stop following him, Jesus asked his twelve disciples: Are you also going to leave?

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Is there any other place to go? If so, where will it ultimatley lead you?

If you did not see Christ in Christians, then see Christ in the Bible.

angry at God.

February 28, 2016February 28, 2016 by Kathleen Moulton

Anger is a normal reaction to pain.

Betrayal.

Failure.

Loss.

Abuse.

Divorce.

Grieving.

Rejection.

Depression.

Unkindness.

Illness.

Pain affects us mentally, emotionally, and physically.

So why are we angry?

Mostly because we ask why me? Why does God allow pain?

We are not going to fully understand why and to stay angry will only hurt more.

There comes a point when we have to make peace with the fact we live with pain.

Shaking our fist at God should not last forever. Because he knows there will be pain and gives us numerous words of comfort.

Here’s one:

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

When no one else gets it, God does. He says he is close to us when we’re hurting.

The only way to stop being angry is to accept and believe.

When you do, watch what happens. Because the same God who has allowed pain in this world, is the same one who is near to us.

You don’t believe in God?

Then who are you angry with?

Let God help you.

believe

jenny downing via Foter.com / CC BY

discover.

October 9, 2013October 9, 2013 by Kathleen Moulton

When you’re having a difficult time, do you just want to pull down the shades, lock the door, and turn off the phone?

I know the feeling.

But I’ve discovered something.

If you do something that you don’t feel like doing, you may be surprised what it does for you.

See, our emotions can play tricks on us. In fact, they can make us feel things are worse than they really are. Don’t get me wrong. Emotions are good. It’s just that we can be led by them instead of us leading them.

I know there’s some really bad stuff that can happen. I’ve experienced betrayal, hatred, abuse, rejection, abandonment, and the death of my son.

I have not been raped, beaten, or mugged. I have not suffered hunger, addiction, homelessness, eating disorders, or severe poverty. But others have. And I know some of those people. They have moved through their struggle or are still dealing with it. Yet, they have found life still brings pleasure and happiness. And usually it’s with the simple things – making time for a movie or coffee with a friend, sitting in the park, or whatever it is they would enjoy.

Life goes on – with you or without you.

You just have to find it. It’s there if you look.

But all too often, some of us wallow in the discouragement by putting all our eggs in one basket! If it doesn’t go the way we planned, we think there are no other options.