Are you scared?

Growing up in church, I can't remember a time in my childhood I wasn't frightened of something...

Whether it was the frightening stories in Revelations, or whether I was going to go to Hell for the doubts and questions I could not resolve, or dared not ask...

Christianity has become a culture of fear, hate, and exclusivity. I know this is never what Jesus would have wanted us to be...

Christians are trained not to question what they were brought up hearing. We are ostracized when we disagree with the majority. We are taught that Hell is the ultimate punishment and that Heaven is the ultimate reward...

We are threatened with Hell, and it is painted in such a way that we end up taking the title of Christian because we are scared of Hell... NOT BECAUSE WE LOVE JESUS!  Anyone who believes the Bible, or at least knows what it says, should take a minute to think that out...

The Bible says God does not grant a spirit of fear, but many people accepted Christianity because they had some fear of Hell... Many people try to convert everyone they can because they are afraid of what God will think of them if they don't bring everyone they can into the fold... or because the are afraid for their loved ones... Many people are afraid of associating with others who are stigmatized by reputation, title, or profession, because of what other Christians might think of them...

My major vice was that for a long time, I feared having my own thoughts on matter. I was afraid to ask myself questions, or to hear questions that really challenged the version of the Bible I had been taught... I was deliberately blind and deaf to anything that I could not sufficiently answer with a Bible passage, and I dared not question why it couldn't be answered...

There is allot of fear in Christianity, but if God hasn't given it, then it makes you wonder where it came from.... Hmmm.... and if my implications strike a little close to home, then you might want to re-evaluate  what you believe and who you serve....

So... Now is it any wonder why Christians have such a bad reputation?

Christ left us with a message of peace but soon after the church solidified into an 'organized' structure, peace and love became conditional - Peace would only exist once everyone was converted...

Many horrible things have been done in the name of several religions, but it seems that Christianity has been one of the worst...

Think of the culture that Christianity, as an organized religion, formed in... The Roman culture... A culture based on conquer and expand... Also, let me point out that Christianity was organized for political purposes by politicians... 

All of the atrocities committed in the name of Christ, have been the main responsibility of political leaders claiming Christianity as their own, and thus rallying the common masses by such claims... Sometimes it isn't so nice to see that some things never change.

Thus we had the Crusades, and the Inquisitions, and even slavery and women's rights were argued against by "Christian" politicians who turned the Bible to their purposes... Now we have people who are spreading hatred and misery once again against the LGBT community, using the Bible for their purposes...

I hope I can call your attention to some of what is really going on here... There are more important issues going on in the world, issues that cause misery, but profit our dear 'Christian' politicians. What better way to get the masses to ignore their bull shit than to create a fight that doesn't affect their profits...

SO... As a fellow Christian, I want to challenge you to start reaffirming your faith by learning how to question it again...

Jesus wanted us to be as children... He wants us to receive the Kingdom as a child, but in my experience, a child will readily accept something, but once they are in possession, they never stop asking questions, EVER!