A newspaper article written for a local college after several members of the paper lashed out on the christian faith.
First
and foremost I would like to state that I do not think I, or any of my brothers
and sisters in Christ, are better than anyone else; we are simply forgiven.
Christianity is founded on loving God above all else, and loving our neighbors
as ourselves. Of course we are going to stand bold in our faith, and
incorporate it into our daily conversations. Based off of the American
Constitution, it is simply freedom of religion; based off of our faith, it is
our calling. Sharing our faith is not to oppress others. It is simply our way
of giving the greatest news we know, and expressing love to everyone we talk
to.
Critics
have been voicing their opinion against religion, especially the “oppressive
religion of Christianity,” and I’m seeing a lot finger pointing that I feel
called to defend.
Out of 17 religious student unions
on campus 2 are not Christian based. This makes 88% of the religious student
unions Christian and the remaining 12% not. The religious census shows that in America
Several
of the Christian student unions can be quoted as saying that they desire to
hear from others of different faith. We welcome them in any time they want. I
personally talk with people of the Hindu and Bahia faith weekly about their
religion, and I get to talk to them about mine. Can that be deemed as
oppressive that I share my faith with them? As stated earlier, Christianity is
relationship based and is about love, and love includes embracing others. I am
solid in the beliefs I have, but that does not mean that Christian student
unions and I are not trying to reach out to anyone and everyone.
Why
is Christianity getting singled out? Why are Christians
continually tagged as “oppressors”? How often are Christians being
denied their rights because it’s deemed, “imposing,” or “oppressive?” More than
we think.
On February 2, in
New York City, 43 pastors and laypersons were arrested by holding a prayer
protest over the recent ban on Christian’s use of public worship service.
Police were ordered to arrest them all immediately once the peaceful protest
began. Apparently New York has a zero tolerance policy if you kneel and pray in
public and are a Christian, but if you are a secular anarchist, then you will
go unmolested by the Police for weeks and weeks, while the media rages in
protest on their behalf if any of them are arrested for their disruptive and
violent behavior. If you’re a Muslim then you will be allowed to pray in the
streets facing Mecca while blocking traffic all to bring attention to your
protest in America. However, if you’re an “oppressive” American Christian how
dare you express your Constitutional right of free exercise; because, if you
do, then you will be labeled an “oppressor.”
Several
student organizations have run into obstacles on campus. Erica Young tells of
people, both teachers and students, who complained about the chalk scriptures
around campus. “They said it was ‘in the way’ and complained of it ‘just being
there.’ Why do I have to look at ads for parties and events two weeks after
they happened and yet people can’t stand to see words from our heavenly
Father?” Is the American brand of tolerance becoming an oppressor itself? Can
the practice of honoring the minority begin to make the majority taboo?
Not
only are people writing about Christianity and its “evil oppressive habits,”
but also are free to write and declare false information. This year’s hot topic
with Christianity is the Hell debate. Rob Bell is an upcoming pastor who does
not believe in Hell and is part of a sect called Annhilationism. Annhilationism
has a trend of becoming popular every 200 years or so and we are in its revival.
A question arises though: why doesn’t it ever last? The answer is that in the
Christian faith, false doctrines will die out and later be brought back up,
usually by someone proclaiming that it fits their own personal feelings better, even if it doesn’t support the true text. The true
text being the actual and not twistable word of God, is something that is not
mere opinion but based on the truth, not interpretation.
Where
is Hell at in the Christian bible? Luke 16:19-31 is the parable of Lazarus and
the rich man. In this story, Jesus Christ declares a hell and that the rich man
was eternally separated from the graces of heaven. God has a perfect heaven,
and we, being imperfect, need to be cleansed of our sins. If life was fair, no
one would like what they got.
The bible has the evidence of why
Christianity believes what it believes. I simply quoted where I got my source
from. Where is the evidence that Christianity does not believe in separation by
hell? It’s not there, but people will take any chance to write as if it’s not.
The
Christian faith is attacked as an enemy to others and is becoming the
norm. People accuse and assume things
about us and our faith without asking questions. And unfortunately, the people
they do listen to are not credited with speaking the truth. I challenge anyone
that has a question or that would just like to talk about life to come to a
Christian student union or stop a disciple of Christ. God is, and I hope that
my family and I, in Christ, can show everybody that. The glory goes to God.
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