The most difficult thing in the world to do is to write or talk about one's religious belief without sounding superior, judgemental, or "preachified".

The last thing that anyone speaking on the topic of religion wants to do is to "turn people off". Yet, that is exactly what often happens, for several reasons.

1. People get very defensive if they feel they are being criticized.

2. People try to justify their lack of religious faith by blaming it on the hypocrisy of people whom they know who profess to be Christians but do not "walk the walk".

3. People don't like to feel as though someone else is judging them.

4. People HATE to be "preached" to or at.

5. People argue that each religion thinks his is right and everyone's else's is wrong.

There are many other reasons: these are just a few of the more obvious.

That being said, I have a few comments. You are under no obligation to agree; but I will not respond to any combative nor derogatory responses, because I do not wish to start a religious war.

First, I never criticize anyone unless that person has committed a flagrant sin (breaking one or more of God' commandments) against a member of my family or me. Then I will tell him he has to repent, confess his sin and ask for forgiveness. I will tell that person that unrepentant sin of this magnitude leads to death and damnation. He doesn't have to ask my forgiveness; but I seriously doubt he truly has repented if he doesn't. Am I judging? Yes, because I am in a position to judge. This is the ONLY time I am in a position to judge--when I know the facts and the circumstance of the transgression.

In addition, blaming one's own lack of faith on the fact that there are hypocrites in churches seems to me to be a weak, weak reason to turn one's back on salvation. Sure, there are hypocrites in churches just as there are hypocrites in business and politics. But, there are far more good people in churches than bad. Jesus will judge the hypocrites; Personally, I refuse to let these few affect my faith.

The old argument that each church thinks it is right and ever other church is wrong is just that--an old argument. This used to be true; but most people now are more enlightened and educated than that, I believe. I certainly do not think ANY church will get a person into Heaven. Only the person himself can do that, irregardless of what his religious affiliation may be.

As for "preaching", I'll try my best to leave that to the man in the pulpit.

posted on Nov 16, 2008 6:45 PM ()

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