be fishers of men

On facebook just now there was a poll asking where "In and Out Burger" should expand. When looking through the comment one person suggested Albuquerque and listed several valid reasons it would make good business sense. The last reason listed was "high population of Christians who appreciate Christian owned business."

It made me think about what it is to be Christian business owner. I have no comments on In-and-Out burger as I know nothing about their business practices that either support or suppress a Christian life. I just know that they have good french fries.

My husband works for a small ambulance company who's owner claims to be Christian. I say claim, because while I know he attends a local evangelical church, his behavior gives the word Christian a bitter taste in ones mouth.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon
called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for
they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers
of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he
saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in
a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and
immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. -NIV Matthew
4:18-22

A "Born-Again" Christian once recited this to me as her reason while she felt compelled to preach to me. I found her annoying and each time she preached at me, I felt a stronger and stronger repulsion to her "faith." As a person, I found her close minded, bigoted and shallow. She appeared to me to have little compassion for people who were different than her. She for the longest time represented Christianity to me and I wanted nothing to do with it.

Ironically, I began seriously investigating my faith when I attended an Orthodox Jewish Wedding. As best friends with the bride who had recently converted, I found myself welcomed with complete openness into a home of Orthodox Jews for Shabbat. During that meal, I had a wonderful debate with the man of the home as we drank Whiskey and debated politics. His viewpoints were completely different than mine, but we managed to respect each other and laugh at each other. His wife would smirk at us both and roll her eyes. This family was kind, opinionated, generous, open-minded, compassionate, and extremely faithful. This is what I wanted.

I was fairly certain that despite my fascination and enjoyment of this culture it was not the right fit for me. But I realized I did indeed have a spiritual need and I needed a community to help me feed it. In the end I realized that I was "Christian," because I do in fact believe that Christ sacrificed his life for me (and for everyone else, no hold barred), because without that sacrifice none of are worthy.

Isn't ironic, that a Jewish family were who scooped me out of the Ocean and sent me on my spiritual path? They were the true fishermen. Not the girl who thumped her bible at me, but instead the people who lived generosity and compassion.

Fortunately for me I eventually found a community that helped me feed my spiritual need. It took me some time and some work, but I did find it. But I wonder it would have taken me to start looking if it hadn't been for that family. How long would it have taken without the true fishermen. People who in fact lived their faith not just spoke the words.

Unfortunately, I have discovered that living the life is very very hard. I find myself failing all the time. But I realize that if I want to be a true fisher of men, I need to try. I wonder if "Christian" companies feel the same way? Are they interested in being fisher of men? And if so what do they do about it?

Government is not the answer...

CPAC has been meeting over the weekend. I will admit, I haven't paid much attention to it, except for what liberal talk show hosts have said about it. It appears that Rush Limbaugh, has taken front and center of the stage. Which is so disturbing, because I always equated Rush with Howard Stern, loud and offensive, but not to be taken seriously.

That said, it obvious that I don't believe in the mainstream conservative movement, and feel morally opposed to many of their views. That said, one tenet of Republicanism, and libertarianism for that matter, that I strongly approve of is personal responsibility. I do believe that people should on their own make choices that are wise and responsible. I also think people should make choices that don't harm others.

Unfortunately, I find that most people don't.


Recently, while scanning my local television network's website for local news, I found an article about our city passing a law banning smoking in the car with children.

As I read through the comments, I noticed a disturbing trend. A few people who commented favored this legislation. The majority strongly opposed this legislation.

I understood their opposition. Should individual freedoms be infringed upon for the welfare of the good?

And I might have stayed sympathetic, if so many weren't adamant that they would continue to smoke in front of their children.

Despite all the evidence that second hand smoke is unhealthy for children, these people felt their rights to smoke outweighed their child's right to health.

And so despite my reservations, I am now convinced that the law needs to be passed, because children can't protect themselves, we need to make it illegal to harm them. (yes yes, this is so a heated statement, but let's get there when we get there.) Although what I would prefer is that laws weren't made but instead people took personal responsibility for their behavior and behaved in a way that both protected themselves and everyone else.

And perhaps, if a person's behavior was only affecting themselves, I would be willing to let them pay the consequences for their actions by themselves. But the reality is that the consequences of irresponsibility often have more victims that just the irresponsible.

Ironically enough, the next legislation my city government is working on: Banning texting while driving. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29186208/

The Bible

Today, as my husband and I drove to a local coffee shop, so that he could do some studying and I could catch up on paperwork, we began a discussion of the bible. Perhaps I should clarify, I began a monologue about the bible and he listened, grunted in agreement, and gave a few personal thoughts.

I've always known that I wasn't a so called based "scripture based" Christian. Which isn't to say that I don't read the bible. I have read the bible. (Or at least most of it. I do admit to skipping a lot of the lists of names in Genesis).

But the truth of the matter is that I find the Bible to be full of contradictions. And so much is up for debate:

For instance take the sixth commandment: thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17)

If you google the 6th commandment you will find multiple entries about the commandment in which people try to analyze the commandment based on their own beliefs and experiences:

http://www.biblestudy.org/question/what-does-thou-shall-not-kill-mean.html

http://www.deathreference.com/Sy-Vi/Thou-Shalt-Not-Kill.html

http://www.thenazareneway.com/thou_shalt_not_kill.htm


For me, the debate is relevant in the case of abortion, the death penalty, and war.

The death penalty is easy for me, I strongly believe it is wrong. That is a life, and whatever the sins of that person, it should not be up to us to end the life of another.

Abortion is more complicated, for me the decision is whether ending a life is right or wrong, but instead when is it a life. My thoughts on that matter shall be saved for another post.

War is also a shade of gray, particularly as I view innocent people who are not actually part of the conflict being the ones to pay the price. And yet, I can see that sometimes we are left with no alternative.

So that said, I simply don't take the bible as the end all be all in terms of my faith. Instead I find that each spiritual and personal issue must be weighed individually. I find that Bible is an imperfect resource as all resources are.

There is an exception to this: The Gospels. Or perhaps I shouldn't say that it is an exception, I just give more weight to the Gospels. While a great deal of the Bible is relevant to the times it was written, (including most of the New Testament) I find the Jesus' message to continue to be relevant in this day and age.

Introduction

I have a million posts floating through my head, and the desire to share my thoughts is overwhelming, so I finally have committed to putting my thoughts into the public forum.

I am a Christian, in so much that I believe without a question of doubt that God and Jesus are one in the same. I believe that Jesus walked this earth for the purpose of saving our souls. And I believe he died for our sins.

And that is what I have in common with conservative Christians.

Otherwise:

I support gay marriage.

I vote pro-choice.

I believe evolution should be taught in schools.

I believe sex education should be taught in schools.

I wish for universal health care.

I do not believe that you have to be "Christian" to be "saved".

I am anti death penalty.

Each of these feelings, and many more to be explored, do not conflict with my faith.

This is the purpose of this blog. It is an attempt to work through my faith and my political view points. It is a personal journey of a liberal, spiritual woman.