When People Play God

Comment from a reader:

"Let me see if I can shed some light, or at least share my perspectives. (And this may cross-over into speaking to some of your previous posts.)

I agree that young people are not attracted to the organized church because they have questions and would like discussions that run counter to the rigid structure often in place. Many such churches have the answers, and that is that.

I'm reminded of a book that I read (and recommend) on Islam, "Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The author, a girl raised in a deeply religious Muslim family in Somalia, who now teaches at Harvard, Hirsi Ali contends that Islam's biggest problem is its resistance and seeming immunity to modernize its key teachings. She says that observant Muslims must be able to question their own religion without risking their lives as a start toward bringing their religion out of the seventh century and into the twenty-first.

Of course, over the years, Christianity has done a better job at allowing its believers to question, discuss, and sometimes argue its key teachings. As my Grandfather used to say, "There's more than one way to skin a cat." And, in fact, one of the main reasons that God sent His son into the world was to turn the tables on a religion that had become too rigid - filled with man-made rules, and heirarchy fashioned by power-hungry leaders who professed that there was 'only one way to skin a cat'.

Is this why the non-denominational structure (or lack thereof) is so appealing? Few rules, little structure, lack of heirarchy and power centers (or so it appears)?

Hirsi Ali says that there are many moderate Muslims who would welcome the opportunity to research, discuss and debate Islamic principles. However, this view is considered heresy and is punishable by death. By labeling this exchange of ideas heresy, some of the most antiquated and extreme views in Islam have survived to this day - such as making "jihad" (holy war) against non-Islams, treating women slavishly, and the meeting-out of harsh punishments for seemingly minor infractions of religious laws.

I submit that we are a better and more-attractive church when we engage in a constant search for God, when we see God in all things and all places, and when we allow Christianity to evolve - and not to be frozen in time." 

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 Thank you for entering the conversation!  

It is interesting how 'the powers that be' decide what God wants, what God thinks, and how God handles things.  And most of the time what 'the powers that be' say, and the rules they make, go against everything Jesus came to teach us about God and his ways. It makes me wonder where they get their point of reference.  

The Muslims use death as a treat!  Conservative Christians, in my understanding, in many ways use death as a treat as well.  One of their favorite question to ask people is: "If you were to die tonight would you go to heaven?"  And then they precede to tell you that if you don't believe in 'their God -- their way of believing in God' -- you will not be saved.  You will go to the fires of hell.  They put fear, or try to put fear, in their audience.  

And yet!  Jesus is clear!  "All who believed will be saved!"