I have a lot of Christian friends. Okay, maybe not a lot, but I have some. If you tally it up per capita, the vast majority of my friends are Christian or at least that’s the label they choose to give themselves. (My husband, however, is a Buddhist, if you ask me, but if you ask him, you won’t get a straight answer. How Buddhist is THAT?!?)
However, the ones I consider close friends are all Christians who qualify their Christianity, especially to the non-Christians in our set. (I have a set. Dear God. What next? I’m nicknaming the girls Buffy and Muffy? Send help. And by “help”, I mean “baked goods” as usual.) What I mean is that there’s something about Christianity that just doesn’t quite jibe with their understanding of God, life, etc, and they feel like they have to explain that.
It was that qualifying that led me to a faith outside of Christianity. I still believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I still believe that He was sent to wash away the sins of anyone who asked Him into their hearts and lives. I think the man was a great Teacher from whose teachings anyone can benefit. I even think He is a face of God, one Being with the Father, if you will. (And I know the Christians among you will. :grin:)
So I wonder sometimes about my friends who are Christian and don’t feel a personal relationship with God that calls them to worship Christ. I wonder sometimes if they stay Christian because they’re afraid of going to Hell or because it’s what they know or because they just don’t want to have a personal relationship with God because that might mean effecting genuine change in their lives. I’m not judging anyone — I’m just wondering.
I’m also wishing that I could give everyone a relationship with God that doesn’t involve anyone else, that doesn’t involve following a set of rules or reading a book of what other people think He is or listening to someone else talk about God and what She wants. Just a plain relationship with God like you have with your other loved ones.
I wonder if it would change the world.
