Of Cats and Kids
The day I got bumped from God's kingdom
Posted by: Carol Lombardi
Sunday, July 16, 2006 12:00 AM
I've been bumped big time. According to a bumper sticker I saw the other day, "U can't B both Christian and pro-choice." I did not know this.Here I was, thinking that my relationship with God and my understanding of the nature of following His son was between me and Him... and all this time, some guy right here in town knew better. I feel kind of silly. I guess I should have been praying to the bumper sticker guy for the real answers.
I'm working on just how to break it this to my 6.75-year-old daughter, who thinks we're Christian:
"Well, sorry, sweetie, everything I told you about God and Jesus was wrong. We are actually NOT Christian, but I didn't know. I'll look for a bumper sticker to let me know which god(s) we're allowed to worship, ok? I'm not sure what's available for someone who's also a Democrat vegetarian single parent. I'll let you know.
"Yes, I THOUGHT it was about trying to follow Christ (hence the name Christian), but moms make mistakes, too. No, I don't remember the part where Jesus said that some people right here in Champaign are authorized to sit in judgement of other people's choices, and that those same people have the right to decide that a person's opinion is enough to exclude her from God's kingdom. I thought everyone was welcome, but I know better now. I apologize for the misinformation.
"The good news is that we won't have to spend eternity with people like the bumper sticker guy. He can go wherever perfect, sinless, know-it-alls go, and we can go be with our God (the non-Christian one, I guess) who is loving and compassionate and merciful and forgiving and capable of a love that could send that bumper sticker into the next galaxy."
P.S. For people who really think that I am going to explain to my daughter (or to myself) that we can no longer be permitted to be Christian because of a bumper sticker, I was using something called "irony."
For example, it is "ironic" when people care deeply about unborn children, but couldn't care less if the former fetuses have homes, food, health care or education.
Comments
I pity the Christian who has to defend to her 6.75 year-old daughter, let alone her own conscience, the belief that it is okay for someone to choose to take the life of an innocent, unborn child for the sake of convenience.
I would think that an unborn child, who is made in the image and likeness of God, would be of more value to a Christian than just a lump of tissue to be removed from a mother, at her behest, and then tossed in the incinerator.
I can see why Carol Lombardi would have difficulty explaining her views to her young daughter. I suppose it is much easier just to be ticked off at some guy with a bumper sticker on his car than it is to consider the dignity of every human being, whether born or unborn.
Posted by wtechau on July 17, 2006 at 2:34 PM
One more thing . . . Ms. Lombardi asks since when did Jesus authorize Christians to sit in judgement over others. I wonder: Since when did Jesus authorize terminating the life of an unborn child while calling it "choice"?
Jesus said, "Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Jesus said also that it would be better for one to have a millstone hung around one's neck and be cast into the sea than for one to cause harm to an innocent child.
Millstones, anyone?
Posted by wtechau on July 17, 2006 at 5:01 PM
It's disheartening to me that so many Christians are so hypocritical in their beliefs. Women are condemned if they choose to end a pregnancy (no matter what her situation) but it is ok for Christians to tout the death penalty and war as "Christian" acts. It would be ideal if people like wtechau and others thought and researched and learned about something rather than basing decisions on gut reactions. Jesus encouraged people to THINK and love.
Posted by DMIB810 on July 21, 2006 at 2:07 PM
Perhaps wtechau could remind us where Jesus said that a blastocyst was the same thing as an infant.
If anything, the Bible is explicitly clear that it is not.
Posted by narciblog on July 30, 2006 at 5:29 PM
Jesus encouraged people to follow HIM. So many "think" outside of HIS ways, therefore, it is unwise to trust that what you or anyone else things id "truth". Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Jesus is also The Word became flesh and dwelled among us--1John 1. No matter what your opinion or anyone elses, if it is not in the Word, it is not of God, and therefore it is not TRUTH. It seems a lot of folks here claim to know a lot about what the Bible is clear on, yet there has been presented no Scripture to back up any of these claims. It seems lots of folks use Jesus's name for their own agenda. It is a dangerous game we "free thinkers" play. The One Judge we will stand before Who holds our eternity in his hands will be the Only Judge to tell us whether He knew us or not. And His answer will not be based on what we thought was truth. It will be based on whether we followed The Truth. Before we call out the splinter in our neighbor's eye, wouldn't it be wisest first to see and tend to the plank in our own? The Bible IS explicitly clear on this.
Posted by CLAB on August 26, 2006 at 7:28 AM
