Intolerant, Insensitive and Downright Annoying

Written by Gary Shirley


Continued from page 1

When I point out wrongdoing, when I fail to approve a deviant lifestyle, or when I choose not to accept another’s brand of morality, I am awardedrepparttar “insensitive” badge for my vest. Sew it on, for I cannot back off for fear of society’s punishment. I cannot water down or compromise my beliefs. I simply do not have that choice.

Which brings me to being downright annoying. Here I am, plodding through life wearingrepparttar 126863 badges of my societal sins. Now that my status is known, I present a problem torepparttar 126864 enlightened ones. They know for what I stand and have to figure out how to avoid my bothersome beliefs. After all, my faith may awaken long-dormant notions of right and wrong in their own minds. Perhaps my presence will prompt them to walk downrepparttar 126865 hallways of conscience, chancing upon old friends. Loyal but bothersome friends like virtue, truth and faith.

It’s kind of like inviting your loud Uncle Joe to your Christmas party. Protocol demands you tender an invitation, but you cringe atrepparttar 126866 thought that he’ll regale your guests with stories from your childhood. Stories that are terribly embarrassing mainly because they’re all true. Having a guy like me around is equally troublesome. Someone might discover that what I profess to be true is actually just that.

Thanks to my Baptism, I bought intorepparttar 126867 notion that God has standards which he established for a reason. He setrepparttar 126868 bar at a challenging height. His Commandments, Beatitudes and Gospels are designed to continually fortify my intolerance and insensitivity toward sin. When I don’t live up to his standards, I am compelled to take responsibility for my failures. With utter disdain for my transgressions, I must humbly seek Reconciliation. In turn, God lavishes his mercy and forgiveness. In his goodness, however, God never relieves me ofrepparttar 126869 mandate to live rightly. I am continually reminded to,“...Go and sin no more.”

So, off I go in search of others who still like old-fashioned dictionaries. I look for those whom society deems intolerant, insensitive and annoying for their steadfast refusal to capitulate torepparttar 126870 culture. Those who still believe that God’s law is not negotiable. Those who understand that we cannot redefine our vocabulary to serve as a smokescreen for sin.

When a new term or a redefined old term comes along, I must askrepparttar 126871 key question: What exactly am I being asked to compromise? I must demand clarity. I must askrepparttar 126872 hard questions. I must not let my culture offrepparttar 126873 hook with feel-good euphemisms. I must not allow myself to be manipulated. Too much is at stake.

I have already navigatedrepparttar 126874 minefields of political correctness, multiculturalism, diversity, alternate lifestyles and inclusion. With every one of these fancy terms, drilling down uncoveredrepparttar 126875 multitude of moral compromises buried in their meaning. None could standrepparttar 126876 scrutiny of my trusty dictionary.

I am unashamed ofrepparttar 126877 new badges on my vest. They tell an important story. By all means alertrepparttar 126878 enlightened members of society. Have them strike my name from all party invitations. Delete me from their Christmas card list. Make sure they don’t include me in any important convention, meeting or event. After all, if I am included people might come over and check out my vest.



Gary Shirley, his wife, and three children are members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Kennesaw, Georgia where Gary serves as catechist in the adult education program. Gary is an Archdiocese of Atlanta certified catechist (both PSR and RCIA) with 13 years teaching experience.


About basic teachings of Christian faith :: Christians

Written by Christians


Continued from page 1

This search for God's will led us torepparttar question:

How does God want me to use my life? What should Christian community look like?

Inrepparttar 126862 case ofrepparttar 126863 first Christians in Jerusalem, it looked like this:

They were continually devoting themselves torepparttar 126864 apostles' teaching and to fellowship, torepparttar 126865 breaking of bread and to prayer... Day by day continuing with one mind inrepparttar 126866 temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,... (Acts 2:42 and 46)

For Christians in that time it was natural to meet and to deal withrepparttar 126867 teaching every day. It was a testimony of their great interest in, and love for God and their brothers and sisters. We too have this great wish to share our lives with our sisters and brothers in faith, to readrepparttar 126868 Bible together, and to take part inrepparttar 126869 joys and sorrows and spiritual fights with each other. We are very thankful that we can live in a time in which good transport and convenient working hours make daily community possible. Daily community is for us an expression of love and a result ofrepparttar 126870 wish to live out what we believe, to devote our time to God and our brothers and sisters in faith. We use our time for what is important for us.

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; forrepparttar 126871 one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him, thatrepparttar 126872 one who loves God should love his brother also. (1 John 4:20-21)

This intensive fellowship helps us much to be able to strengthen one another in our struggles and practicerepparttar 126873 principle expressed inrepparttar 126874 Bible:

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is {still} called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened byrepparttar 126875 deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)

We do not want to build superficial relationships or put on a good front for one another and by doing so avoid revealingrepparttar 126876 reality about ourselves. Instead, we confess our sins and weaknesses to one another in order to help one another inrepparttar 126877 fight for holiness according to Jesus' example.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34)

This isrepparttar 126878 kind of love we want to live - not just on Sundays or at celebrations but every day alike; not only with particular friends but with anyone who wants to live inrepparttar 126879 truth.

See our homepage: http://christians.what.cc

We are people who got inspired about the life of the first Christians. We are writing about basic teachings of Christian faith.


    <Back to Page 1
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use