It's becoming more and more of a frequent event that my Christianity is being called into question. It's mostly by people I know which further perplexes me and my relationships with them. In a previous blog I hit on the mark that over and over again I keep getting asked if something terrible happened to me that made me choose God, which is not the case. Yet it seems to go even further than that.
I was born, raised, baptized, and holy communion'd my way in the Catholic Church. I went to 10 years of schooling via Catholicism. Somewhere towards the end of my elementary years my mother decided to convert to Presbyterian. What is further coming in this blog are my experiences throughout my life that has lead me to be a Christian.
Catholicism has some very specific rules. Actual rules, like a country club (a very twisted country club), that if you do not follow, you cannot be a part of their religion. Even further than that, if you say you will follow their rules and then defy them, that's okay too, divorce, wedlock, birth control, never really attending mass; it seems like you just have to lie your way into Catholicism. Is it really okay for an organized religion to tell you that you aren't worthy enough of their love or acceptance simply because you won't follow their rules?
When we started attending a Presbyterian church, I saw the true depth of wickedness within the Catholic religion as they threw up arms over going to a different church but still attending their private school. In the end, so long as my parents paid tuition, that's all that really mattered, not that children were still learning about Christ and his teachings. The Presbyterian church felt more welcoming to me as a child. I met some amazing, kind, full of life and love, accepting, and Christ followers in that church. I even went on to work in the office for a few years. It was also the church camp through this Presbyterian church that actually saved my life when no one else was there. But alas, as that church started to change, I found myself drifting away. But compare the two experiences in my life, the people and events I experienced through the Presbyterian church were much kinder and loving than all those years as a Catholic.
I now, very happily, attend Christ Community Church. Our Pastor, Jim Nicodem, is one of the best Pastors I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. He's very forward, honest, kind, and direct in his teachings. We at CCC are accepting, loving, faithful followers of Christ and his teachings. Our church isn't about shutting people out, or forcing people to lie to the church. We ask that you love and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior into your life and your heart, and that you follow the teachings of the Bible. It's pretty simple; be kind, love, accept, and forgive.
When people come to me and are very devoted to Catholicism, I look at them. Who they are at their core, and what exactly their life has entailed and where their life is going. And usually I'm dumbfounded by things that further come out of their mouths. I am always inviting people to church with me, because it's a place I find happiness, peace, and joy, and my heart desires to share that with people. But when people come to me and say they don't want to "convert", I'm always digging to find out what exactly they think they would have to convert to.
Re read the definition of a Christian.
There was never anything that I asked anyone to convert to. Going to a non denominational church with a Christian isn't converting to anything. It's simply going to church to praise and worship God. However, have you noticed that in order to marry or baptize in a Catholic or Presbyterian church, you have to actually convert to their religion?!
So next time you step on my love for the Lord, think about how I'm kind to even the most wicked in my life, how I forgive the betrayal and the wicked tongues of others, how I give when I know I can't, how I love endlessly, and how I've worked tirelessly and continue to, to repent my sins for the Lord's forgiveness. Before you put all your eggs into one basket, reflect on what you're really standing up for, because at the end of the day, it may be some distasteful things. And remember, never push away people who love you, because love is a precious thing that when given is a true gift to our lives.
Let me leave you with this.
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