In my first post I discussed one of the reasons why I do not claim to be a christian. A reader than posted his appreciation for the punishment of a church whose pastor in a sermon made an offensive comment about dead homosexuals who were in the U.S. military. He than posted some stereotypes about what someone who follows Yeshua's teachings vs. a modern definition "christian" is. I did not agree with the manner in which he said it as it seemed a bit off-topic but the gentleman did pull up a good point, and yet another reason why I do not wish to call myself a christian, but rather a seeker. To be called a "christian" means that I have to be associated with every speaker, well-meaning bigot, and idea not related to Yeshua's teachings at all but rather often in contradiction to what I think was trying to be said. It also means that if I called myself a christian that every idea that I stated (and I do believe in some pretty out-there things) could be mispresented as a christian idea when infact it is my own theory. Calling myself a seeker rather than a christian is a safety feature for both me and the so-called "christian faith".

The first good point he made is that the presentation of the churched to the unchurched is the best reason why the unchurched remain as such. Ghandi was once quoted saying that "I would of been a christian, but I knew too many." Even on my links you can see a video of an atheist who fed up with someone trying to force him to their belief system with often bad and contradictory arguments, or just being consideraly happy at the idea of him going to hell (I have a whole nother rant about my ideas on hell) decides to make a rebuttal and he does such in an excellent manner bringing up good points, and a few questions that I have answers to as well as some questions that I don't. If anyone wants to ask about why the virgin birth wouldn't of been huge news, or anything else he brings up just let me know. I may have a theory I may just fairly tell you I don't know and than post a rant on asking the question... still doesn't hurt to ask. My disagreement with our commentor friend was the assumption that all "christians" think themselves better than everyone else, though many of them do. This is not true, infact part of the whole reason for christianity is supposed to be that no man is better than another... oh the irony.

If you look at what Yeshua had to say about equality you will seem him say that "There is no righteous man, no not even one." Those that miss this point become more pharisees in my eyes than anything else, pharisees being a group of people whom Christ described as vipers that burden the hearts of man, with guilt but will not lift a hand to help. Further if you look into what a disciple is in Jewish culture you will find they are the brightest students who in that culture are in the best place to take the best job, which (for that culture) would be a Rabbi. The statement "follow me" is one that comes from a Rabbi who after having interviewed a scholar of the Old Testament decides that, that student can do anything that the Rabbi can do. If the Rabbi did not believe such, he would tell them something like your a nice guy, go back and do the family business. This idea takes on real significance when Yeshua goes up to a group of people on the beach doing the family business (in other words the pastor of that age said these people were not good enough) and tells them "follow me" or in other words "you can do anything I can do". This man than telling them that though they were rejected by the pastors that they were every bit as good as the pastors best disciples, than proceeds to perform miracles all the while telling them that they can do the same. Makes the story of the fishermen dropping what they were doing to become disciples make a little more sense.

The second good point that our commentor makes is that someone following Christs teachings would not be so quick to judge others. I think this hits dead on the money. "Judge not lest ye be not judged". Infact out of curiousity I did a study on what the Bible says that Christ had to say about forgiveness, judgement, mercy, as well as forgiveness of sins. In prayer he said to pray "... forgive us our transgressions, as we forgive those who transgress against us...". You mean, that in order to be forgiven by God of the things that we are doing wrong we must also forgive everyone who is pissing us off? Well that is what I get out of it. The other thing you look at is that the Bible says that "the wages of sin are death" if that is the case, than the only reason we are alive is by the grace and mercy of God, and if it is by grace and mercy that we are alive and this is how we believe than it would makes sense to me that the only way a human who believes this could ever obtain true justice is by showing grace and mercy.