I read something today that had me bouncing off the walls. It was in a blog post by a lovely intelligent woman blogger named Cate, who writes a very thought-provoking blog called Infinite Sadness or Hope. The post I read today certainly provoked some strong thoughts - an old rant actually! Not ranting at her, but more ranting for her.
Cate has written an excellent thought-provoking post that I highly recommend reading, but for here I'm taking a specific quote from her writing in order to explain what caused my rant. Cate said:
"Songs I sang in Sunday School taught me that I came last. And I guess that’s where I always put myself."
Songs that taught her that she came last in life... songs taught in Sunday
School - a place of (supposedly) religious nurturing of innocent children?
I’ve come against this warped view of what being a Christian is before, not at home, but in school religious classes and in the mindset of some of my friends.
I’ve come against this warped view of what being a Christian is before, not at home, but in school religious classes and in the mindset of some of my friends.
But if we go back to the actual Bible and to what it states Jesus said? Well…
Matthew 19:16
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Or in basic words – treat other people with the same respect, love and kindness you should be showing yourself. Jesus understood that you cannot give love to others in a healthy way unless you first love yourself in a healthy way, so why on earth do some churches insist on teaching the exact opposite of what Jesus himself suggested?
Using religious guilt ts used in order to bully people into being doormat souls has got to be one of the more unforgivable sins!
If we are made in God’s image… why would he want anyone to be a doormat? If we are made in His image… surely not loving ourselves and taking care of our needs is slapping God in the face? Jesus seems to be advocating balance – that we love ourselves and others the same, alike… no selfishness, but no senseless martyrdom and self-abasement either. Which is why I prefer to follow Him than follow any church.
I had this same discussion with Tat last year. She eventually presented the discussion at their Bible study they had to attend. I totally agree with you! I never put any thought into that Sunday School song before now, "Jesus first, yourself last, others inbetween." I think they were trying to teach humility, but I can see the sentiment backfiring. On the other hand, there are far too many 'Christians' today who are firmly in the 'me first' arena. There seems to be little balance.
ReplyDeleteI've only just got to this but I love it, and of course it is perfectly okay with me. The more people who spread the truth the better,
ReplyDeleteTint
ReplyDeleteI never went to Sunday school so I missed out on knowing the song. Actually... I went once, when I was about 5. I hated it because I'd expected "real church" and I got silly songs and colouring in. I left in disgust. I was a weird kid. LOL
Hi Cate
Thanks for the kind words. Your blog post on the topic was excellent. :-)
M, I also didn't go to Sunday School. Went there a few times, but never really go to church religiously (ha!) until I was "forced" by my school to do it. In Junior High and High School, our religious teacher made us do a weekly sermon report and in each report we had to give the church's stamp along with it, so we just had to go to church in order not to fail the class.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it was actually a good thing 'coz I found God during that period he he he...
But yeah, I understand your frustration. It's very easy to get lost in interpreting the Bible. It's easy to pick some verses and just twist them up according to what you feel is right (or even to what's beneficial for you), even though the context may not be correct.
I agree with what Tint wrote - that there are also many "Christians" who are on the other extreme. Balance is a hard thing to keep. It's very tricky...may heaven help us all he he...I'm glad you wrote this post, though. It's food for thought. :-)
Last night I was thinking about my comment and how it may be thought of differently.
ReplyDeleteIn my own religious experience, though, I've never really felt that I have to come "last".
My rant about Bible interpretation is about how some people who've clearly done things to their own profit then tells the other person (the victim of their wrongdoings) this, "You have to forgive. The Bible says so." Doh!!!! I really have trouble with these kinds of people 'coz they don't necessarily want to change and do the right things.
Amel
ReplyDeleteI liked both your reply comments. Very thoughtful and both hold truth.
:-)
Oh yeah, pardon me if I seem to have lost the ability to use singular/plural verbs. Finnish has definitely corrupted me in that area and it's also corrupted me in using some things in the English language that in Finnish are used differently.
ReplyDeleteMy Sunday School nuns were quite beside themselves as I wouldn't stop asking questions. Most of what they were saying didn't make any sense to me. Finally, they would just say, "You just need to have faith" to which I would reply, "Then why did God give me a brain to ask questions?" Needless to say, I was switched to public school at the start of second grade.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder some of us have a hard time being successful in life - we're brainwashed into thinking we don't deserve to be happy.