Christian women underlings?

Traditional Christianity puts women beneath men. The head of every man is Christ and the head of every wife is her husband. Or words from Paul to that effect. Women are to be submissive to their husbands. Women are not to speak in the church. How inspired was Paul when he wrote those letters? Not very inspired it seems to me. How could an admitted sinner, morally imperfect, write perfect instruction to the church? Logically, it makes no sense. Just as some of his sexist ideas make no sense either.

Paul did make sense when he wrote that there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female...all are one in Christ Jesus. And Jesus made sense when He said He is our living spiritual Teacher and we are all brothers and sisters; in other words, equals in His sight.

My Lutheran dad at times dominated my mom, often making her feel inferior and lose personal confidence. "Who's the head of the house? What does the Bible say?" He angrily said. He knew those biblical passages that appeared to give him the right to boss his wife and kids. He was a religious, churchgoing man. But I believe he missed the Spirit of Christ's teachings. How many other sincere Christian men lord it over their wives as their "God-given right."

Men written Bible! Where's the gals?!

Why is it that the Bible was written only by men? Why are men but not women so central to most of the stories? It seems the Bible was a product of rather patriarchal societies. Jesus had 12 men disciples. He had women followers but they are rather peripheral to the stories of Jesus' life and the Acts of the Apostles.

Proverbs 8 and 9 personify wisdom as a woman. It sure seems the Bible could use a lot more words of wisdom from women. I love to read Emily Dickinson's poetry to complement my bible reading. She was and advanced spiritual thinker, deep-hearted, loved Jesus, independent.

Knowing Jesus for real

Knowing Christ is far more personal than organizational. Do huge mega-churches undermine that idea? Jesus told a Samaritan woman that "true worshippers" of God worship in spirit and in truth -- not at any one place, such as a temple or church building. Those are the kind of "worshippers" God is looking for, intimate individual friends rather than a formal crowd going through the religious motions. Jesus said he considered his disciples friends rather than servants, in John 15. Jesus said that where two or three who know Him are together in His name -- He is with them in spirit. Jesus said He knows each of us, individually. (John 10:27)

I have no idea how Jesus knows each of us and keeps track of the millions who know Him. But He does. He is God and has all power in Heaven and earth. Christians who have experienced Christ's presence and Spirit in their lives know that He knows them. "The Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." (Romans 8:14-16)

You can relate to (worship) God in a church assembly, singing in the shower, private mental prayer, or anyway that feels right to you. The formality of church services (and I've been to many churches, conservative to liberal) doesn't do much for me. 

I'm not a churchgoer, here's why...

As a non-churchgoer, I've been reprimanded by at least one fellow Christian for "forsaking the assembling of yourselves together." That's Paul's command. Jesus, on the other hand, said where two or three are gathered in His Name, He is there with them in Spirit. I like to discuss the Bible and spirituality (among other ideas) informally with my wife or a friend. I get far more out of casual conversation than big formal meetings; I dislike formality period. (I sometimes tell people I had a hard time showing up at my own wedding.)

I was raised in a conservative Lutheran church and went to a church school my first eight grades. By age 15 I felt saturated with boring religion and left the church. I still believed in the Creator. In high school I read Emily Dickinson's poetry and identified with her private spirituality, apart from the formal church, considering Nature itself as God's "temple". I still find her poetry to be deeply spiritual, comforting, inspiring, more contemporary than the Bible. I like her understanding of God as a familiar friend and "neighbor". I relate better to a woman spiritual writer than the all-male club of the Bible. I also tend to find women easier to confide in than men, generally, anyway.

Preacher talk hogs

Why do most churches use the format of a designated preacher while everyone else listens? Is he or she the only inspired person? In my churchgoing days, when I visited many mainstream churches, I never saw any church follow Paul's format in 1 Corinthians 14, where several people take turns speaking.

Personally I get more out of a one-to-one conversation (or my own Bible reading) than listening to a sermon.

The Christian church sometimes emphasizes "leadership" and trains pastors in leadership skills. The implication is that lay members should learn to be obedient, compliant followers of this or that authorized leader. Personally, I understand Christ and the Holy Spirit leading us. Since the Spirit works through each of us, no one person should be looked to as "the leader." The pastor should reflect the definition of that title, meaning "shepherd", one who nurtures and watches over, and sometimes inspires.

The early Christian church in the book of Acts met together and decided by consensus. They didn't look to one designated "leader." The Spirit at these meetings spoke to (or inspired) several and its will became known and confirmed by agreement. After being in a Christian cult, I strongly distrust "leaders."

I tend to think God is flexible and creatively-minded when it comes to "worship" and inspiration. What benefits one Christian may not help another, so we find our own preferred methods of feeding and nourishing our spirits.

Is Jesus sexual?

Is Jesus sexual? Was he sexual in his brief life? How can He identify with us sexual creatures if He sublimated his sexuality so much that He just never needed an outlet for sex? His supposed celibacy puzzles me. How many people just don't identify with Jesus because He apparently didn't need sex?

Look at the damage to the Catholic Church as a result of imposing celibacy on its priests. Some priests need a sexual outlet and the easiest targets, unfortunately, have been the weakest and most vulnerable and most defenseless -- children. (I was once a sexual target of a priest in my 20's after exiting the Moonies, on the street. I avoided his advances.)

Catholics got their idea of strict sexual restraint from Jesus' supposed celibacy. "Follow me," Jesus said, and the Catholic leaders interpreted His words to mean be celibate as Jesus maybe was. The problem is, celibacy needs to be a personal choice, not a rule imposed from the outside.

If we are made in the image of God, and since we are all sexual, is God also sexual? If you are a literalist, the Bible describes God (Ezekiel 1, Revelation 1) in appearance as a man. Why would God be very much like us in so many ways (emotions, thinking, anatomy) -- except sexually? Sex is so pleasant, why wouldn't God enjoy it as well?

Bible negative about sex?

I find the New Testament teachings about sex to be somewhat negative. Jesus said that lust in the heart was the equivalent of adultery in actuality. What about pleasant sexual fantasies? God seems to have wired our brains to enjoy erotic reveries whenever we want. Those who fantasize at times or while enjoying sex often report better erotic highs and stronger orgasms. Some say they need to fantasize to help them achieve better sex ("My Secret Garden")

Personally, I think whatever is helpful and acceptable to both partners is fine with the Creator. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Jesus' sexuality

How did Jesus and his 12 disciples deal with their sexuality and sexual needs during Jesus' 3.5 year ministry? They were all relatively young, virile men, with that natural desire we all have. Nothing is said in the New Testament about their sex drives and how they coped. They certainly encountered the opposite sex during their travels and circuit teaching and healing. I find it hard to believe they all had amazing self-control and were easily celibate.

Also, Jesus called himself the "Bridegroom" and the church (his followers) were (and are) "the Bride". What is a healthy marriage without sex? Is a spiritual union with Christ only about mind and heart and spirit? Did Jesus enjoy sex with any of his disciples in his day? Read further, below...

Evangelize Christians?

It surprises me that some evangelicals spend so much time evangelizing fellow Christians. 80% of Americans are professing Christians (and I take their word for it). Yet a lot of effort goes into evangelism on college campuses for instance. I always wondered how many of those going forward at Billy Graham crusades were really non-Christians or just renewing their commitment to Christ. It seems to me that more evangelism ought to be concentrated in areas of the world where people have never heard the good news.

I understand the argument that professing Christians may not be actual Christians -- knowing about Christ but not really personally knowing Christ. 

Jesus did not advocate public prayer

Why do some politically active Christians advocate public prayer in public schools? Jesus said to pray in private, not to be seen by others. He did that himself, often walking far away from his friends into the wilderness or woods. Jesus valued privacy to think and pray alone. Any person in any public school can pray anytime, in the privacy of their thoughts right where they are. If needed they can go to a restroom stall for some solitude, sit and pray quietly in their mind.

Public prayer advocates give the appearance of forcing religiosity or Christianity onto those who don't want it forced on them -- including Christians like me!

Free will versus obedience to God

Related to following Jesus, how do free will and personal freedom thrive if we are expecting God to constantly guide and direct us? It's kind of a theoretical question, but also practical. I'm thinking that God's Spirit gives us (believers) general guidance, just as a supervisor might ask us to work on a project but leave the detailed specific tasks up to us.

Liberal and Conservative Christians

Can politically conservative and politically more liberal Christians get along? Honest disagreement and differing opinions hopefully shouldn't prevent those who know God from loving each other. Love for each other is the one indication Jesus said would be how the world would know we are Christian brothers and sisters. I need to work on this attitude myself.

However, some people get confused by the word "love." Love is not just warm feelings toward someone. It is also being frank when necessary, and helpfully correcting a child or political leader. Jesus Himself said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." (Revelation 3). Proverbs has a saying, "open rebuke is better than secret love." 

Is Christianity regressive rather than progressive?

Why is it that the conservative branches of the Christian church are so often behind the times, regressive rather than progressive? Conservatives tend to be against equal rights for women, disinterested in environmental protections (until recently), weren't involved in the Civil Rights movement, and are staunchly against gay and lesbian rights.

They work hard to defeat legislation giving homosexuals a fair shake, spending millions of dollars in voting campaigns, while supporting a "Christian" president who has authorized killing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who had nothing to do with 9-11. This same religious president ignored the Geneva Convention, allowing blatant torture of war prisoners. "Do unto others as you would have others do to you." Mr. Bush doesn't apply Jesus' teaching to his war policies.

Do you have high expectations from God as a Christian?

Are you disappointed with your life because it doesn't measure up to those expectations, based on your reading of the Bible? "Abundant life...Christ will do exceedingly abundantly above all you ask or even think...ask anything in My name and I will do it...greater works will you do than Me because I go to the Father...ask and it will be given you...give and it shall be given to you, good measure..."

Christians can view God as a magic genie who dispenses favors ("blessings"), kind of a "gimmee God". We can view God as a doting "Dad" who treats us all like little 3 year-old kids, taking care of our every need. Or we can relate to God as mature adults, knowing we need to do our part to live reasonably enjoyable lives; and expect our share of ups and downs, happiness as well as heartaches.

I missed out on having my own children, helped to raise a step-child, 13 years old when I came along. It wasn't easy! I had hoped to use my art talent professionally, but instead worked in a pretty boring job for 20 years, pursuing my art on the side. I retired due to burnout, never getting a job I really enjoyed, despite giving a lot of money to Christian and secular charitable organizations.

I've often felt like my life has been "less than." I'm probably not alone. I've tried to lower my expectations -- not because I'm hopeless or being negative -- but to be more realistic. High hopes with poor outcomes can create mental misery.

I'm currently painting landscapes, a lot of them. I may sell some or only a few. My goal is to produce a lot of good paintings and improve as an artist, enjoy what I'm doing. If my art ends up only as a kind of hobby, then fine. I can still take satisfaction from the work itself and my pleasure in doing it. The apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in any and all circumstances, quite an achievement! "Abundant life" (John 10:10) does not necessarily mean a perfect mate, great job, and material wealth. To me it mostly means Christ living in me today, and therefore feeling satisfied and peaceful -- mental or spiritual "riches" -- rather than achieving this or that personal goal. (At times, Jesus feels absent from my life, with a certain emptiness inside.)

In Jesus' message to the Laodiceans in Revelation 3, he pointed out that they were quite miserable internally, despite their material wealth. His solution was to re-connect with Him: "dine with Me, and Me with you." How we do that is personal, between each of us and Jesus. More Bible reading -- or less? Honest prayer from deep inside? (Or less prayer and more doing?) Talking to a good Christian friend about feeling like shit? Jesus in that friend may give you the support you need.

My own prayer is to be more mature and realistic, take responsibility for my life, including facing the truth about problems large and small. Contentment along with being goal-oriented is also my aim.

Critics of Christianity may view Christians as wimps, so dependent on a "Daddy-God" that they don't tackle life's challenges head-on with their own internal resources. The critics may have a valid point -- when believers don't accept personal responsibility for their own lives. On the other hand, an agnostic or atheist may go to a friend, relative, or expert for advice or support; they're being human and practical. Believers likewise rely on those same types of people; plus, they sometimes go to an invisible Friend who they rely on for support and practical direction. If there is invisible Support available, why not ask? It's practical for them, not necessarily "religious."

Humor and God

God must be a very funny Person. Why? Because we are made in God's image and we all have a sense of humor! With all power in Heaven and earth, Jesus must have quite a funny bone; his Father too. I bet they are bored with over-serious religion (just as we are). One gift of the Spirit is missing from the Bible -- humor; perhaps it is a given.

I bet God gets a kick out of these funny quotes as much as we do:

If I had been the Virgin Mary, I would have said, "No." -Margaret "Stevie" Smith

Religions change; beer and wine remain. -Hervey Allen

The chicken probably came before the egg because it is hard to imagine God wanting to sit on an egg. -Unknown

Living with a saint is more grueling than being one. -Robert Neville

Everybody should believe in something; I believe I'll have another drink. -Unknown

Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer. -Mark Twain

The trouble with born-again Christians is that they are even bigger pain the second time around. -Herb Caen

Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God. -Lenny Bruce

Churches welcome all denominations, but most prefer fives and tens. -Uknown

He had a God-given killer instinct. -Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders talking about George Blanda

(Most if not all quotes are from The 2,548 Best Things Anybody Ever Said, by Robert Byrne)