I watched the last fifteen minutes of "The Chamber" last night. It's a movie based on John Grisham's novel about a lawyer who ends up defending his grandfather, who is a member of the KKK. I haven't seen it before, and if I read the book it was years ago, so the only thing that stuck out about the last fifteen minutes (SPOILER ALERT) was the remorse for his KKK beliefs that the grandfather seemed to express during the last few moments of his life as he prepared for the gas chamber.
As I was sitting in church this morning listening to the sermon, my brain made an odd connection between this scene and the church. There is a segment of the Christian church, some might call it "fundamentalist," that believes in Christ to the exclusion of all other ideas or religions. The buck is passed to Jesus on this, often quoting the words he was purported to have said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." While Christianity is supposed to be a religion of love, I wonder about the effect of deeply held beliefs such as the interpretation of this verse from the gospel of John. I also wonder if other people ever question this...
My connection was this: I wonder if, at the end of their life, any deeply fundamentalist Christian--or Muslim, or Jew--who has believed strongly in their "rightness" over the "wrongness" of the others will experience the remorse that the fictional Klan member in "The Chamber" faced? Many would say that the Klan was all about hate--hate for those who are different. Though it is sugar-coated in love language, and it provides an exemption clause for anyone who is willing to convert, is fundamental Christianity (or any fundamental religious group) any different?
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8 comments:
Wow.
That's a pretty bold statement. It's worth considering though.
Hey there -- haven't read this post yet, but wanted to let you know my 365 project is up and running. It's at mwrhodes365.blogspot.com, and it's called "A Dad's Life: 365 Views."
Now let me get back to my reading...
Best,
Matt
Woo hoo! I'm jumping over to check it out right now...
Thanks for letting me know.
I think about this all the time. I can't reconcile some of Jesus's statements about being the ONLY way with other scriptures in the Bible that seem to indicate a more universal salvation. Then I get hung up on all the other religions in the world, full of good people trying to live good lives and know "GOD". The good thing is if the fundamentalists are wrong, they haven't murdered anyone directly and when the "lost" ones die, they will still go to Heaven, even though the fundamentalists said they would not. What gets sticker, to me, is the missionaries who have convinced people to convert to Christianity and then those people are killed for their faith. Are the missionaries responsible for their deaths?
What do you think, Margaret?
Susan
These are some of the things that I wrestle with, too, Susan. I'm really not sure what I think.
For me, giving some thought and study to the history of Christian doctrine as it has evolved has helped me let go of some of the stricter doctrines of the church, as I understand them. Seeing the path that these doctrines have traveled to get to me really made me think. I know that some people believe that God has been totally in control of the doctrines all the way along, but I'm just not that sure about it. So since I think some of the interpretations about things are well, maybe a little warped, I feel more comfortable looking for other, less fundamental interpretations.
It has been hard though. I sort of feel like I may be an outcast in my own church. (Potential heretic.)
One book that has been really good for me is If Grace is True by Gulley and Mulholland. Some new (old?) ideas in that one about grace.
We're launching into the book of John in church sermons, and I'm getting ready to stumble all over that verse "I am the way...no one comes to the Father..." (John 14:6). I just don't feel the same way about that one anymore.
I think your question about missionaries/personal responsibility is interesting. I guess right now I'm not sure if they are responsible, but I believe they are going to feel really bad about it one day. (As will we all, probably, when we see the whole picture.)
There are definitely big differences, obviously between the Klan and the Church--like you said, the church isn't currently actively murdering anyone. Then I think "What about the Crusades?"
Wow, it's a lot and it's heavy...
My little brain is tired. I'll think more and maybe write more later.
Thanks so much for interacting!! I love discussing this with someone.
I really think you might like the following blog...it has discussions like this one all the time!
http://conversationattheedge.com/
I love the post! We've confused, for so long, the meanings of the words "faith" and "truth." I cannot stand the ideas that Christian leaders try to protect its people from certain "truths" in order to protect its peoples' "faith."
Margaret's question probes at the very question so many of us have asked to ourselves, but have been afraid to ask others, "If I find the truth and it goes against my beliefs, did I do wrong?" Some call it unfaithful to seek for the truth if you've already been "told" what it is (in this case through the Bible). The reality is, though, that people put all of their faith in their religion, and not enough into God to lead them to the truth. How can seeking the truth ever be wrong? There's a hypothetical question that's designed to stimulate a critical discussion in Christian groups that asks, "How would it affect your faith if Jesus's bones were found?" The obvious suggestion being that Jesus either was not resurrected, or did not ascend into heaven, two of the cornerstones of Christianity. I must admit I raised some eyebrows when I shrugged and said "it wouldn't matter." At the time, I can't believe I told a group of fellow Christians it didn't matter to my faith whether or not Christianity could be proven, but I honestly said it without thinking about it. In retrospect, I now understand. God is. He is The Truth, and if it turns out that what I thought to be true isn't, I've just become that much closer to God.
I seek God. I don't seek to become a better "Christian," I seek to be closer to God, whoever He is. Christianity is just a religion; my means to be closer to Him.
This is the revolution that is becoming Christianity. We can no longer simply try to preserve the religion of Christianity, we must be willing to lose all of it in search of Truth. In search of Him.
Margaret poses a question that even she admitted could be viewed as "heretical." She has exposed herself to question the status quo of religion. She has stepped outside the bounds of what she's been "told" and she has cried out to God for what "is."
Searching for God can never be wrong.
Thanks for sharing, CP. It was really affirming to read your thoughts and encouragement. I'll have to pop over and read your blog...
I like what you wrote about Christianity being "just a religion; my means to be closer to Him...we must be willing to lose all of it in search of Truth."
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