The Christian Way

Tagged with christianity, judaism, religion on January 26, 2025

Although I attended Christian church services my entire life, off and on, I didn’t consider myself a true Christian until I was baptized. I don’t remember the date (or even the year), but it was while my older son and his wife were still dating, and that was more than 18 years ago. My wife, Josie, was christened as a Catholic within six months of birth, but she wasn’t baptized until 2021.

My younger son and his wife were baptized in 2021, at the same time as Josie. I don’t know what difference it makes, but we are all baptized as Protestants. We follow no specific denomination, and we aren’t Catholics, Mormons, or Jehovah Witnesses.

Organized Religion

I dislike organized religion. Unfortunately, most people will not come together in the name of Jesus without it. I don’t even like the way the word “church” is used. We don’t go to church, we are the church. Many people refer to the place of worship as a church, including the organization itself, but it’s nothing more than a building. It’s fine to call it a temple because a temple actually defines a place of worship.

Perhaps I dislike modern church services more than organized religion itself. I like the sermons and the prayers, but I can do without all the singing, especially Christian rock music. Regardless of the music, I never sing along.

Christian Organizations

To be a true Christian organization, whether it’s a specific denomination or sect, it must follow biblical principles. Any organization that condones or promotes behavior considered sinful isn’t a Christian organization, regardless of what else it preaches. The Episcopal Church is one such organization. That particular organization came to my attention when the president and vice-president, and their families, attended the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral on January 21. The “bishop” said this to the president:

“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives. And the people who pick our crops, clean our office buildings, labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat at restaurants and work the night shifts at hospitals, they may not be citizens, or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”

What she said was wrong and disrespectful. Children, who have not been indoctrinated or groomed by others, have no capacity to be homosexual or transgender. They do not need mercy. The president is not going after all immigrants, only those that are in the United States illegally. Being in the United States illegally is, in itself, a crime. They do not deserve mercy.

Homosexuality

The definition of sin is a transgression of divine law. Various verses in the bible make it clear that homosexuality is a sin:

• Leviticus 18:22
• Leviticus 20:13
• Romans 1:26

I could cite related verses, but those alone make the point. Any religious organization that condones homosexuality isn’t a true Christian organization. While I can’t tell you which ones, some of them even have homosexual pastors. We can accept most people who practice homosexuality without condoning it, but not supposed Christian religious leaders.

Place of Worship

A lot of people think Jesus started a religion. He didn’t. Jesus was born a Jew, in the religion of Judaism. He started a church, which means an organized body of believers. Christianity, as a new religion, began after Jesus died. During his lifetime, he never designated a place of worship. After his death, believers would gather in each other’s homes for fellowship and prayer.

In Matthew 18:20 (NASB), Jesus stated, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” This literally means that a place of worship can be almost anywhere. A fancy building isn’t necessary, and a large congregation isn’t required. I only go to a place of worship when Josie wants me to go with her. It’s more likely that the two of us will engage in prayer at home, or at one of our children’s homes.

Writing About Politics and Religion

There are people who specialize in writing about politics or religion, or both. I am not one of them. Way back in the 1990s, when I ran a bulletin board service, I quickly learned the easiest way to start an argument was by allowing politics and religion on the message boards. Since then, I’ve refrained from writing about either one for as long as possible.

Even if only a handful of people ever read this blog, I now think it’s time to spread the word. Things in this world aren’t getting better, and we can make a place for ourselves beyond it by following the word.

Image by Fibonacci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. This article was updated on February 11, 2025.