MODERN TIMES AND THE TRIVIALIZATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

MODERN TIMES

AND THE TRIVIALIZATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

There is a trend on social media of 'questioning Christianity'. And I find it very interesting! We should question everything and everyone! We should question political and religious leaders, question these 'absolute Truths' that have 'imprisoned' us for generations. But what intrigues me is people who have never been to church, never attended Sunday school, never paid tithes/offerings, never participated in social action in their communities, questioning the faith of a Christian. Now, what I have seen most is ex-Christians making little videos 'bashing' the church (as a whole) and the Bible. And the question I ask is: Do you often see people linked to other beliefs and religions criticizing and questioning their places of worship and leaders? Probably not! Once I was with an acquaintance, who follows a religion of African origin, and we were talking about cases of pedophilia and rape involving pastors. She was outraged (with good reason!). After a few minutes of conversation, I showed her the various cases of priests involved in this crime and asked her: 'Why don't you share it on your social networks?'. Her answer was: 'Why would I?'. My maternal grandfather - Zé do Poço - a fervent Christian, used to say that church fights are not shared with the world; they are discussed internally. But we Christians may not have this sense. We ourselves give others the opportunity to talk about us. As soon as we see an 'abnormal' event in our institutions, we raise our fingers and point it out, publicize it. Is that right? I think so. Christians have to be transparent. But shouldn't we try to protect ourselves more? In Brazil, there is no persecution of Christianity, there is no Christophobia. But a part of the left has been saying on social networks that: 1. Church is an inappropriate place; 2. Pastors are criminals; 3. All Christians are fundamentalists, false moralists and coup plotters. I know that Christians are often annoying, they always want to show a certain superiority. And that irritates me! There are some Christians who have an ego, who put themselves on a pedestal: 'I follow Christ! I follow the Truth!'. There are Christians who think they are the epitome of morality. And, to make matters worse, in recent years politics has entered the churches. What used to be a holy place (or at least tried to be), has now, in some cases, become an electoral corral. And, yes, that irritates others. But what I have seen on the networks is a militant group wanting to trivialize the Christian faith.
 
So, Christians, study! Study the Bible, Christianity, Theology, study other religions. Others are on their way and you are in a bubble. Access other levels of knowledge! Don't limit yourself to what your leader says. Why? So that when someone comes to confront you, you have arguments, you don't stay on the surface. Study Politics! Stop being political cattle, regardless of whether you are right or left! Stop being pawns of leaders, ministers. I am not here telling you not to listen to your leaders. Your leaders are leaders for a reason and should be listened to. But they are not the absolute Truth. And finally: Christians, occupy public/political spaces, but know that your goal is not the good of the church; the goal is the common good (of all)! Brothers in Christ, get out of your comfort zone!
 

A hug!

Raphael Paiva