“On Being A Liberal AND A Christian”
By Cody Williams
I
try my best two refrains myself from writing on two subjects. The two subjects
are politics and religion. I read an article recently by journalist Doug Giles
called “You Can Be A Christian Or A Liberal, But Not Both.” I read it because I
was interested in what he had to say on the subject. After reading the article,
I can honestly say that it is complete and total bullshit!
I
can honestly say that I am not what most people would consider a traditional
Christian. Some people may even describe me a “Christianish.” The fact is I am not
Christianish. I just have a different way of thinking of things. I attend
Carson-Newman University, which is a Baptist Liberal Arts college. With that
being said, I can say that I don’t agree with most people here about religion.
With that being said, I have never been that religious. I can’t quote the book
as many people here can. I can’t quote the chapter or the verse. There are some
hardcore Baptists here. But I have met people who are in the same boat as me
and are not that religious.
People tell me
time after time that you can’t be both a liberal and a Christian. My question
is why. Why can’t I be both? I have been an independent for some time in
politics until recently. Now, I would absolutely align myself with the
Libertarian Party. This shocks many people because Christians are seen as very conservative
people, or Republicans if you will. They are more closed-minded than myself.
I’ll be honest; I don’t go to church that often. In fact, I usually don’t go
unless the choir is giving a recital or I am performing. Many people see
problems in this. They believe strictly in the Bible.
Here’s my take on
this (and don’t cutter me with angry messages when I say this) I do NOT believe
that the Bible is the word of God. I do believe that God may have inspired it.
However, let’s be honest, the bible was written by man. Nothing more, nothing
less. I tend to piss people off when I say God actually had very little to do
with the Bible. Lets face it, who’s to say that some editor has not altered the
Bible? The possibility of that happening is very real. In fact, it’s almost garneted.
What I said above
was a very liberal statement. Does that make me any less Christian? I do
believe in God! I just don’t believe in the same God that many people believe
in. The problem with sticking so closely to the Bible is that it portrays God
as a dictator type of God. It portrays God as an egotistical maniac who is just
in it for himself. It states that God is just in it to benefit himself. Like
when people say, “everything happens for a reason” at a funeral. That implies
something horrible about our God. It implies that God is killing off his
creation for his own reasoning. That’s a horrible thing to think about God
isn’t it?
The God I believe
in is a bit less Old Testament. I believe in a God that has a sense of humor. A
God that is modest! One that does not force one to worship him. Isn’t that the
way a God should be looked at? That was also a very liberal statement. Does
that make me any less Christian? I think not!
*This essay is the opinions of Cody
Williams alone and should not be taken to heart. It’s just a difference in
belief.
Copyright 2013 by Cody Williams
Courtesy of TTP Entertainment
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