GothiqueFae’s Weblog

An excellent discussion of suicide, the actual blog as well as the comments.

Suicide and Christianity « Experiencing the Journey…Rindy Walton

So I went to a new church this morning, new being a relative term considering I just moved and all churches are now new.  Anyway so after attending this church and listening to this pastor I have come to a conclusion that I reached a long time ago but am just now putting it into words.  The worship service or music or whatever is the Best Part of the whole entire service!!!  So the “message” was about hope.  Okay, no problem so far.  “Hope isn’t (or rather shouldn’t be) wishful thinking or a ‘hopeful’ feeling that things will go a certain way even though we have no control.”  Oookay…hmmm…surely there’s more to “hope” than that?

Oh wait here we are, “hope isn’t something we do it’s something we can have.” Newsflash, extra, extra!!!  Read all about it, time to add hope to the unending list of things that we, as Christians, are supposed to strive after.  And man if we don’t achieve hope we might as well write ourselves a one-way ticket to the deep, dark, down-there place.  And if that isn’t enough “hope is also the confident expectation that God is willing and able to fulfill His promises to us.”  Alright nothing wrong with that on principle…yeah I have confidence that my God is able and willing to fulfill His promises…but something doesn’t sit right.  Where, oh where have I heard this kind of thing before?  Oh yeah, it’s called “confession” and not like the Catholic confession…no this form of confession is claiming something as yours because it “says” in the Bible that you are entitled.   EH!!!!  Wrongo!!!!  And while I agree that our Ultimate Hope as people lies with God, I’m just not sure that I like how this pastor has presented it.

And here’s another delightful thing…”As we begin the new year we need to spend more time with God (Sure we should always be looking to do that, no matter what year we’re in) so on the back table is a one-year new testament Bible to help you fulfill that goal.”  WHAT?  Okay nothing wrong with becoming more familiar with the Bible BUT spending time “in the Word” doesn’t automatically equate to spending time with God of the Universe.

Anyway, I’m sure this will offend some people and I know it looks like I don’t have anything good to say about this church……their music was awesome and even though I sound very angry in the above I will probably go back to this church.  As I said I didn’t disagree with everything I just don’t agree with everything and no matter what church I go to that will be the case.  So…whatever.