Katz's Korner - questions on Christian practices, ethics & morality

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8 Querulous Questions

1) How comfortable are you? 5) Are you sanctified? Or merely sanctimonious?

2) "Judge not" is a cop-out 6) Oh my heavens, that's SOME ugly baby!

3) Beware the mousetrap 7) The pastor knocks (Quick -- change the TV channel!)

4) "Hi there beloved" (Bonk! Slash! Bang!) 8) "Christian Right" (Or is it "Christian Wrong?")

-->A visitor disagrees with Katz's #8

Meet the Katz

My name is Katz and, yes, I am a believer on Jesus Christ.

I love the Lord and His church but I have a few questions about some of the stuff that passes for Christianity nowadays.

Some folks might say my questions are stupid or irritating.
Okay, maybe they're right. Or is it that they don't want to face the choice between (a) giving an embarrassingly honest answer, or (b) telling an outright lie?
What about you? Will you read my "irritating" questions and answer them honestly? If I am too cynical, will you tell me so, and say why? If my views are right or wrong, will you tell me so, and say why? I hope so -- REALLY!

#1 -- How comfortable are you?

#2 -- "Judge not" is a cop-out

Isn't it rather odd that we Christians can comfortably drive past homeless people on the streets as we go to our beautiful churches with central heating and air-conditioning?

Isn't it equally odd that our churches have purchased really nice robes for our choirs while, outside our doors, people are freezing to death because they lack warm clothing? It interests me that some Christians make the most outlandish statements and then, if you disagree with them, they draw back in self-righteous indignation and say, "You're being judgmental."

#3 -- Mousetrap

#4 -- "Hi there beloved Christian"
(Bonk! Slash! Bang!)

Have you ever noticed that when certain Christians ask you a Bible question, they aren't really looking for an answer? No, what they are really after is to "lay their trip on you" and start an argument. Have you ever noticed that some Christians are very kind to unbelievers but downright vicious toward other Christians who disagree with them on such things as which Bible translation is the best, how you should be baptized, and so forth?

I often watch with dismay and amazement as Christian theologians and teachers use the sword of God's word to rip each other to shreds.

#5 -- Are you sanctified?
(Or merely sanctimonious?)

#6 -- Oh my heavens, that is SOME ugly baby!

I'll almost guarantee that you act differently when you're in church than you do around regular people. Am I right or wrong? Should you tell a white lie to keep from hurting someone's feelings?

#7 -- The pastor knocks.
Quick -- change the TV channel!

Do you need advance notice when your pastor comes to visit?

Maybe to get certain beverages out of your refrigerator?
Or to whisk away those ashtrays?
Or to hide certain magazines?
And oh, by the way... what would Jesus find if He checked out the contents of your garbage can?

#8 -- The "Christian Right" (or is it the "Christian wrong?")

(a) It just makes me sick that so many Christians want to impose their code of morality on the public by passing laws.

In the Bible I don't see Jesus or His disciples forming any "Coalitions."
Neither do I see where Jesus asked for money to change laws or overthrow the people who ruled in those days.

(b) Not that there weren't a lot of bad conditions that needed changing.

For example, people owned slaves in those days -- just read Ephesians 6.5-9 and the book of Philemon.
But Jesus never preached about politics.
Jesus didn't say people needed better laws in order to enter the kingdom of God. No, He said they needed a new spirit (John 3.3-7).
(c) Nowhere in the Bible can I find any verse where Jesus taught that Christians should form political groups.

Jesus sent us into the world to bear witness of Him and preach the Gospel (Mt 28.18-20).

The gospel's purpose is to change people from the INSIDE by re-birth into the family of God, and NOT to attempt the hopeless task of changing them from the outside by passing laws.

Sad to say, many Americans nowadays are coming to see Christianity as a political movement rather than a message of hope and salvation.

In my view, we Christians ought to give our money to missions that preach the gospel, and not to "coalitions" that purvey a political agenda.

What do you think?

A Visitor's Comments
Concerning Katz's 8th Point

Mark F writes -
I'm with you on the eight points you discuss, but the comments given with number eight bother me a bit.

Please allow some constructive criticism.

Christians do indeed want to impose our morality on the public. Actually, that's not completely correct. The fact is, it already has been imposed on them. What we are trying to do is prevent it from being removed.
Our laws originally were based upon Christian morality. They keep straying from it.
People hesitate to make a stand because issues are sometimes not clear-cut. I'm sure you'd have no problem attempting to impose our morality on the public if there was an effort underway to make murder legal.

Your example of slavery is a bit misleading.

There were slaves in those days, but not all slavery was immoral in the sense that it was in the pre-Civil War south.
There was no welfare system back then, so becoming a slave for a while to pay off your debts was the only option available to some people.
Many slaves were beloved by their masters. Just one example is Abraham's servant, Eliezer, who was to inherit his entire kingdom had Abraham not had any children.

While we are to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's," we should not, when given a choice, choose immorally.

For example, if one political candidate is a Christian and the other is an atheist, for whom do you think God would want you to vote?
We should be change agents in the culture, whenever possible.

All your points are well-taken. Just thought I'd let you know that some of the explanations may be getting across a message you didn't intend to convey.

Thanks for your page. God bless.

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8 Querulous Questions
1) How comfortable are you?		5) Are you sanctified? Or merely sanctimonious?
2) "Judge not" is a cop-out		6) Oh my heavens, that's SOME ugly baby!
3) Beware the mousetrap		7) The pastor knocks (Quick -- change the TV channel!)
4) "Hi there beloved" (Bonk! Slash! Bang!)		8) "Christian Right" (Or is it "Christian Wrong?")
-->A visitor disagrees with Katz's #8


#1 -- How comfortable are you?		#2 -- "Judge not" is a cop-out
Isn't it rather odd that we Christians can comfortably drive past homeless people on the streets as we go to our beautiful churches with central heating and air-conditioning? Isn't it equally odd that our churches have purchased really nice robes for our choirs while, outside our doors, people are freezing to death because they lack warm clothing?		It interests me that some Christians make the most outlandish statements and then, if you disagree with them, they draw back in self-righteous indignation and say, "You're being judgmental."

#3 -- Mousetrap		#4 -- "Hi there beloved Christian" (Bonk! Slash! Bang!)
Have you ever noticed that when certain Christians ask you a Bible question, they aren't really looking for an answer? No, what they are really after is to "lay their trip on you" and start an argument.		Have you ever noticed that some Christians are very kind to unbelievers but downright vicious toward other Christians who disagree with them on such things as which Bible translation is the best, how you should be baptized, and so forth? I often watch with dismay and amazement as Christian theologians and teachers use the sword of God's word to rip each other to shreds.

#5 -- Are you sanctified? (Or merely sanctimonious?)		#6 -- Oh my heavens, that is SOME ugly baby!
I'll almost guarantee that you act differently when you're in church than you do around regular people. Am I right or wrong?		Should you tell a white lie to keep from hurting someone's feelings?

#7 -- The pastor knocks. Quick -- change the TV channel!
Do you need advance notice when your pastor comes to visit? Maybe to get certain beverages out of your refrigerator? Or to whisk away those ashtrays? Or to hide certain magazines?		And oh, by the way... what would Jesus find if He checked out the contents of your garbage can?

#8 -- The "Christian Right" (or is it the "Christian wrong?")
(a) It just makes me sick that so many Christians want to impose their code of morality on the public by passing laws. In the Bible I don't see Jesus or His disciples forming any "Coalitions." Neither do I see where Jesus asked for money to change laws or overthrow the people who ruled in those days. (b) Not that there weren't a lot of bad conditions that needed changing. For example, people owned slaves in those days -- just read Ephesians 6.5-9 and the book of Philemon. But Jesus never preached about politics. Jesus didn't say people needed better laws in order to enter the kingdom of God. No, He said they needed a new spirit (John 3.3-7).		(c) Nowhere in the Bible can I find any verse where Jesus taught that Christians should form political groups. Jesus sent us into the world to bear witness of Him and preach the Gospel (Mt 28.18-20). The gospel's purpose is to change people from the INSIDE by re-birth into the family of God, and NOT to attempt the hopeless task of changing them from the outside by passing laws. Sad to say, many Americans nowadays are coming to see Christianity as a political movement rather than a message of hope and salvation. In my view, we Christians ought to give our money to missions that preach the gospel, and not to "coalitions" that purvey a political agenda. What do you think?