So judgement day did not come…surprise, surprise! Admittedly on Saturday I felt a little like Jack Bower and time was ticking away wondering if this was it?! On that lovely Saturday morning I was scheduled in at work and we had a planned a doomsday party – after all if the world was going to end you wouldn’t want to spend it at work not having fun, right? We counted down and nothing happened, the lovely dude even called right on the hour just to check in. All that hype and money spent for absolutely nothing!
I have to wonder what they were thinking, they spent a total of $100 million dollars on an across the globe marketing campaign. For Harold Camping’s followers that must be a complete buzz kill and a slight disappointment! Better go find a new church guys cause yours just went bankrupt!
What could $100 million dollars do…a lot! I have to wonder what Jesus would say about such a situation. Forget about the typical church rants (same sex marriage, abortion, scientific research – IVF, Stem Cells, doctrinal issues) there are people starving and suffering in this world, people who need the care of someone, that money could have been spent on something good.
I wonder how many lives could have been changed if they used that money on people and not billboards. Currently in my life I would classify myself as a non-believer. As a child and young adult I had so many bad church experiences that have stayed with me till now. I have been hurt by a lot of “church” people. It sucks cause the whole idea of religion in my mind is to care for and love people.
I found this picture online and there are more than a few people from my past that I could give this to!
Unil the next doomsday...
Have a great week friends!!!
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16 comments:
Haha I cracked up reading this!! Thanks for sharing! Glad you had fun with "the end of the world" this past weekend;) We spent it at the beach - hadn't been to one in awhile so that was on our bucket list.
Hilarious post! I've had very bad church experiences as well, I finally had to repeat to myself over and over, church is made of humans and we're all flawed! But it is seriously more disappointing when someone in the church lets you down (I'm currently watching that in a co-worker-I work at a church--go figure!). This does not help my husband who is struggling with his faith--again disappointment!! Those clips are hilarious!!! Thanks for sharing!
I kept looking at my watch that day too, not that I believed the world would come to an end but more so I could take a deep breath that it wasn't! I love someecards!!
I agree on the church obsessions! I so wish they'd spend more time practicing what Jesus preached instead of what they do. I am a Christan but I struggle with religion for this exact reason!
I am so tired of people complaining about the church. Guess what? The church is made up of PEOPLE. Fallible, imperfect people who need a Savior. So of course we get it wrong sometimes. By the way, the church does funnel billions of dollars into missions and helping the poor and hungry. So until there are no more starving people we're not allowed to comment on things we think are wrong? I'm very surprised that as a woman struggling with infertility you would have such a permissive attitude about abortion. Did you know that there are under 20 adoptions in Saskatchewan every year, yet there are 36 abortion A WEEK? Can you imagine how many infertile couples could be blessed with a child if more women gave their unwanted babies the gift of life? The church doesn't complain about these issues to be difficult or judgmental. We do it because we are fighting for what we think is right. Why is passion only a bad thing for Christians? I can accept criticism from the world at large, but I am really sick of Christians mocking Christianity. Get on board or get off.
Wow!! You hit the nail on the head with this one. I totally agree with this from start to finish.
P.S.
Hope the party was fun.
Rhonda
oooh looks like you upset someone! I'm pretty sure by saying you're a non-believer, you're not really a Christian mocking Christianity...in fact I don't feel that you mocked it period...one person (or a group of people) that spread this message isn't representative of all Christians so I don't see how you were mocking all Christians...but whatever.
Also, suffering from infertility doesn't have anything to do with one's views on abortion...wanting a baby doesn't mean that you have a right pass judgement on the decision of others...
I could say a lot more but I don't think there is really any point. I'm not in any way religious but that doesn't mean I haven't studied religion(s) in my life and near as I can tell this "event" is not meant to be predicted or known by people...so it seems somewhat unfaithful to claim to have figured it out.
Beckie, I'm sorry that you are probably now having another negative experience to add to your list.
Unashamed, I think you have taken a few liberties in your last statement. First off, I am not sure where I ever said that abortion is right. The injustices in this world fucking piss me off to no end. With that being said abortion is always going to be around, it always has been.
I also really enjoy how you imply that infertile couples would actually be able to have those babies – we all know that if given the chance, a couple like myself would take them ALL in a instant. I would love them like they were my own. All of that is irrelevant though and this is why I feel so angry when I talk to people who say shit like this – offering trite advice to prove what
It would be nice if we lived in a world full of rainbows and butterflies…but we don’t! The real fact is that adoption is messy and takes years – which I am assuming you know nothing about.
Don’t come here and throw useless figures at me. I was talking about this event not Christianity as a whole and I was sharing my PERSONAL experience with the church, obviously others have had there day as well. Of course there are great people in some churches – my friend C is one of them! Just like outside of the church there are good and bad people.
It is not wrong to be passionate but it is not right to let that passion hurt others especially in the name of someone else.
As I stated earlier I am off the board so you need not judge me cause I am not one of you!
Also...Do I know you in real life - I am thinking I probably do????
Dear Unashamed of Christ,
Unashamed of Christ said...
“I am so tired of people complaining about the church. Guess what? The church is made up of PEOPLE. Fallible, imperfect people who need a Savoir.” – The problem with this statement is that these people think they are above being “Fallible, imperfect people who need a Savoir” once they fell they are walking with him. Often when you start going to a church the “members” often make you fell lower and unworthy of being in the “house of the Lord” with them. Many Christians (not all) believe if they are saying they are doing XYZ in the name of their savoir they get a free pass on their action even if it is against the moral teachings.
“So of course we get it wrong sometimes.” - But the average Joe learns from there mistake, the church as a whole tends to repeat their errors over and over again. Many of the church’s past mistakes are the same mistake they make today and will make again tomorrow.
“By the way, the church does funnel billions of dollars into missions and helping the poor and hungry”. – I agree but at the same time Camping’s supporters used/lost their own money not his Churches money. A man from NY City spent $120,000 plus to make signs and such. Yes they NY an holds lots of responsibility for choosing to use his savings for this but at the same time so does Camping for asking followers to fund this second fail judgement day.
part 2
“So until there are no more starving people we're not allowed to comment on things we think are wrong? I'm very surprised that as a woman struggling with infertility you would have such a permissive attitude about abortion. Did you know that there are under 20 adoptions in Saskatchewan every year, yet there are 36 abortion A WEEK? Can you imagine how many infertile couples could be blessed with a child if more women gave their unwanted babies the gift of life” Why should only couples dealing with infertility, adopted why shouldn’t every couple wanting a child try to adopted. Just because you can have children doesn’t mean you should pop one out. How many children would have wonderful homes if every young couple adopted one of these children that are being paid for by the provinces? Do you want to know why more children are not being adopted? It’s because as a society we give birth-mothers every chance to be a good mother, even when she is not a person that should be taking care of herself. Hey Unashamed of Christ how many children have you adopted, or how many years have you spent waiting for a child?
‘The church doesn't complain about these issues to be difficult or judgmental.”Are you sure about this? Would you like re-state this maybe? No just to get attention and to draw their cause of the week to the forefront and often in the end the pastor’s end up with egg on their face, Mel Gibison anyone?
“We do it because we are fighting for what we think is right.” What you think is right? That is where Christians pull themselves away from society and other groups. Many Christians think they need to moral compass for all of us. They take away the free will thinking that Jesus gave to them, from everyone else.
“Why is passion only a bad thing for Christians? I can accept criticism from the world at large, but I am really sick of Christians mocking Christianity.” Passion is never a bad thing except when you start believing that your passion makes you better than everyone else. Passion is something everyone should have, about something. But when your passion becomes a moral high ground that blinds you to your own faults, it stops becoming your passion and starts to become your downfall.
“Get on board or get off” Got off a long time ago, when a Pastor’s wife told me my mom that on the edge of life and death was going to hell because she was not a Christian. By the way I was 9 at the time. I knew then people like this is not what someone needs in their life.
Well I'm heading back to bed right now, since someone who just had brain surgery should not be this upset because a friend who is nothing full of love and wonderful stuff is being attacked.
love you becks
No Beckie, you didn't say that abortion is right, but you lumped it in with a bunch of other issues you don't seem to think the church should be wasting its time on. Why do you consider the statistics on abortion irrelevant? If there were more babies available for adoption, it wouldn't be some a heart wrenching process. You're taking some liberties as well - why do you assume I don't know anything about adoption? You don't even know me or my own struggles in not being able to have children. By the way Debbs, you asked how many years I've been waiting for a child? The answer is 15 YEARS.
I'm someone who's also been terribly hurt by the church - its' hypocrisy and double standards. Why do I keep going? Because of JESUS. Why would I judge Him according to His followers? That's like not liking a band because their fans are annoying - it wouldn't change the quality of their music. Jesus is full of love and grace and forgiveness. I go because church is about Him. His love is the only thing that keeps me going, so I certainly will defend His people and His church. I agree that the Judgment Campaign was wasteful and misguided, but is it necessary to have a blog entry mocking the church because of what a small segment of believers did? You talk about Christians judging everyone, but why is it okay for you to judge Christians? You say it's okay to be passionate as long as it doesn't hurt someone...did you ever consider your comments were hurtful to me as a Christian? You're the one on the attack; I was just defending. And then I get attacked some more.
A friend recommended this blog to me thinking it would help me struggle with the pain of not being able to have children. I will not visit it again. There is way too much bitterness and anger here. I was looking for hope, understanding and acceptance. If this is your alternative to church I feel sorry for you.
What I was trying to communicate is “some” churches, not all, get stuck on those issues. There are too many to list. Yes, I feel they are sometimes given to much thought but that is my opinion. The statistics on abortion are irrelevant because what will change by providing people with statistics? You still do not have a child and either do I. Infertility is hands down a gut wrenching process, however you turn it, it sucks big time.
I am sorry I am not what you need me to be. I blog here for me. Some people share my views and others do not. I have not come to your blog or place where you share your feelings and try to debate your thoughts. I would encourage you to re-read my post as it was only talking about one church and my own experience with that church. I did not go off on some endless rant about Christianity and how they have all screwed me over. Yes, some of them have but I still have many friends who are very religious whom I respect very much. One of those people is my husband.
I assumed you knew nothing about adoption because to me abortion and adoption are not relatable. Have you seen Teen Mom on MTV? 98% of those girls keep their babies cause it is simply too hard to let them go. I am pretty sure that even if the abortion rate went down the adoption rate would not go up. I am not an economist but I am aware that if adoption was so easy and it felt good more girls would be doing so.
I am glad that you have kept your faith through this as I haven’t and that is hard. Everything in my life has been tuned upside down. If you came here for encouragement and did not find it I am sorry. I speak very freely on my blog and some of the things I talk about probably offend people occasionally. If I offended you I am sorry. I am a very caring person – none of my real friends would describe me as angry and bitter. I am just very blunt and open which is a blessing but can equally be a curse.
I am sorry you have experienced the pain of infertility and I wish you the best on your journey. Obviously I am not the one to provide you support but I do hope you find someone that can help you. Look around for some good Christian blogs to read (there are lots of good ones) as you may find help from those.
Those who are truly "unashamed" sign their own names, rather than hiding behind the anonymity of the internet when standing up for that which they believe in.
It seems to me "unashamed" that you hold on to your righteous indignation and wield it as a weapon against those who dare to offer a dissenting opinion, in order not to praise your Lord but to shame others. I would encourage you to practice your Christian doctrines and 'turn the other cheek'. Avail yourself of the little 'x' in the corner of the screen when you come across things you don't agree with. For just as it is your right to be morally indignant about these issues and opinions, it is the right of the original poster to express them as they see fit.
Hi there, dear friend! You've been on my mind lately - wondering how you're doing?;) Was remembering the other day the extremely thoughtful gifts you sent me when I was down..not sure if I ever conveyed this to you but I was REALLY, REALLY touched by your thoughtfulness and your sweet gesture. Your package just made my day!! Thank you so much. Hope you are well. ((HUGS))
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