"I think the church really messed up Christianity. Jesus was all about love. If you know love and spread love, you've got it. The Bible is really a love song to humanity. But the church warped that and made it about something else, so far from God and Jesus."
Many people probably agree with this young man's statement. There is a lot of truth in it. But the truth has little to do with the "church" as it does with people. EVERY institution that involves human beings is messed up. Why do we think the Church would be different?
What should be said is "People really messed up Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, government, families, parenting, baseball, on-line gaming,and the internet. God gave us love. If you know love and spread love, you've got it. Creation and yes even the Bible is really a love song. But human beings warped that and made it all about something else, so far from how God intended and Jesus taught."
This is what the likes of Bill Maher, Richard Dawkins and Annie Laurie Gaylor just do not understand - no matter the institution, human beings will twist it to suit their own need for power. Just look at Maher on his show, he is just a different kind of fundamentalist, twisting language to mock and score points in some made up game. He is no different than the fundamentalists he dismisses.
No, it is no surprise that the Church struggles to follow the way of Christ. It is hard to spread love among the human species when all they know is point keeping and violence (both physical and verbal). What we need is less finger pointing and more self reflection and humility. This is where the Church is at its best - offering forgiveness in a world that just wants to punish or run away.
The young man gets it, I just hope he still commits himself to a community that practices what he preaches.
