You get to a point where you no longer take everything you are told and taught for the only answer. You learn how to question and investigate things for yourself. Instead of maintaining a shallow and restricted view you instead have broadened your understanding of your world view. You read and study and learn how to explain your own reasoning's and why you stand behind what you do. This can be basically anything which presents a controversial aspect or view.
For example take the tattoos and piercings argument whether it is sinful or okay. I say if you want a tattoo don't make it unwholesome but go for it, and if you want a lip ring or something alright that's fine too. Now people especially what I view as those who want 'cookie cutter Christians' and think in the 'Americanized Christian' way would say I am completely wrong. Their support almost always taken from Leviticus. Well I can give a counter argument for that Leviticus source. It's Old Covenant not New Covenant. When Jesus came he established a New Covenant want to know about that try reading the new testament, I especially suggest focusing on Jesus' teachings directly and also read Romans. Leviticus was written to the Jews for that time frame under the old law...I am not a Jew I am not from that time frame and I am under the laws given to us through the grace of Jesus. Not just that point but if you read further in Leviticus right around that very area where it is stated there are many laws which we do not follow anymore. How can you okay picking and choosing verses you can't! If you go about things in that way then the very foundation and holy aspect of the scriptures can be undermined. Because of studying on my own and finding those conclusions I now will gladly support tattoos and piercings, you aren't going to Hell for it and you aren't disobeying any command from God.
Did I always think that way? No I didn't. A big reason was because I was always more than willing to simply listen to whatever I was taught. I now jokingly call it being 'brainwashed'. Not questioning led me to at one point in my life frown upon anyone who swore, wanted tattoos, had piercings, or in some cases were what would be considered 'unchurched' or 'dirty'. That view minimized my ability to reach out to people and have as great of an impact on today's society. My Christian school, and many other Christian influences shut me down whenever I bring up these controversial issues, so instead I turned to my own researching and studying.
The traditional view that is held by many Christians today. or what I refer to as 'Americanized Christians', I would place being in the range of late thirties through to senior citizens, is in contrast to mine. Those opinions continuing to be held in my opinion can in part be held responsible for the current condition of my generation today. This youth feels like they are viewed only as 'dirty' and being of 'lesser worth' than those considered to be 'good Christians' and 'well churched'. How do those 'good Christians' expect to ever make an impact and help those hurting in this generation if they intend to waste their time harping on them about tattoos and piercings. That becoming their main target to 'shape them into perfect cookie cutter church Christians' pushes the important issues to a back burner. They'll help answer their questions about God, or Jesus, or life in general after they fit 'their perfect mold'.
I'll be honest for a long time I agreed with what they felt was 'bad'. Now my opinion has changed and it is because of the people I met. I realized that they weren't 'bad sinners' they were people. They were hurting and looking for answers but I watched 'church people' stand back and discuss what they needed to 'fix' or 'change' first. I realized I didn't keep the same views anymore and to begin with I thought maybe I was wrong but no I've really put a lot of research into this.
So yeah I still love those people around me who may continue to keep these, in my opinion, misguided views. I am not surprised so many people hold those views because it is what the 'Americanized church' or 'Americanized Christian' has become. It is sad though especially when I see it turning people away from the church more often then changing lives for the better.
So no I don't get 'brainwashed' anymore and I don't simply accept everything without ever questioning. After all the 'Reformation' stressed the point of the people accepting whatever was taught to them because they didn't know better. Come on people wake up! We do know better we have the resources and still we blindly follow! I've grown up! Have you?
For example take the tattoos and piercings argument whether it is sinful or okay. I say if you want a tattoo don't make it unwholesome but go for it, and if you want a lip ring or something alright that's fine too. Now people especially what I view as those who want 'cookie cutter Christians' and think in the 'Americanized Christian' way would say I am completely wrong. Their support almost always taken from Leviticus. Well I can give a counter argument for that Leviticus source. It's Old Covenant not New Covenant. When Jesus came he established a New Covenant want to know about that try reading the new testament, I especially suggest focusing on Jesus' teachings directly and also read Romans. Leviticus was written to the Jews for that time frame under the old law...I am not a Jew I am not from that time frame and I am under the laws given to us through the grace of Jesus. Not just that point but if you read further in Leviticus right around that very area where it is stated there are many laws which we do not follow anymore. How can you okay picking and choosing verses you can't! If you go about things in that way then the very foundation and holy aspect of the scriptures can be undermined. Because of studying on my own and finding those conclusions I now will gladly support tattoos and piercings, you aren't going to Hell for it and you aren't disobeying any command from God.
Did I always think that way? No I didn't. A big reason was because I was always more than willing to simply listen to whatever I was taught. I now jokingly call it being 'brainwashed'. Not questioning led me to at one point in my life frown upon anyone who swore, wanted tattoos, had piercings, or in some cases were what would be considered 'unchurched' or 'dirty'. That view minimized my ability to reach out to people and have as great of an impact on today's society. My Christian school, and many other Christian influences shut me down whenever I bring up these controversial issues, so instead I turned to my own researching and studying.
The traditional view that is held by many Christians today. or what I refer to as 'Americanized Christians', I would place being in the range of late thirties through to senior citizens, is in contrast to mine. Those opinions continuing to be held in my opinion can in part be held responsible for the current condition of my generation today. This youth feels like they are viewed only as 'dirty' and being of 'lesser worth' than those considered to be 'good Christians' and 'well churched'. How do those 'good Christians' expect to ever make an impact and help those hurting in this generation if they intend to waste their time harping on them about tattoos and piercings. That becoming their main target to 'shape them into perfect cookie cutter church Christians' pushes the important issues to a back burner. They'll help answer their questions about God, or Jesus, or life in general after they fit 'their perfect mold'.
I'll be honest for a long time I agreed with what they felt was 'bad'. Now my opinion has changed and it is because of the people I met. I realized that they weren't 'bad sinners' they were people. They were hurting and looking for answers but I watched 'church people' stand back and discuss what they needed to 'fix' or 'change' first. I realized I didn't keep the same views anymore and to begin with I thought maybe I was wrong but no I've really put a lot of research into this.
So yeah I still love those people around me who may continue to keep these, in my opinion, misguided views. I am not surprised so many people hold those views because it is what the 'Americanized church' or 'Americanized Christian' has become. It is sad though especially when I see it turning people away from the church more often then changing lives for the better.
So no I don't get 'brainwashed' anymore and I don't simply accept everything without ever questioning. After all the 'Reformation' stressed the point of the people accepting whatever was taught to them because they didn't know better. Come on people wake up! We do know better we have the resources and still we blindly follow! I've grown up! Have you?
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