Food for thought:
- Take the incredible idea of a King who loves me so much that He’d be willing to die for me…
- In a culture that is structured around hierarchy and authority…
- Add a sense of unworthiness and isolation (which seems almost inherent in western humanity)…
It’s a perfect recipe, no?
I feel unworthy, unlovable. The work (therapy) to heal that, to grow up, can be far harder than surrendering to a belief system that:
1. validates me (paradoxically) by validating my sense of unworthiness (“depravity and sinful nature of mankind…”)
2. offers a savior; a way out; a way to be worthy, and right; a way to be better than my old self, and, by the way, better than others; a way to be accepted into the inner circle
I chose to rewrite all that in the “I” voice, aiming for integrity. I don’t want anyone evangelizing me, and I’m not trying to reverse evangelize anyone out of their faith. But as I puzzle over my own brief foray into evangelical Christianity, some pieces of the story — both my own small story and the larger Story — offer possible patterns.
The above recipe is one such possible pattern.
a word in small letters 
So I’m just going to hit “Like” on everything you write, ok? 🙂 Yeah. “Original Sin” is one of those tangential beliefs I let go of. At least the way I think most people understand it. You described the dynamic above really, really beautifully and succinctly. Thank you so much for your continued insight, vulnerability, and honesty.
Totally unexpected gift. Thanks, Meghan!
And- the words of Jesus can be read to describe a Way completely opposite to this- but that needs a view of the Bible as showing a growth in the understanding of God, rather than as static.
mmmm Yes. Yes! I suspect much has been lost or missed of all that the Jesus person offered by example and teaching. I grieve that many — both over the years and today — who embrace the label of Christianity seem to have actually closed the door to what was offered. Myself, I found that I needed to shed the label in order to be more open to it. I’m not at a place today where I can separate the bible from the religion in my mind/heart enough to read it, but I imagine that day will come.
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