Is Christianity good for the world?

I have a paper to write, a design project to work on, three chapters to read, internship applications to send off, a Spanish project to work on, another blog to update, three stories to edit, and an 8 mile run to make up. But you know what? I'm taking this time to do something I love and haven't done since December of 2010. Blog!! :)

Today's blog is about something that struck my interest yesterday. On my way to the library to print off my much stressed about Media Kit for my design class, a large poster with several people standing in front of it caught my eye. The people were in line to write on it. At the top of the board in bold letters was this question: Is Christianity good for the world?

What an excellent question.

As a Christian, the natural answer should be yes. So why did it take me a few minutes to figure out whether I actually agree with that answer?

I began thinking about all the problems and situations I have faced and have seen others face in the 21 years I've been alive. I have seen both great acts of kindness and great acts of hatred. I have learned of people doing amazing and courageous things for the sake of others. I have also learned of some pretty horrendous things. Things like World War II and the Holocaust to child molestation to murder to discrimination, and the list goes on. As these things ran through my head I had to ask myself, "Does Christianity really solve these problems? Is Christianity good for the world?"

I'll tell you right now that I came to believe that yes, Christianity is good for the world. But...I believe there are a lot of Christians out there that are not.

I just read about a gay man who paid to go on the date night at the Creation museum in Kentucky, but was kicked out after the "bouncers" or whoever they were learned it was him and his partner, not a straight couple. This made me want to throw up. What bothered me even more is that when his friends said that it wasn't very Christian to exclude people, in which the "bouncer" replied, "How Christian is it to be gay?"

Eek. What a great question. Because clearly in Romans it says: "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due."

And in First Corinthians it says: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."

And the list of Biblical references to why homosexuality is a sin goes on and on and on.

BUT...

Did not Jesus die for our sins? Isn't it true that if I get jealous I've committed as much of a sin as someone who is gay? But thankfully, out of the utmost act of love, haven't those sins been washed away?

Right. I do believe that Jesus died for our sins, regardless of what they are and how horrible they may be. But the bouncers weren't playing Jesus. They weren't playing forgiveness. They were trying to play God. They saw homosexuality as a sin that can't be forgiven. So they kicked the men out.

And that's where I think Christianity is "bad" for the world. Because of the Christians who think they can play God and tell us what's right and what's wrong.

I can give you a whole list of these things. People who stand outside abortion clinics (which, for the record, some women have to get an abortion done because the baby isn't going to make it and keeping it inside her could potentially kill the mother - is it right for Christians to guilt those who don't have a choice?) You can check out a clip of what I'm talking about here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEFWDYB0rWo

Or the Christians who want to burn Qurans (because burning another religion's Bible is going to win them over). The Christians who judge. The Christians who think they're better than other Christians. The Christians that tell you you're praying wrong or you'll go to hell if you miss church. The Christians that chastise you for having sex before marriage. The Christians that I hear about that make me cringe - because they're making Christianity look so horrendously bad.

I'm not helping. Pointing out other Christian's flaws isn't exactly proving the point I'm trying to make. And these Christians are right - there are clearly things the Bible says are wrong and we shouldn't do. But does that mean we hold those sins against them? What exactly is the point I'm trying to make?

It goes back to what I've blogged about several times before. Christianity is about love. I really believe it's that simple. Jesus lived His life showing His love for others and for God. He didn't throw a stone at the prostitute. In fact he made others realize how they couldn't throw a stone because stones needed to be thrown at them. He forgave. He died for those who were against Him. He was the only person I believe to ever walk this earth and really show the meaning of love.

If all Christians were like Jesus, I would never have to write a blog about whether Christianity is good for the world. It's sad that I have to think about it because of the people representing this belief (myself included).

As Gandhi once said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

That makes me want to cry. Because it's true.

(For the record, there are several Christians out there that are good for the world, that really represent what Christianity is all about. They show forgiveness and they show love. I don't want people to read this and believe that I think all Christians are bad. That's not the case. The problem I see here is that those true Christians are far and few when you look at all of the Christians in the world. And that's what really upsets me. The majority of Christians aren't representing Christ - and I am one of them).