These four weeks have awakened a re-energized capacity, a revitalized faith and a restructure of morality. I know, some may believe that the second the word moral kicks in, it's red state/right-wing/gun toting/bible thumping republican. Believe me, there's nothing moral about them or democrats. The two party system, as Lewis Black says, "is a bowl of s*** looking itself in the mirror". Matter of fact, here are some definitions of the word:
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.
2. expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work; moralizing: a moral novel.
3. founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom: moral obligations.
4. capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct: a moral being.
5. conforming to the rules of right conduct (opposed to immoral): a moral man.
6. virtuous in sexual matters; chaste.
7. of, pertaining to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character: moral support.
8. resting upon convincing grounds of probability; virtual: a moral certainty.
The problem we face today is that with things like "mores" and how we ourselves define what's right or wrong, there's no conviction. We talk about fighting for what we believe in yet we knock on the first person that chooses to be firm in believing in something. So, in a world where there is no absolute truth, we're all a human race living with question marks on our heads. Not saying I know anything new, it's just something that always swam in my head.
Having a renewed sense of morality, for me, has meant being firm about my sense of what's right and wrong, a stronger sense of justice and not settling for scraps (the latter's a work in progress, believe me).
As far as faith is concerned, I'm becoming more willing to express it but still refuse to ever stand alongside those whom parade themselves in my faith all the while not only oppressing others but also giving Jesus one hell of a bad name. Part of renewing a sense of my faith has been burying the hatchet with those whom have offended me. Forgiveness is very powerful. Time, by itself, doesn't heal wounds. People have the power to heal each other. As we mature, the way we view past events change, especially when learning the very things that make us mature and view things in a new light.
I'm learning about who I'm not, who I'm just not meant to be around. Everyone wants to be loved by everyone, be Mr./Mrs. Popular and be the person no one can possibly hate. Truth is, you are who you are and no matter what you do, someone out there will hate your guts. Religious leaders hated Jesus because he was bringing about the reforming of the spiritual perception the Pharisees and Sadducees held. He spoke of worshiping God outside temples and synagogues, cutting off the middlemen and coming to grips with the fact that God just isn't so far off as the leaders made Him to be. John the Baptist had no fear in calling a leader among the Jews an adulterer (which he had right to do as the Jews in that time were theocratic unlike the U.S.) for stealing his brother's wife. Elijah had little qualm to call out King Ahab and Queen Jezebel as leaders that drew Israel from their Deliverer (God). The disciples, as well as Paul, didn't fear death threats from the Sanhedrin for preaching Jesus.
Suddenly this brings to my attention how Jesus said that Christians would be hated for His name's sake. A lot of today's Christians aren't hated for loving Jesus at all. In fact, people love Jesus' persona and what He stood for. Christians today are hated for being self-righteous, passing judgment upon others as though we were God, for being hypocritical, for trying (at times) to blend in and for using church invites as a means to just fill up more seats at the institutionalized congregations for bragging rights. Christians have gotten sucked into the political game. The only people that people should fear are telling them crap are politicians not Christians. Once upon a time, we were expected to be model citizens of all that is fair and good but thanks to bogus preachers, money grubbing televangelists and the "prosperity gospel", we're viewed as despicable, phony and full of crap equivalent or almost worse than politicians. The hatred isn't due to the distaste of what Christ stands for but rather the hatred we face is self-inflicted.
With that said, I want to say, on behalf of my real brothers and sister in Christ, we're sorry. For all the hypocrites, the child-abusing priests, the false prophets, the Crusades, you name it. Anything that doesn't really reflect what Jesus, his disciples and Paul represent, we're sorry. Well, that concludes my thoughts post-Jesus rehab.
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