what are we (not) doing?

christianity today in this modern world looks nothing like what jesus or his immediate followers (the apostles to the early church fathers) believed or practiced.......and i don't think we could ever go back and do it that original way......but why is it that this is where we look to re-invent our faith anytime we are in a moment of crisis or impotence? a lot of semantics and epistemological approach towards rediscovering (fill in the blank) of/from God...but isn't that focusing more on theory over praxis?

why can't we see that maybe the reason there is a problem is because we are not pragmatic....what i mean by this is not asking "does it work?", but that our "good news" isn't good anymore, because we're actually doing "bad news" thus creating bad outcomes, nothing at all or just some sub-culture that satisfies ourselves (idolatry?)?

doesn't jesus give us a clear standard to see if we haven't gone askew? by our fruits we will know? by doing what jesus teaches us, we are called wise?....an emphasis on doing, and when done right, good fruits comes through....jesus is big on doing/practicing our faith as being faithful or being a follower...maybe it's our definition of what constitutes "good fruits"?

what are we saying? what we are saying?

"...our founding father's understood that the guys with the guns make the rules..." - Wayne LaPierre, CEO National Rifle Association, speaking to the gathering of conservatives gathered for this year's CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference).

seriously? this statement was followed by a huge applause by the audience. is this what the conservatives believe? wish to uphold? did they not get the memo from the recent elections?

the people of the United States of America voted them out for not getting it (it's not the Democrats, they didn't kick them out, the citizens did) because of their views and ideologies that are archaic and ignorant, a failure to see that is the problem....as for Christians (evangelical or what not) who uphold conservatism, I'd have to really ask you to think about your Christian Worldview (which evangelicals claim to be the center of their ideals) and it's consistency with that of Jesus Christ's Good News (offer the other cheek?)...i say this not in favor of liberalism, but to critique the American brand of Christianity (which tend to be more American than Christ-ian)? what really matters? what is important? what are we saying (what gospel are we spreading here)?

Jesus weeps at Prop. 8, for both sides...

i may be inconsistent and it may disturb a lot of people for saying this, but i don't think what the bible says about homosexuality is the point, in some ways it is clear (mainly regarding the sexual behavior) and in many ways vague (wasn't an issue of relationships or being as it is now), but i think like many other things we can discuss as sins, the most important thing is how we respond to it as followers of Christ. yes, i know, some have accused me of being soft on sin and thus soft on obedience. i beg to differ. i personally believe that we are called to follow Christ as our model in life (in character and mission). and thus my understanding of Christ is that how we deal and face sin in this life is with agape (perfect love). this is more complex and organic than one might think. i'm not calling for a hippie-like everyone's okay life. i'm saying what's missing at the core was, is and always will be love (that which is given to us by God as generously and undeservedly, thus grace). by dealing with life (and people) with love is far more powerful, effective, important and practical (realistically) than what majority of Christians are dealing with homosexuality in this country. in short, i believe this love and the way to deal with life with love means we utilize what agape is (as revealed throughout the Bible) as initiating and intentional in understanding the "other", forgiveness as act of courage, seeking wholeness for people in hopes of making holy people, learning to see and treat people with the dignity and value deserving of an Imago Dei, and thus showing the world that there is a good news to what is wrong, missing, imperfect, unjust, oppressive and violent...agape.