Faith is More Than a Straight Skirt

Growing up as a Baptist preacher's kid I always felt pretty restricted by my environment. So I did what any teenager is apt to do, only in abundance, and rebelled. I went back to faith but not sure I still buy into the "conventional" aspects of religion, church every Sunday unless you puke and then to quote Mark Lowry, "Now don't you feel better? Put on your shoes and go to church." I have always been compelled to write some form of religion fiction novels, children's productions, or even at times short lessons for classes I was teaching. Now I feel compelled to do an article about belief that does not "center" on a religion. Why?

There are a lot of busy women and moms that still teach their children about God but don't have the ability or time to attend church regularly. But most Sunday morning Christians judge these people by their inability to attend a church. What's worse is attend a Baptist church and you learn Baptists are the only one who has gotten it right. The same goes for any religion. This bothers me because fundamentally most religions are based on a higher being. The differences are in interpretations and yes, some are bigger than others. But what makes a Mormon interpretation superior to a Pentecost's? What have the Catholics gotten right so much better than the Lutherans?

My point is ...they are all based in a belief in God and Jesus Christ. Now there are religions that have nothing to do with Jesus or wash their hands of God but those are not what I am talking about. I am talking about the religion that has pegged themselves superior to everyone else with that basic belief. In fact, it is not hard to find Christians that are derogatory to the Muslim faith without regard for what the Muslim faith even encompasses. I had a rare opportunity to spend six months in a Middle East country. The true Muslim core beliefs may surprise many Christians. They believe in the same God the Baptists do, the Mormons do, and the Pentecost's do. In fact they consider their faith in close relation to Christianity.

Each religion has a set of beliefs that separates them from other denominations. However, the question I am trying to pose without upsetting everyone is simply why is one interpretation more heaven bound than the next? Why do churches teach anger and dissent outside that denomination? Or even better yet to pray for your ignorant neighbor who is at mass instead of an LDS class?

In a world that is constantly evolving and changing, isn't it better to embrace your Christian neighbor even if their denomination is different than yours and work with them to solve some of today's issues. Instead we pray for them as if they are sinners or lost souls. As if they are part of the problem. This may be why, among other reasons that Christians struggle to make headway with true issues and problems in the world.

Now having said all of that, religion poses another issue for me. Not faith, but religion. I have grown up General Baptist, attended Southern Baptist youth groups, been an active member in a Pentecost congregation, experienced Muslim culture, and am now learning and experiencing a bit of the LDS culture. That being said, I have also attended Catholic weddings, funerals, and Christmas mass. And attended Lutheran services. While this by no means makes me an expert, it brings a lot of questions to my mind when I try to single out which religion I should encourage my child to become.

You see, General Baptists don't believe in drinking at all. Nor do the Pentecost denomination. I believe the Bible never says do not drink, but rather do not be a drunkard. Southern Baptists have this once in grace always in grace thing that I find a bit difficult to swallow. Maybe I over think it but I just can't believe a once in grace crazed gunman that rushes a college campus then commits suicide is possibly still in grace without saying a whole lot of prayers before the suicide hits. Muslim faith was interesting to ask questions and learn about but I really didn't gain a clear understanding of their beliefs on things like pork. Catholic faith requires confessions to a priest and I prefer to think my sins can be private between me and the man upstairs. And to my LDS neighbors I apologize but I just can't understand the entire Book of Mormon or Joseph Smith thing. So in my limited experience I can find a fault with any doctrine....except the simple belief of raising my child to believe in God, the words in the Bible, and his son Jesus.

Faith is so much more than a straight skirt. When I say this I mean to say, that faith is more than where you worship. It is more than the hymnal you hold or the way you praise your Lord. Faith is more than donating money to missionaries or tithing on a regular basis. As a side note, most religions preach heavily on tithing but they always seem to expect it to be given there. Why? Is not tithing to your local or favorite charity still giving your ten percent?

I don't know if I'll feel inspired to write more articles about faith or my thoughts. And that's all this is, my thoughts - even with my faults. But before you judge your non churchy friend or your different faith neighbor, perhaps this will give you some food for thought. Not all church goers are like this, but the sad truth is there are a lot that are. And that is what gives people the wrong impressions about God and church to begin with.

Faith is knowing God personally, talking to him daily in your own way, and teaching your children the morals and ethics you believe are important. Faith is not just a straight skirt!