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You see, Jesus was an outsider by his own right. In his very first public sermon he declared that a “preacher can find love everywhere but in his own tribe” (my obvious paraphrase of this passage), a sermon that resulted in an assassination attempt by his own community. He was Jewish, yet reserved almost all of his criticism and fighting words for the Jewish leaders. He rejected the rules of the empire and taught his followers to oppose it in radically subversive ways. He refused to observe oral traditions that everyone else seemed to observe, he made his friends among the “unclean” people of society, and staged a public protest in the temple in defense of the exploitation of outsiders– an act of civil disobedience that actually cost him his life.
Jesus was an outsider who lived his life with and for, other outsiders.
In fact when you read his most famous sermon, The Sermon on the Mount, he goes through a pattern of “Blessed are the _______”
Every word Jesus fills in the blank with are all descriptions of outsiders. The very people folks assumed would be guaranteed to be “in” are conspicuously missing from the equation. Meanwhile Jesus declares that the outcast, the set aside, the not included, the “without a tribe” and those who do things backwards, are actually the very people who will find this “Kingdom” he talked so much about.
I believe that Jesus came for everybody, but that not everybody embraces what he has to offer when they find him.
The people who do embrace him? Well, they’re people like me… and you. The outsiders were always the ones who embraced Jesus.
This is the unexpected benefit of being a Christian outsider: our hearts are more ripe and free from the distractions that keep us from embracing Jesus. In fact, in many respects the longing to quench the loneliness of outsiderness actually drives us to him. It certainly does for me.
Already relegated to the margins means we have few other distractions, few other barriers… we’re just people who know we can’t get our you-know-what together and find the message of Jesus compelling and full of grace. As a result, we develop a never-ending curiosity about this day laborer from Galilee, and find ourselves paddling toward whichever island we see this man of grace and love walking on.
Yes, being a Christian outsider is lonely– even when you’re a high-profile outsider. However, I am discovering that being without a tribe often frees me and pushes me to never stop chasing this man I find in the New Testament… the man with a message so compelling that nothing else in all of human history compares to it.
Today I take great comfort that Jesus came not for the people with their feet planted firmly on the shore, but for people like me who are often set adrift in the vast oceans of life– and who have no island of their own to drift towards.
If you’re feeling like a “Christian outsider”, feeling like you’re left without a tribe and aren’t sure where to go… let me just encourage you that this may in fact be the perfect place to discover the true heart of Jesus of Nazareth– because he was an outsider who came for other outsiders.
People like us.
I'm in a wheelchair.And I wrote this on behalf of others who are judged by handicaps.Whether they are physical,mental or emotional.God bless
Everyone's always focused on
The way things appear
They never take the time to realize
That the things that really matter
Aren't always so clear
They can't always be seen through the eyes
Afflictions aren't always physical
Though the world may think that way
But the physical is trivial
It soon will fade away
The only true affliction
Is a heart without conviction
And the price is much more than you can pay
Sometimes the Lord allows things
To happen in our lives
To teach us or to give us strength
When we feel so weak inside
To the world it may seem
Like I’ve been punished or even cursed
But if they could only look inside themselves
They'd see they have it worse
Sometimes it takes an obstacle
To appreciate the blessings we've been given
And to show us what we take for granted
Like the sins that have been forgiven
I've read the novel countless times(the first time I read it, it took me about 5 hrs straight lol.But, I could not put it down.) It's, by far, my favorite book. To many people, it's just a horror story. But, to those who enjoy exploring the deeper and more obscure meanings in literature and film, it's much more than that.It's a love story(a rather, tumultuous love story between Victor and Elizabeth because of Victor's unhealthy obsession with creating life which causes him to distance himself further and further away from her,his family and closest friends.I think this causes resentment on their part-Understandably so and concern for Victor's health-mentally,physically and spiritually), a story about politics, about women's right's in the 18th century, and ethics, among other things. But,above all and, in my opinion, the most significant, it's a moral story about the consequences of playing God and it asks a very good question-who is the REAL monster and who is the man?Most would say "The monster is the Creature,of course!". But, if that is what you think, you've completely missed the entire point. A monster is one who takes it apon himself to play God by attempting to create life. And, when he realizes the abomination he has created, abandons his creation, leaving it to die. Which,of course, it doesn't and ends up teaching his creator the error of his ways by destroying everything he loves most in the world. Not because this creation is evil. But, because he is angry at his creator who abandoned him.Forcing him to wander aimlessly and alone into a world he doesn't understand and that detests him because he,himself, is not understood. So, he does the only thing he knows how to survive- use his self preservation instincts. Which,results in the deaths of many innocent people. But, this is not the Creature's fault. The fault falls on Frankenstein who, instead of taking responsibility for his actions by educating what he has created or destroying it,once he realizes what he's created is capable of if he is allowed to live, he flees in terror . I'd even go as far as to say that Frankenstein is a "fable":A fictional story intended to teach a moral lesson. And I have yet to see a film that really does it justice. But, this is the closest I have ever seen. And of all the networks to get it right--Hallmark. Go figure, haha! This is the best role I ever seen Luke Goss in(Most of you know him best for his role as "Prince Nuada" in "Hellboy: The Golden Army").He fit the description of the Creature PERFECTLY-his look-His long,jet-black,stringy hair, his translucent skin that appeared to barely cover his muscle structure and tendons. And he even nailed the Creature's personality-In the book,the Creature is very smart,articulate and, even, kind. It's societies misunderstanding of him because of his appearance that leads him to commit his crimes. Crimes committed out of his own self preservation, rather than malice. Which, adds another element to the story-discrimination.(I think discrimination,in particular is what Shelley wanted people to focus on in her novel. Because,in the time she was living in, women were discriminated against in many ways.She even had to publish her novel under a male pseudonym because she felt that her novel would not be taken seriously if people knew it was written by a woman).Anyway,I digress. Unlike most films I've seen in the past that depict the Creature as a remorseless and, even, ignorant monster. Luke Goss' shows that the Creature has intelligence,feelings and remorse. Which made it easier to empathize with the Creature than all the other movies because he shows a lot more remorse for his crimes and he commits them accidentally. I used to think that Kenneth Brannaugh's interpretation was the best. But,now, the more I see it, I get more and more disappointed and realize, it's actually an insult to the novel in many ways. It starts off as one of the closest adaptations of the book. That is, until Victor re-animates Elizabeth(talk about "over-kill".Or is that the right term? "over re-animate"? whatever lol) At that point, I think it defeats everything I love about the story and, what I think, was Shelley's moral point of the story.(Which is why I think "Bride of Frankenstein" in 1935 was a disgrace to the novel as well). When Victor Re-animates Elizabeth in Kenneth Brannaughs version, it makes it seem as if Victor didn't learn the first time. And what happened to Henry at the end of Brannaugh's version? What they should have done was scrap the "re-animating Elizabeth" idea and focus more on Henry's part of the story and what happened to him instead of just having him suddenly disappear at the end because he played a much bigger part in the novel than he did in Kenneth Brannaugh's movie. This movie, however, did the novel the justice it deserves.Too bad it was just a mini-series and not a major motion picture.Because Luke Goss' performance was spot on and definitely Oscar worthy. As was the movie,itself :)
On a personal note- From a Theological stand-point, I think my favorite thing about this films portrayal of the novel is that, although, the Creature knows very little about God(or anything,for that matter)-only what he learns from listening to the Delacey's- I thought it was very moving how he, frequently, acknowledges God and talks to Him. Some of the most "intelligent" people in the world are, in fact, ignorant by refusing to acknowledge God. Simply because God can't be measured or quantified in our limited,human intellect because it is too finite to comprehend and grasp such an incredible concept. This doesn't mean God doesn't exist. It just means we haven't discovered a way to prove that to most people without a shadow of a doubt. I believe that it is our inability to understand that notion is OUR handicap. Physical handicaps are trivial because the body wont last forever(I'm in a wheelchair and I am still very intellegent and articulate. No one understands this idea more than people in my situation). The only true handicap is in the heart and spirit because that is what lives on forever. Einstein once made a statement acknowledging the existence of the soul based on the fact that everything is made from energy. And energy never dies. It, simply, changes form. I know it sounds like I am getting off subject. But,what I am getting at is that as simple minded as the Creature seems to be,even he appears to understand this. It's like the bible verse that talks about "The faith of a child". The Creature is, essentially, a newborn child. Which is, actually, beneficial to him. Because, everything is new and fascinating to him. It's this innocence that allows him to think freely without any influence from anyone dictating and telling him what to believe and not believe. He chooses for himself. It's ironic that such a simple mind can comprehend and show so much insight and, yet,through out history,despite the vast knowledge these men of science have learned about the universe, some STILL refuse to admit that the complexity and design of the universe could not exist without an intelligent designer. For some,it's because they are pressured by the world's growing disbelief in God due to new discoveries that,in their mind, is proof that God doesn't exist and is just a myth. For others, it's just the fear of going against what the world has accepted as "the norm" and they don't have the courage to stand for what they believe to be true. Sadly,this is still the case in society today. We are told what to believe and not believe. And if we challenge what we are taught by practicing our own faith, we are, often mocked for it.Even punished for it. It breaks my heart everytime I hear something on the news of a student being chastised for praying or reading the bible in school.(they are even, legally, punished for it. Which,in my opinion is a direct violation of the Constitution)
This goes back to what I said about "Knowledge" without the application of "Wisdom" in a previous blog. The Creature may have very little knowledge of the world around him. But, he seems to have the wisdom to understand and acknowledge the concept of a Divine Creator. This is one of the many ways the novel "Frankenstein" is still relevant today. Anyway,you don't have to agree with me.That's just my opinion
This is a question that many people have about God and Christianity. And after doing some research, I came apon this answer.I hope this helps those who have this question.Please comment if you decide to read.God bless:)
The reason God needed a sinless human sacrifice as atonemnent for sin is because that's what justice is.Have you ever wondered why the symbol for justice is a set of scales? When one side goes down, the other side goes up. In order to balance those scales, when something (sin, in this case) is laid on one of the scales, something must be placed on the other side to balance it out. Do you really think that all the evil that has ever occurred in all of history could simply be "dismissed" without any justice? God provided the balance of justice by offering His Son in LIEU of punishing everyone on Earth, which is really what we deserve. And only a perfect sacrifice would do, so not just ANYBODY could be sacrificed, because we are all sinners. There has only been one perfect, sinless person in all of history and that was Jesus Christ. That is why only He would suffice to pay for all the sins of the world for all time.Justice has been paid.
However, those who reject this gift are in the position of having to pay for their own sins themselves.
And, it's not, necessarily, Jesus' "death" that was His sacrifice or, even, His resurrection, it was everything leading up to it--Because,not only did Jesus suffer tremendous physical torture before being hung on the cross.He, also, took every kind of physical,emotional,phycholigical, and even sexual pain and suffering apon Himself. That's why, the moment Jesus died, the Bible says that God had to turn His face away from His own Son when He died on the Cross. Because God can not look at sin. Imagine how it would feel, as a parent, to have to watch your own child suffer everything Jesus went through and then have to turn your face away from them at the moment of death.
This is a message to anyone considering to become a Christian-
Never become a Christian with the expectation of immediately getting something out of it.(this is a mistake many ex-Christians make. Which is why they are ex-Christians. And that's the trouble with people these days-we are a society of entitled,spoiled people who want and expect instant results and instant gratification)
I'm not a Muslim, but there was something Malcolm X once said about Islam that I do happen to agree with. Because it also applies to Christianity-"You should never join any organization without knowing exactly what it's about." Same thing goes for becoming a Christian. Christianity is unlike any other religion. In fact it's not a religion at all when you consider what "religion" really is--nothing but vain,self serving rituals and routines. Routines which are only an attempt to gain something in return. Christianity is about "Relationship". A relationship with God through Christ-your creator and Father. And, as I said in another blog, you can't expect to gain something from a Father you are not willing to have a personal relationship with
If you do become a Christian expecting instant gratification, you are just setting yourself up for disappointment. Because the first moment your expectations aren't met, you'll go right back to living the life you were sick and tired of living before and that made you start to search for God in the first place. Simply, because you're not getting the immediate results from God as you got from drugs or alcohol or whatever it was you were doing. That will result in your life being worse than it's ever been. And you'll end up blaming or resenting God for the condition your life is in. Or worse, it will end your life all together(Either figuratively or literally).
Honestly, ask yourself the last time you heard a story of a persons life who was addicted to drugs, alcohol or even sex or porn that didn't end in tragedy. You might say to yourself-" Hey, how could a life being addicted to sex and porn end in tragedy?" Well, the gratification you get from pornography will only last for so long before you go looking for the real thing,get addicted to that, get yourself into trouble(legally in some cases), end up dibilitatingly sick for the rest of your life from an STD or, even, wind up dead from it. All for what?immediate gratification that didn't last.
When/if you become a Christian, God will only give you as much as the commitment you are willing and able to give back to Him. Because He can't and won't give you something you can't and/or won't handle and/or commit to. That doesn't just apply to God, it applies to every thing in life- anything good and worth doing or having is only as good as how much you are willing and/or able to work at and commit to it. Whether it's a great job, a big house, excellent health, or relationships(which,again, is what Christianity is- a relationship with God, your Creator and Father). And commitment takes time. Nothing worth while ever comes easy or right away. And what does, never lasts.
So, with that being said, don't let the expectation that you WON'T receive anything stop you from becoming a Christian, either. Because when God does start to do things in your life, they will sometimes be things that even go beyond your expectations and will last as long as you're willing and able to put in the commitment it takes to make it last. Not only that, but it will be more gratifying and fulfilling than drugs, sex or alcohol could ever offer.
Some say Christians use Christianity(or a belief in ANY god, for that matter) as a crutch to escape what they call "reality". But, we all do that in one way or another- not necessarily in terms of religion. But with music, sex, drugs, spending, thrills, food, socializing .. .etc. We ALL have an avoidance technique or "vice" to escape the stress of daily life. However, those escapes are temporary and, most often, have devastating consequences--they can lead to jail, depression, sickness, and eventually, death. So, what comes after death? Nothing? It's depressing to think that we only have a finite amount of time on this Earth, after which, we cease to exist in any way. Besides, Science has proved the existance of an afterlife. However, most are too proud, arrogant, or 'scared' to admit that. 12-15 million people have died, been confirmed dead by a doctor, and came back to life; ALL describing the same basic experiences! That makes the odds of one having died and come back to life about 1/30! A LOT. Then there are the ones that doctors did not confirm dead first.
Ones that had been blind all their life, never seen anything!, came back to life able to describe it in Color! Because they saw with their souls, not with their eyes! Not scared of death, just the opposite. I suggest watching "The Lazarus Phenomenon" on DVD or FREE over the Internet. Also "The Search For Heaven" DVD. See what has happened to so many people. "The Lazarus Phenomenon" studies ones that were dead from hours to 3 days! That went to the Judgment Area.(Which is one of the things many people fear and what prevents them in believing in an afterlife)
Life is uncertain, and full of existential angst. Belief in God(or "A" god) allows us to trust that everything is alright even if it doesn't look like it. Belief in an afterlife allows us to believe that we will not cease to be.
It's not as obvious in our modern society. Disease, epidemics, famines, war, animal attacks, broken bones (with no medical treatment) that cripple us for life, etc ... these used to mow us down and those who survived to old age were far and few between.
The fragility of human life was MUCH more obvious .. we must believe in God or any Higher Power who you could appeal to in order to stay safe and protected.
But despite modern conveniences and medical science, the nature of life remains the same-unpredictable and uncertain. We do not LIKE unpredictable or uncertain, and we work hard to try to maintain the delusion that we can have a predictable and certain life. And that we are in control of everything.
Not only that, we quickly repress any negative emotions and try to keep ourselves busy and distracted so we don't have to face our inner issues or pain with, like I said- sex,drugs,alcohol,etc. We only half-live because we are so afraid of life and living.
When's the last time you opened up to the pain of something that hurt you deeply, and just allowed that pain to be there, relaxing into it?
I really find it incredible that some people 'do not' believe in an after life and think they are the only ones that exist in this endless Universe. It's really amazing to me, considering all the scientific evidence that proves otherwise.(which I discuss in a couple of my other blogs)
"I Don't Care"
(disclaimer:This blog only covers cults that claim to be "Christian". However, the definition of a cult of ANY religion is defined as: "followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader." So, if you're not a Christian, but, still want to know what qualifies as a cult-there you have it:-) however, if you ARE a Christian, and want to know what qualifies as a cult compared to Christianity,please, read on)
This is an excerpt from another blog that I cut out and pasted here for people who have questions and are trying to distinguish between what a real Christian Ministry is and a Cult hiding under the banner of Christianity. (So don't be surprised if you think you've already read it. I just focus more on the subject of cults here)I don't think legitimate churches are addressing these questions enough to keep people from becoming cult victims. Literally millions of people are being sucked into these organizations every day and the internet is one of the many(and most powerful) tools they use to lure people in. A cult is basically a group of people that define themselves Christian but misinterpret, corrupt and/or twists God's teachings in order to run their own personal selfish agendas.(people like David Koresh, Marshall Applewhite, Jim Jones and Doug Perry-leader of "Fellowship of the Martyrs" who I found on Youtube a while back) These people will basically tell you that if you are not willing to martyr yourself for Christ, orsubmit to any of the countless immoral practices they engage in, you are not a true Christian. Which is a defining characteristic of a cult. And any True Christian knows is completely contradictory to God's word because Christ already paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we wouldn't have to. The only thing we are required to do to be saved is repent and ask forgiveness and accept what Jesus Christ ALREADY did FOR us.) But some people like to use God's word in order to manipulate vulnerable, hurting people who are willing to follow ANYTHING or ANYONE in an attempt to have a closer relationship with God. And that is how extremist groups and cults get their power. But that is NOT Christianity. I can't stress that enough to those who see that and use it as a reason to oppose or speak against the Christian faith. As it says in 1st John 4:1(as well as other verses in the bible) "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." I know, some people will argue "Doesn't the bible say not to test God?Isn't the bible contradicting itself?"-That verse doesn't say "Test God". It says "test the spirits to see whether they are from God". Big difference. Because a lot of cult leaders claim they get their rules directly from and are speaking FOR God. That's one of the many lies they tell to gain control of their followers. And one way you can tell whether someone is doing that is in Deut 4:2 in the bible that says that no one should add or take away from the commands given in the bible. So if it's not in the bible and someone is telling you to do it or not to do it because it's a command from God, that's a big sign. Here are a few others-
Being that it's Easter Weekend,I thought this would be the best topic for discussion:)
It is amazing to think that some people actually believe they are good enough to get into heaven. Perhaps it is because we read so much bad news in the papers about others that we are quick to conclude that by comparison we are superior, and so deserving of a place in eternity.
It is even more amazing when you then consider that if a Christian were to stand in front of their friends and claim that they knew they were going to go to heaven, they would be regarded as being conceited, boastful and arrogant. How can they think that they are better than everyone else?
The fact that the same person can think themself superior to others, while at the same time criticising Christians for arrogance underlines one of the joys of living in a post-modern world. But how do we respond to the question, Why can’t I just be a good person? Isn’t it unfair of God to say that you can’t get into heaven unless you believe in Him, even though you have been a good person? Who does He think he is!
Believing or doing?
Jesus was once asked what we must do in order to please God and so gain entry to heaven: "What must we do to do the works God requires?" (John 6:28). They asked the question in the plural – what works – they wanted a list of good things to do. Jesus replied in the singular, "The work of God is this – believe in the one he has sent." But what makes belief so special? Surely what we do is far more important than what we believe? How can a good person, who is not a Christian, be denied access on the basis of belief?
The difficulty with the question of why it’s not enough to be a good person lies in the assumption that is made in it, namely that there is such a thing as a good person. Jesus was once asked the question, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18). The assumption is clear: Jesus is a good person, good people go to heaven, so what must I do to also be in the same group? Jesus’ reply is surprising – "Why do you call me good?", he asks. Good question. Why is he good? Jesus goes on to answer his own question – "No-one is good but God alone."Now, if we accept the common assumption that only the good go to heaven, and God alone is good, who on earth is going? The answer must surely be no-one – except God himself.
The simple truth is that the issue is not about good people not getting into heaven. The problem is much worse. The question really is who on earth can get in at all? It is not a question of being more good than bad in order to qualify for eternal life. Jesus seems to define goodness in terms of being like God, and on that basis there are no good people anywhere.
However, the Gospel is good news. The good news is that getting into heaven is first and foremost about forgiveness. Christians can be sure that they are going to heaven, not because they are good, but because they have received forgiveness.
Belief in Christ and faith in Christ mean much more than just thinking that He existed.
Jesus did not come into the world simply to set a good example, tell us to lead better lives or even to ask us to pray more and read our Bibles regularly. He came into this world primarily in order to make forgiveness for us possible. It is why, when he looked forward to the Cross, he stated that it was for this very reason he had come into this world. The real question as we have said is not about who is good enough to get in. The real question is how God makes it possible for anyone to get in at all. The answer is that we need to be forgiven, and that forgiveness is won for us through the Cross.
There is a second part to the question: Is belief important? Does it really matter? In our world, belief means little more than intellectual acknowledgment of something. However, the verb to believe in the New Testament signifies more than just that. Belief in Christ and faith in Christ mean much more than just thinking that He existed. They mean complete reliance and trust in him. In other words, it is about trusting in and relying on Jesus (His promises, His person, His life, His death and His resurrection). That is what makes salvation possible. Christians are not good people because they live morally superior lives to everyone else. They have been made good by having been forgiven what they have done wrong and by being given a goodness (righteousness, if you prefer) from Christ.
So good people will go to heaven. However, the path to goodness lies not in religious observances or rituals, but in the forgiveness of a good God, given to us through the Cross of Christ
Historical and Scientific challenges to the Bible are issues that many people struggle with. And while many apparent inconsistencies can be explained through careful investigation, there will always be things that puzzle us and can’t be explained. When there are apparent inconsistencies between the bible and science, the Christian’s stance toward the Bible is to trust what God has told us and recognise that we may not have the whole picture.
One of the things to remember is that bible does not pretend to be a scientific textbook. It was not written to answer our scientific questions rather it was written to introduce us to the God who created us. Remember that science can tell us how something works or came into being but it cannot tell us why it happened or what its meaning or purpose is. The bible, on the other hand, may not tell us how but it does tell us why things are the way they are and what they mean. So to question the bible from a scientific perspective will always come up with issues.
Adam living to 930 years old does seem odd. What is interesting is the way that the Bible tells us these amazing details without trying to explain or justify them. This could tell us that for the author these details were not unusual at all. He was simply writing what happened. So you could try admiting to your friends that it seems strange to us, but not to the author.
What is also interesting is that after the Flood (Genesis chapter 6 to chapter 8) something seems to have happened to bring the ages of people back to more of what we would expect. By the time we get to Genesis chapter 11 and verse 32, we learn that Terah lived for 205 years (which is still a long time, but less than 930 years!). Further on in the Bible it seems the average age was about 70 years (see Psalm 90:10). So it seems that something happened to bring the ages to a level that we would accept as normal. I’m not sure anyone really knows why this happened. All we can say from the Bible is that something did happen.
Regarding the origin of races, I’m not an expert on the science of which race came first. The Bible’s take on your question is that Adam was the first man (it doesn’t say what race he was because at that stage there were no races; just one man). Eventually, as humanity multiplied people spread out over the whole earth and nations were formed. What we now call Africa was no doubt included in this (Egypt is certainly mentioned early in the Bible - Genesis 12 verse 10).
Very briefly, two comments regarding answering your friends when questions become slightly aggressive. First, I would be very surprised if there was any question that had not been asked (and answered in some way) by others before. Yet no question has meant that Christianity has come tumbling down. So you can chat with your friends with confidence, because you know that their question isn’t going to defeat Christianity. Second, ask God to help your friends understand.
If they are becoming aggressive, I would challenge them to read the bible for themselves because I believe you will find that they never have and that they are speaking about things they have heard other people say. Maybe you could encourage them to read it with you.
There is much more that could be said and I would be very happy to continue emailing if you would like to ask more questions.
If this is not enough for you, you can find much more info and answers to these alleged "inconsistancies" here- http://www.answering-islam.org/Bible/Contra/
