There are sooooo many times when I am proud to be a Christian - in a non sinful humble sort of way obvs. Everything about Jesus makes me pleased and yes proud to have my name associated with his. Yet sometimes Christians make me go "Really?"
You have probably heard of Vicky Beeching. You will almost certainly have sung her songs including "Yesterday, Today and Forever". These days she is probably better known as a social commentator with a strong stance on women in the church (Or anywhere really - she would describe herself as a feminist) and same sex marriage which she is in favour of.
I know very little about Ms Beeching as a person or a Christian. I follow her on Twitter though and I find her approach to her Christianity both thoughtful and graceful. I may or may not agree with everything she says but ultimately that is irrelevant because we worship the same God and we should be gentle and caring to one another.
Why then does someone who calls themselves a Christian feel it is ok to send her this photo when she has expressed her views about controversial subjects
It will not do you know, it will not do at all. It is disgusting cheap bullying. I thought long and hard about even reproducing this but these people need calling out. Just stop for a moment and imagine Jesus with a roll of gaffer tape. Unrolling a strip, biting it off and sticking to a person's face. struggling with that image? You should be - it is the very antithesis of all that Jesus came for.
In my more generous moments I am thinking that these people think that they are upholding Christian principles. But these generous moments pass pretty quickly. We should be different, full of grace, preferring the other person, slow to wound and quick to bless. These are the standards we uphold. These are the principles that should govern us. Twitter is full of anonymous bullies. But not the Children of God surely?
Colossians 3:12
The Message (MSG)
12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Unfortunately there are far too many with the idea that we still live in Roman or Medieval Europe. Where the "Male Ego" was thought to be the centre of the Universe, where men held sway over all things, whether that be Religion, Politics, The Family and, in particular, the Place of Women in Society. Lady Godiva was said to have ridden naked through the streets of Coventry in opposition to her husband Leofric's taxation of the poor. Or perhaps Saint Lucy/Santa Lucia o Syracuse, who, with her mother, so the story goes, was left destitute in Roman times because her Father died [leaving them with no male guardian] when she was young and because there was no Man to protect them they lost everything in more indicative of my point. That she was not willing to give up her virginity after being married off against her will. Her husband denounced her and she was threatened with being dragged to a Brothel if she did not relent and renounce Christianity.. She refused and began denouncing Roman rule. She was burned at the stake, with a spear through her throat to stop her speaking of Christianity, I suppose this is the ultimate and excessive use of force by men upon a woman. Saint Lucy was ultimately the Victor, if such violence could be considered as a Victory.
ReplyDeleteIn later tellings of the tale St. Lucy took out her own eyes to dissuade an unwanted but persistent suitor who loved her eyes above all. Her eyes were to be miraculously returned to her after death. Saint Lucy/Santa Lucia, as with most of those women martyred in those time were martyred at the hands of male dominated society.
Such tales [Lady Godiva, notwithstanding, she being the exception rather than....] are significant as anecdotes for the fundamental belief that women are less worthy than men. The idea of Fundamentalism, especially that which is built upon this idea of Male superioriry over women, or on form of religion over another, especially where that Fundamentalism is predicated on the superiority of men is anathema and anachronistic beyond belief. In the US the main proponents of laws restricting female contraception, The removal of funding from charities that support the provision of free contraception to Countries in Africa and Asia are, for the most part led by men. Placing the decision about female sexual health in the hands of men is even more anachronistic given that the Continent was not even envisaged let alone discovered during Medieval times yet the mindset of men in Saint Lucy's and Medieaval times appears to have jumped Times and Continents. It's time I think for views to be given the credit that it deserves, NONE. I left Facebook in part because of such displays as you've shown above Lesley. I think it's time that Social Media concerns took seriously the harm that such hazing can cause, particularly to the young and vulnerable. If we allow such things to go unchallenged then what chance is there for change right across society.
It's true that Hagiography, for the most part, has little bearing in truth. What is base for such stories? The writing of such tales were necessarily dramatic because it wan intended that the masses be shown, due to low literacy rates, just like present day advertising, are used as a mode of Social Control. Can we say that times have changed? I wonder, what do you think??