Those Quarrelling Christians

Found this quote at Simian Farmer, one of my new favourite reads:

We do not want churches because they will teach us to quarrel about God.

~Chief Joseph

My first response was, "Hey that's really funny, and really true!"

Then I thought "But hey, people always fight about everything! How many debates on politics, mercy killing, the environment, Survivor, etc. are going on right now at water coolers across the globe? Why is it okay for everyone else to quarrel, but not Christians? We are all just humans after all! Why are Christians expected to live beyond the normal standard?"

And then it hit me. Two things.

Firstly, people expect Christians to live up to higher expectations because the general Christian population these days says that they are living on a higher plane! Now, most Christians aren't, because they are constantly screwing up, but many are still claiming to have no problem ascribing to the more "noble" values & actions that Christians should have. And they're just lying. And that really bugs me. Let's be real people! Let's admit that we are in a constant struggle to do the right thing and we are constantly screwing up. Pretending that we are all high and mighty is going to do nothing but turn people away from the country club, phoney Christianity that permeates much of the Church right now. So this quote is true because (some/many) Christians pretend to have it all together when really we're just quarelling children like everybody else.

The second thing that hit me, is that it is not right to say "Why are Christians expected to live beyond the normal standard?" And the answer of course is that we (in our minds -- though many in society don't see it) know or believe that we know God and that He calls us to live a better life -- a life of love, self-sacrifice, and giving (and not one of finger wagging and posh, padded pews). I was reminded of in the Bible where it talks about teachers, etc. being judged harsher because they know more/should know better. And it's the same for those who call themselves Christians. We have an idea of what we think is right, and we need to start focusing on us living according to that and admitting we constantly fall short, rather than quarelling with our fellow Christians, and especially those outside of the churh. We judge others way more harshly than they deserve and don't bat an eye at ourselves -- when we are the ones who are going to be judged the harshest by God! It's that whole "plank in the eye" chestnut. (So I guess I better stop judging my fellow Christians in this post and work on my own issues!!)

And that's why the quotation is so funny. Because it's so frustratingly true!

(Bet you didn't think all this would come out of that little quote, eh Simon?!)