I couldn’t agree more, Dee. But the question is that whether by actually going to church, one might be going in the wrong direction instead. For example, a person who has no prejudice towards gay people, when start frequenting the church will get influenced by the people there to judge and avoid gay people simply because those types of people are deemed to be sinful and ‘should be healed’. Perhaps if this person does not frequent the church and gets to know gay people on his own, he will treat them differently – with understanding and acceptance, instead of pity.

and the people in church? ugh, horrible. one time i told them that my mom was a buddhist and they started to say ugly comments about praying to statues, false gods and everything.

don’t get me started on their comments about homosexuals. and they say Christians are very forgiving??

one guy didn’t like me because i’m not Christian! gyaaaaa!
i’d rather be a free-thinker.

*pengalaman pribadi, so a bit bitter hahahaha*

Perfectly understood, Cn! Which is why I never feel any belonging when being amongst church-goers – most of them tend to be so judgmental and narrow-minded. You’d think the ‘forgive and love one another’ would seep in to their minds somehow! They’ve totally missed out the point!

Jesus himself once said against the Pharisees and the Jewish Imams by saying to His disciples: “Listen and obey them and do everything they tell you, but do not follow what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:3)

Yes I fully agree we should not judge others because Jesus came not to judge but to serve and sacrifice His life for the sinners including me. The example that you described about homosexuality should be understood wisely. I personally think it should be divided into 2 point of views, i.e. religion and humanity/social point of view.

From the Christian and Muslim and other religions, the homosexuality is not in line with the religious teaching. However, from the humanity & social point of view, we should not judge them but to love, sympathize and treat them as a human being, just like what Jesus did.

Do you remember the woman that red-handed caught in adultery by the Pharisees? They brought the woman to Jesus and said to Him: “In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such woman. Now, what do you say?” Then Jesus said: “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” By hearing this, afterward, they began to go away at a time, first from the older ones till all of them. Then Jesus asked the woman: “Where are they? Has no one condemned you?” And Jesus finally said: “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:1-11)

Oh, that is the very beautiful story that I so impressed. Those are the 2 point of views that Jesus practically done, because sin remains sin and Jesus did not simply condemn but offered forgiveness, that’s why He gave closing statement: “Leave your life of sin.”

Yes God is the omnipresent one. He is in churches, in malls, in our offices, in our homes, in hotels, even He is in the brothels, too. He listens to the prostitute when she prays. Probably she cries because she has to take its profession because she needs to pay medical for her ailing kid. And, God may also in our heart. Nevertheless, for me personally, I would need to learn a lot from everything that may happen in the church, not only from the “good guys” but also from the “bad guys” who are sitting in the church.

Jesus also went to synagogue. He listened to Imams when they preached, too, though He met with the hypocrites. I believe going to church is one of Christian needs to build our own faith, not to meet with holy people or good people, because there is no holy people in the church till the world come to the end.

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Thanks for the lengthy comment, Titus. I agree with you wholeheartedly. As human beings, Christians in general still have a lot of things to learn from JC. I hope His teachings won’t be lost to them – most of the times, the Christians just overinterpret things and do things as they please, including judging and punishing people just because these people are not seen to be as righteous as them.

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Have you tried attending one of the masses in Canada? I’d be interested to know