Have you ever read something that seemed reasonable enough, but left a bad taste in your mouth? Sometimes it takes me some thought to figure out what exactly, in the perfectly reasonable, factual passage settled wrong, but I figured it out pretty quickly this time. The super nice JW lady stopped by today and brought two books for my kids. One was the Bible story book. It cracked me up because all the illustrations were exactly the same as the JW Bible Story book I had when I was a kid. It was a trip to look through them. They said the same thing, focused on the same stories (some more gory and deeper than traditional Christian Children's Bible Stories) and were a genuine addition to our religious library.
It was the second book that took me a while to stop reading. It is called "Learn From The Great Teacher" and it is supposed to be an answer book for when kids ask the 'hard' questions about today's life in accordance to the scriptures. Sounds perfectly reasonable and I thought it would be helpful. Then I started reading. Some is very practical, faith-based, common sense type advice that I already follow and planned to when my kids asked. Other things made me cringe.
It is geared for kids, as in a parent could read straight from it and I think some phrases, unintentional or not, bugged me.
*Questioning other faiths. The book mentions that lots of people go to church every Sunday, but might never know Jesus. I know that's true. As one who until recently was going through the motions but still loved Christ, I know that statement to be true. But the picture had a white man going into a church with a cross in the front of it. Bull. Don't assume another's faith or belief. It's an intensely personal thing and I'd never encourage my kids to doubt another's sincerity in Christ. I've shared my smacking Faith moment, but I know not everyone can or will. That doesn't mean I'd call another person on 'going through the motions' nor would I encourage my kids to believe that others are anything but sincere in their pursuit of understanding and loving Christ.
*Denying the validity of the righteous fight. I would never encourage a kid to fight, but is there such a thing as standing up for ones self or those weaker in a non violent way? The right thing is to get someone with authority to help. But when that translates into adulthood, who do people go to for safety? Police, military, etc. It's mighty hypocritical for JW's to condemn those who fight when they admittedly need them in this world of violence and ugliness. Yes, be just, turn the other cheek, walk with God in peace. But don't condemn those who fight for just causes. Jesus had the opportunity to strike down armies or to denounce them. But he didn't. Necessary evil? Perhaps some could see it as that. I don't know a soldier who wants to fight. I know the ones who fight to try to maintain peace and health and though I'd never presume to know God's plan or mind, I would have a hard time believing they couldn't find God's grace.
*On the page with icons and about worshiping falsely, there was a picture of the cross. That hit my gut hard. I'm a Christian. I worship God and Christ-NOT THE CROSS. It's a symbol, a reminder, a piece of history that isn't and was never constructed to be something to bowed down in front of. That piece of the book's text implied that those who put the cross on their church were doing something wrong and that something wrong is one of the biggest affronts to God. Now, can we call BS? I do and won't teach my kids that.
*One of the chapters is on bragging. It should be a good one, and is. Humility is something we all need to embrace. Being 'better' than others is a very human failing we need to pull away from. But don't worry, the ones who follow the book to the letter are 'better'. Ouch right?
I'd been willing to believe that there was less hypocrisy in this sort of study, but I was wrong. Am I surprised, no? Disappointed? Yes because I think we're all searching for the religion that 'got it right'. In this I think Luther was right when during the Reformation he made the statement that salvation was between the person and God. Salvation and faith are both personal things, intensely personal ones that can be helped and nurtured by good souls who also strive for their personal connection with Christ, for the blinding moment of 'Oh, this is why I'm here. How could I have missed this love?'
So, no religion is perfect, I know that. I hope the lady who gave me the books understands my position, because I'm giving those books back. The Bible stories, I'll happily read to my kids. The propaganda that implies intolerance and separation instead of tolerant, patient teaching won't make it into the book shelf.
I want my kids to grow with the fortitude and confidence in Christ and God's love so they aren't afraid to swim with the sinners (because my kids, as much as I love them are sinners just like their mother and father). I want for them the strength and humility (what a mix!) to go among the unclean and forgotten and sinned and show them there is a different way and that way was given to us by God's son. There is forgiveness to be had, if we're willing to believe, forgive and love.
