Jesus talked about and lived a theology of love, but the church that took it's name from whom He became ("the Christ"- which wasn't His last name but His character) adopted a theology of laws, dogmas, doctrines, and stuff that divides, and divides again.
As Bruce Bewar put it, "The church needs desperately to grapple with the fact that when we insist on faith statements as the core of faith, we assualt not only the truth but virtue."
Reinhold Neibuhr took this concept a little deeper when he write, "Some people are atheists because of a higher implicit theism than that professed by believers." That one hurts but the truth is that many are turning from today's Christianity, both intellectually and morally, beause of what the legalistic faiths have made of God.
The replacement of Jesus's gospel of "unconditonal love" with the church's gospel of "conditional love" has pushed spiritually minded people out of the church, but not out of love with Jesus.
Paul Tillich wrote, "Many are waiting for a religious answer which does not destroy reason but points to the depth of reason, and points to the mystery in nthe ground of the natural." Love is the great mystery of life. It will make you do unreasonable, insane, and miraculous things whereas the theology of LAW will only make one grow more and more weary as the discovery sets in that we simply cannot fulfill the LAW.
That's one of the reasosn Jesus came! :-)
Related Articles
Boring Fundamentalism
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 27/12/2007 | Religion
Time have changed. Will someone please wake the church up and tell the leadership that what worked 20, 200, and 2,000 years ago doesn't cut it today. Come into the 21st century with the power of the Holy Spirit and lay down your thoughts that we are in control of tomorrow, let alone today.
Author Shares Amazing Nde
By: Martha Jette | 02/03/2008 | New Age
If there is one thing you can say about author David Oakford, it is that he is brutally honest. Yes, he did take drugs – specifically PCP.
Back in 1979, he was a depressed and reckless young man, who thought nothing of partying as hard as possible with his friends. What he didn’t realize however is that he’d soon be learning of perhaps the most important message he’d ever receive.
Love is in the Air
By: Sharron Myers | 08/01/2006 | Motivational
Well, here we are in February and many people are celebrating St. Valentines. It is a good time to think about love and relationships to put a bit of warmth in our lives after a long winter.
Today, I would like to look at what love is.
Old Wineskins
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 06/03/2008 | Religion
Most people are afraid to accept the truth of unconditional love becuase it will definitely mess with your theological bias. In fact, if you follow unconditional love to it's spiritual and logical conclusion, much of what you believe will have to be altered if not abandoned.
To Thine Own Self Be True
By: Sharron Myers | 08/01/2006 | Motivational
We have looked before on the concept of self-love and I would like to take the time into look into this in more depth.
If you remember, we said that AGAPE love was an unconditional love and that we needed to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Let
Religious Freedom!
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 10/03/2008 | Religion
Religious freedom isn't just about choosing what denomination you want to belong to, nor which day of the week you choose to worship. You do have a choice by the way. Sunday isn't the only day to attend church, nor is it the only day to serve.
The Truth About Affinity
By: Dr. Rita Louise | 12/03/2007 | Self Help
In the world of spirit, sages, mystics and new age thought, the concept of affinity has been used to describe the vibrational essence of the 4th chakra or heart center. According to Yogic tradition, the 4th chakra is an energy center that lies in the center of our chest and is responsible for our ability to experience love, peace and harmony. In many circles, this energy is described as our ability to love ourselves and other unconditionally.
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God?
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 13/03/2008 | Religion
What has possessed modern day religion to atribute to God such an anger management problem? Do you really think the GOOD NEWS is that God's created billions of people to suffer an eternal hell as GOOD NEWS?
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Activities for kids?
By: sexilexi | 12-05-2008
My 6 year old niece is coming to visit me for a couple of days and I need some fun activities to do with her. Does anyone have any art projects for kids or activities that anyone can suggest?
Best Mother's Day Gift
By: Maggie | 06-05-2008
For all the mothers out there, what was the best Mother's Day gift you ever got?For all the kids, what was the best gift you ever gave?
How meny rodney bopp jr are ther in this world?
By: rbfaith4u | 24-04-2008
how meny rodney bopp jr are ther in this world?
How much are you being effected by the war ? of ...
By: angelis | 23-04-2008
how much are you being effected by the war ? of course we all feel the low blows taken at the gas pumps and at the grocery stores but how much are you being effected by it ?
Wandering
By: laurenk1984 | 21-04-2008
what would the best way to communicate with people in viet nam, japan, and in india?
Kids fight
By: Victorj | 18-04-2008
Kids aren't getting along pretty good. How do you get them to stop fighting all the time?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Religion Articles
Islam Way of Marriage is to Have One Wife at a Time
By: Nawaz | 17/05/2008
It is a misunderstanding that Islam has permitted polygamy, to marry and keep four wives at a time(false concept). The fundamental principle is to have one wife at a time. The Quranic instructions that if one decides to marry another woman in place of his existing wife he has to divorce as per the given procedure and this itself clarifies that no one is allowed to have more than one wife at one time.
Jesus Was Human
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 16/05/2008
So what's it mean when theologians say that Jesus was human and he was divine? Digging into that box can reveal some interesting questions.
What is the Liturgical Calendar
By: Beth Guide | 16/05/2008
A review of how the Catholic church formulates liturgical seasons
The Practice Of Pure Devotional Service
By: Victor Epand | 16/05/2008
This is a brief introduction to Vaishnavism and Vedic culture.
Seven Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
By: Elizabeth Guide | 15/05/2008
One of the major aspects of the Sacrament of Confirmation are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that are bestowed on the candidate when they are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The candidate when participating in Confirmation accepts that their mission is to be witnesses of Jesus in their...
Fruits Of The Spirit
By: Elizabeth Guide | 15/05/2008
After a candidate received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and he receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Church teaches that these gifts bear fruits, the Fruits of the Spirits. These fruits are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control and Chastiy.
The Fruits of the...
Penance Must Precent First Communion
By: Elizabeth Guide | 15/05/2008
As children prepare for their First Communion, the church clearly also states that the child must have also celebrated their first Confession, or first penance prior to receiving their first Eucharist. The Magisterium is very clear on that however, even though this was all outlined in 1977, there are still...
A Look At The Eucharistic Pray
By: Elizabeth Guide | 15/05/2008
There are many facets to the Eucharist prayer. But it is truly the heart of the church and something that should be explained to each child receiving their first communion. As we look at the prayer, we first must understand what Eucharist is, what it means. Most of all the...
More from Ernie Fitzpatrick
The Divine Feminine
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 16/05/2008 | Spirituality
There is nothing to fear about the ascnedency of the female paradigm and pwoer. In fact there's everything to fear by now seeing a collective balance.
Jesus Was Human
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 16/05/2008 | Religion
So what's it mean when theologians say that Jesus was human and he was divine? Digging into that box can reveal some interesting questions.
All Hell Breaks Loose
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 16/05/2008 | News and Society
Oe disaster follows another. People in China are beginnig to ask, what in the hell is going on? And the word hell is a close picture to what some of CHina looks like after the massive earthquake
5th Dimensional Consciousness
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 14/05/2008 | Spirituality
So many things are chaging and in an exponential way. Is it a prelude to 2012 or just the progress of mankind as we make our way through the universe?
Inerrancy Error
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 14/05/2008 | Religion
Sometiems following the best of men can led to dead ends or extensive and lengthy detours. But we can learn from road we travel. Some just have a higher toll than otehrs.
Edwards Endorses Obama
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 14/05/2008 | Politics
One would think a 40 point trouncing in a primary would help; however, ion teh case of Hillary for president, it seems to have done the reverse. But then, the race was over weeks ago now wasn't it?
Out With Clout
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 13/05/2008 | Politics
Hillary finally got a landslide. Now it's on to Oregon and Kentucky where it will be a split decision and then a week after that we can end the Democratic primary
Christian Motivation
By: Ernie Fitzpatrick | 13/05/2008 | Religion
Why people do some of the things they do is interesting and sad as well, like why do people join any religion- especially Christianity?
News and Society 
