Why are my choices in life belittled?
I was thinking last night about some of the choices I've made in the past few years since being out of high school. It occurred to me that although they are not all good choices, the ones that are belittled and that cause the most adversity from those around me are those regarding any specifically "Christian" choices I make. This really irritates me. Why does my life call for any less respect or why do they indicate that what I do is less valuable just because i chose to go to a Christian Post-Secondary school?
And why do some of those who present this animosity see my choices as not actually being choices, but as chosen for me because that's what Christians do? Why is it that any choices that a person makes that takes them away from the Church, and puts them into the secular world is a move of independence and intelligence, while a move that follows similar patterns to other Christians simply can't be someone's own decision?
I'm not really wanting any speculation from those of you out there who are Christians because it will be just that, speculation. Instead, I'd rather hear if this bugs you too and how you deal with it. For any of you who aren't Christians, or used to be not one, and want to answer me on this go ahead, but those of us who can't remember not being a Christian, this isn't a question that can be answered with, "well I think they think that..." That gets us nowhere and just makes us look like the know-it-alls the world thinks we are.
posted by Kristine @ 6:37 PM
I never really got the impression that people thought me a lemming for going to Bible college or being involved in the church. I always got the impression that people were interested that I did something different from what they know but were leary to ask me about it at the risk of offending me
My wife Michelle and I had an interesting chat this weekend while driving through a storm on the way to a funeral in Saskatchewan. We discussed whether we would encourage our kids to attend a Christian college/university or a public college/university. We roamed over a fair bit of territory and came up with...it depends. I think our sense was that we would want our kids to understand and think through the implications of their decisions as best they could in either case and go the direction they want as a result of that reflection, not because they felt they had to go one way or the other.
Milton
I've been reluctant to write, for several reasons, seeing there are not many responses, I'll share what's on my mind. Growing up in a strict catholic home, I "learned" that only the roman catholic church was the right church, lutherans had broken away from the "true" church and evagelicals are in sects. Now I believe, if a christian church teaches biblical true christianity, it's a christian church, never mind the denomination, even christians don't see themselves as united, because egos get in the way of looking to God and doing His will.
Why do non christians not understand choices christians make because of their beliefs? Because they' re not christians, they can't understand our beliefs, they don't have the Holy Spirit to open their spiritual eyes, to help them understand. But people make judgements about other people all the time.
As a christian we've been told to expect ridicule, rejection, even persecution, in many countries believers are jailed, tortured and killed for their faith, so having your choices belittled is a small price to pay. It's smart to hear what people have to say, sometimes we can learn something, but in the end it's up to you to make a choice, for help to make the right choice, ask God, pray and then listen, if you're right with God, don't worry about what others think, if you suffer in His name, rejoice!! God will someday give you eternal rewards!!