So, whoever might have read my posts may be confused by the impression of a self-described Christian who swears like a motherfucker, offers to fight teenage internet celebrities and isn’t afraid to make the occasional AIDS joke about a politician.
If anybody would like to level the charge at me that I am not Christian, that sits fine with me, for I have but one Judge by which I will be judged, and I do indeed look forward to that day with fear and trembling.
But I’d like to point toward a trend which rubs me up the wrong way, similar in the manner which I imagine those I am about to address would be rubbed up wrong when faced with myself.
I’m going to use an IRL example. I doubt this person will read this post since I have not given out the link to them or anybody associated with them, though I can’t completely guarantee that they may not catch wind of it at some later date.
So, this person believes in the literal, historical truth of both Testaments. To me this is of course patently ridiculous, and I would have said so when this person stated this belief if the situation were less personal and more public, because one simply cannot let any man, woman, non-binary person or gender-fluid entity get away with publicly claiming that the world is six thousand years old and humans ran around with dinosaurs. That failure, I feel, would be a sin I’d have to answer for, a sin against Truth.
Secondly, and more centrally, the teaching of Christ is a very hard teaching indeed. It demands a striving for perfection whilst in a constant state of imperfection, and within this context, we are to be merciful and patient toward our neighbours in their imperfections, fine.
God forgive me if I am passing judgement on my neighbour unduly, and yet, if so, then let the measure that I use be measured to me also.
This person also stated that he hates swearing. Which, frankly, I found a bit fucking ridiculous. But if he doesn’t like it then, in the name of civility and peace-making, I shall not swear in his presence.
He stated he didn’t mind people using the phrase “I swear to God” as long as they meant it. I’m sorry, but if you are going to take a literal stance, that literalism might want to begin with the words of Christ which, in no uncertain terms, prohibit the swearing of an oath.
Finally, and probably most importantly, above everything else, as a Christian one is demanded to be different. Christianity is the way of those who are opposed to the world in a peaceful yet utterly fundamental sense. I feel that, if we are to cherry pick (which we all inevitably do) then being intimately involved in the ways of the world which Christ stood against in such revolutionary fashion, to forgo the concerns of the downtrodden in order to be allied with accepted by the world (this particular little world swear like sailors and I have no problem with that) then I am in a pickle: am I to transgress St Paul’s admonishments of the Corinthians for being accusatory to one another, while it remained that they all still had planks in their own eyes, or am I to take on Paul’s simultaneous spirit of admonishment against my Brother (or Sister) in Christ?
A compassionate approach may be to recognise that perhaps this person needed the intimacy of a social group at this time in they’re lives, whereas, as an autist, I prefer friendly but minimal contact (TBH I have a hunch that this goes far beyond autism. I’ve been playing the autism card since cave man times and I am beginning to entertain the notion that it is more the plain fact that most people just suck balls).
Civility is underrated, and in my personal life I shall continue to practice it to the best of my ability, but the freedom of remote learning is drawing to a close and I am to be called back to college on March 8th, which actually means socialising which is a major fucking drag.
I shall love my neighbour as myself, I shall turn the other cheek, I shall not demand my that my shirt be not taken from me after my coat has firstly been taken… to the best of my ability.
But I reserve my right to do exactly what I set up this blog to do: to vent, in a fashion which I find comfortable, even if nobody reads it.
Peace be with you and may God bless and keep you always
