John Pavlovitz: This Isn't Christianity

[Collimator]

35. Christianity is what a given person decides that it is.

There was a time when I had my own ideas of what a "real" Christian was.

Without going into a song and dance about my own experiences, I will simply say that it is the individual who determines the character of the Christianity (or any religion/worldview/philosophy) that they practice.

Yes, I have heard people bear witness that before they knew Jesus they were very different, bad people. Regardless of the trigger, it was their own decision to change and strive to be a different person.

In our western culture, we have heard about the abuses and misuses of Christianity and Islam. Most of us think that Buddhists are basically peaceful people, though, even if we don't follow or understand that religion.

Well, there were Buddhists engaged in the violent attacks, (including rape) of the Rohingya peoples in Myanmar.

There are Moslems who are offended by the notion that Sharia Law is actually coded into Islam by the Koran. There are Hindus who are aghast at the idea of burning widows on their husband's funeral pyres. And there are Amish who run puppy mills.

The label on the person is not what provides them with content. Their contents should be properly listed on their label.