My Lenten Faith Journey 2011: My Thoughts on the Aside to Jesus

Thursday, March 31, 2011

My Thoughts on the Aside to Jesus

Aside to Jesus: "You know, don't you, that today's younger generations are decidedly suspicious of institutions and organizations? They like you but don't care for your body, the church. That you became a new family, that you located among a gathering of sinners, that you made the poor, old church to be a sign of you in the world may be the most difficult thing for them to believe about you.

In my opinion, atheism is the fastest growing religion in the world. Secular/nonreligious/agnostic/atheists populate about 1.1 billion of the world's population, the third largest religion only exceeded by Islam at 1.5 billion followers and Christianity at 2 billion worshippers. I think that this is because the younger generation is either too lazy to go to church or other religious institution, not believing is a form of rebelling, or they are just simply too skeptical because of all the advances we are making in modern day science.

Teenagers could also be wary of the church and suspicious of it as a whole. They might feel that they could be oppressed by the adult members of the church. Or, they could also feel like they would be unable to express their thoughts, ideas, or faith because they don't want to feel vulnerable or run the risk of being belittled for their views. Also, being a teenager, I know that there are some weird, conflicting thoughts running around in a teenager's head. They could feel embarrassed in revealing their faith or confused over what they believe in. This is what I like about church, if there is something that I am confused about, I know there are adults other than my parents that I can talk to. :)

I honestly feel sorry for those who do not believe in God or another type of religious figure. Whenever something bad happens to them, who do they go to for comfort or support? If I stopped going to church and believing in God, I think I would feel an empty section in my heart where He used to be. I take comfort knowing there is someone else watching over me.

PS I thought this picture went along with this post nicely. I hope you think so, too.

3 comments:

UnknownApril 6, 2011 at 8:55 PM
Melanie, Dear ~ I just love your blog! Thank you for your wonderful insight and incredible sharing. You are really something else - indeed, a very precious and beloved Child of God. I found your comments about atheism and concerns teens might have regarding God and organized religion very helpful as I pray about how to share this wonderful news about our Loving Lord with more people. I feel we need to practice faith in action. Seeing really can transcend into believing. Melanie - you are a wonderful witness to our Loving God! It is faith in action when one is bold and confident enough to share who you are and whose you are. God has given you this great gift of trust, confidence, wisdom - and you have special people skills! Others see and experience Jesus in and through you. Arnie and I have really enjoyed the Wednesday Lenten worship services. They have been most enlightening and I feel like they have bonded our community of faith with their rich content. What do you think of showing Godspell to the Catechetics students? Thanks for connecting to that movie clip! Thanks again, Melanie ~ for the wonderful witness of this blog! May God bless you in all you do and may you feel His lob=ving presence each and every day! In Love and Prayer, Livvy
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UnknownApril 6, 2011 at 8:56 PM
Melanie - I loved the joke! You have captured the essence of this Lenten journey so beautifully and creatively. Thank You!
Love You! God Bless! Livvy (Arnie, too!)
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UnknownApril 19, 2011 at 7:24 AM
Melanie,
Any time Mankind is involved with religion there's always a possibility of something being misrepresented do to our sinful nature. I think that's why some people struggle with feelings of guilt with their religious upbringing. This in turn causes skepticism. To be a true believer you have to put God first above all else and follow Him. We tend to want to put our own spin on things and make God fit into our lives rather than the other way around. It's a tough challenge.

<3 Mom
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Where Is God?

In a certain suburban neighborhood, there were two brothers, 8 and 10 years old who were exceedingly mischievious. Whenever something went wrong in the neighborhood, it turned out they had a hand in it. Their parents were at their wits' end trying to control them. Hearing about a minister nearby who worked with delinquent boys, the mother suggested to the father that they ask the minister to talk to the boys. The father agreed. The mother went to the minister and made her request. He agreed, but said he wanted to see the younger boy first and alone. So the mother sent him to the minister. The minister sat the boy down on the other side of his huge, impression desk. For about five minutes they just sat and started at each other. Finally, the minister pointed his forefinger at the boy and asked, "Where is God?" The boy looked under the desk, in the corners of the room, all around, but said nothing. Again, louder, the minister pointed at the boy and asked, "Where is God?" Again the boy looked all around but said nothing. A third time, in a louder, firmer voice, the minister leaned far across the desk and put his forefinger almost to the boy's nose, and asked, "Where is God?" The boy panicked and ran all the way home. Finding his older brother, he dragged him upstairs to their room and into the closet, where they usually plotted their mischief. He finally said, "We are in B-I-I-I-I-G trouble now!" The older boy asked, "What do you mean, B-I-I-I-I-G trouble?" His brother replied, "God is missing and they think we did it!"