O P I N I O N
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY
By Brian Chicoine
Those who have read my latest articles may have noticed that I insert a bit more Scripture or talk about God and Jesus than in the past. Nothing has changed with me, I am still the same Brian who has been following Jesus for over 25 years. The difference is that, now more than ever, I am realizing that Jesus is King of every aspect of life. He’s not only King on Sundays or on certain special days, (like Easter and Christmas). I don’t live a siloed life, where I have my regular life then my Christian life; I am always a follower of Jesus. Of course, there are restrictions in most workplaces and schools, but I don’t proselytize. I will talk about Jesus and answer questions if asked, (on my own time), but I do not go out of my way and turn every conversation into a spiritual one on company time. People know who I am and what I stand for.
There is the somewhat common belief, (even among followers of Christ), that Christians should “check their faith at the door” and not inject it into other aspects of their lives and that they should not be involved in things like politics. I wholeheartedly disagree with that belief. I am a follower of Jesus in every aspect of my life, whether or not it may be considered controversial or offensive to some. I point to the life of Jesus and let people decide. (My life motto is “No noise, just Jesus). .
I often tell people that followers of Jesus are regular people who have decided to make Him Lord of their lives. They are set aside for the mission of building His Kingdom, but are still regular people. Unfortunately, there are many negative stereotypes of Jesus followers that lead people to believe that Christians are are a bunch of “Holy rollers” who only want to live by their rules and want to judge anyone who isn’t like them. While there are Christians who fit the stereotype, not every follower of Jesus is like that. In fact, followers of Jesus shouldn’t see themselves above anyone else; they should be humble like Jesus.
What follows are three of the main comments that I receive regarding Christians and the Church, along with the reality. While I believe that stereotypes come from somewhere, I am here to set the record straight, on at least the things that I hear the most:
- Christians are all hypocrites, so why become one.
One of the single most things that I am told is that all Christians are hypocrites. My response is simply “of course we are.” We are all human, and will at some point do something hypocritical. However, we should not base our personal relationship with Jesus on someone else’s actions.
Hypocrisy, however, does undermine the witness of the Church, and of the believer. In fact, God’s prophets as well as the apostles wrote warnings to Jesus’ followers about the dangers of hypocrisy.
- The Church only cares about money.
Money is always a tough subject, especially as it relates to the Church. Money is a subject that is often avoided by followers of Jesus and is mentioned by the Church when they talk about “tithing” to support its local mission.
The concept of tithing, (which means tenth), was first introduced when Abram, (later renamed Abraham), gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God.
In the Old Covenant, tithing served multiple purposes. It was an act of worship and acknowledgment of God’s provision and sovereignty. By giving the first and best, the Israelites demonstrated their trust in God’s continued provision. Tithing also ensured the sustenance of the Levitical priesthood, who were responsible for the spiritual leadership and sacrificial system of Israel.
In the New Covenant, Jesus affirms the practice of tithing while emphasizing the importance of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He criticizes the Pharisees for their meticulous tithing while neglecting the weightier matters of the law.
Many Churches like to talk about how God challenges us to test His promise of abundant blessings if we tithe to the Church. They also talk about how Jesus told the Pharisee that he should tithe, but not to ignore justice, mercy, and faith. Other Churches teach that the concept of tithing a strict amount was part of Mosaic Law, (the Law of Moses), and that giving is now a matter of the heart.
Either way, giving to the local Church is important as it pays for things like outreach, missions, benevolent activities, and Kingdom building. Unfortunately, we also need money to pay for the space as well as utilities, and everything that comes along with meeting. And of course, we do need to pay our pastors as we want them to receive a good salary for all that they do. Aside from our desire to pay our pastors, the Lord has commanded it. In addition, there are several other Scripture references that tell us to provide for our pastors.
While we need to provide for our pastors, we do not need to provide them a lavish life, including buying them things like private airplanes, mansions, or multiple properties. That’s not what God wants at all.
- Christianity is oppressive to women.
I hear this once in a while, and I actually chuckle. Christianity did not exist in ancient Israel, but even in early Jewish culture women were important. Although women’s roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere, there were notable exceptions where women exerted influence in legal and political matters. For instance, Esther’s actions were crucial in saving her people, and the daughters of Zelophehad successfully advocated for their inheritance rights, demonstrating that women could impact societal norms and laws.
Women in ancient Israel were primarily responsible for managing the household, which included a wide range of tasks such as food preparation, textile production, and child-rearing. They were essential to the economic stability of their families, engaging in labor-intensive activities like grinding grain, baking bread, and caring for livestock. It is estimated that women spent several hours daily on these tasks, which were crucial for the family’s survival and well-being. Motherhood was akso highly valued in ancient Israelite society, and women were expected to bear and raise children. The Bible often highlights the significance of women as matriarchs, with figures like Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel playing pivotal roles in biblical narratives. Their experiences, including struggles with infertility, were seen as reflections of their societal worth. Women were also involved in naming their children, which indicates a degree of influence within the family structure.
While women were often excluded from formal religious roles, they still participated in the spiritual life of their communities. They prepared offerings and engaged in rituals, and some women, like Miriam and Deborah, are noted for their leadership and prophetic roles. Women also played a part in musical celebrations during religious festivals, showcasing their contributions to the cultural and spiritual fabric of ancient Israel.
Men and women are equal in the eyes of God. I know that some people like to quote Ephesians 5:24, where the Apostle Paul instructs wives to submit to husbands, but they forget the very next verse, Ephesians 5:25, where he then instructs husbands to love their wives just as Christ loves the Church.
Further, women are very important to Jesus. During His earthly ministry, He regularly engaged and respected women, including the women at the well, who was the first person that Jesus publicly told that He was the Messiah, (she also became the first evangelist); two women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were the first to find out about the resurrection; and He was close friends with Mary and Martha, sisters of His friend Lazarus.
There are, of course, many other stereotypes regarding Christianity that I could cover, but it is my hope that these three will cause pause and lead people to look at the life of Jesus, and not just what they hear on the news, Social Media, or from others. The best way to find out about someone is to do your own research.
As always, send any comments to me at mythoughts603@gmail.com.