OF COURSE the salt must be saved to be a real Christian.
My 3 year old came back from daycare singing an old church camp favorite, about being a C-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n. I was in no way offended -- even if he COULD spell the word, which he couldn't really, he ISN'T a Christian because he's not old enough to make that decision.
My husband, neither Wiccan nor Christian nor anything else, was appalled. "How would you feel if he was marching around the house singing that he was a Muslim?" he asked.
"I would feel nothing," I told him, "Because he isn't a Muslim, either -- he's 3."
Because to a be a CHRISTIAN requires a decision. (http://www.dltk-bible.com/i_am_a_c.htm)
I wish more people realised it. My response above was more or less what I usually say to people when they claim this is a Christian country.
Some years ago, I was friends with a woman who managed a charity shop for an organisation that provides vetinary care for the pets of people who can't afford to pay. It turns out that every year, the local church held a "pet blessing" service[1], and the collection for that service went to the charity. The manager of the shop was always the guest of honour and she asked me to go with her (we were both pagans).
It was high Anglican, so we felt quite at home with the level of ritual - the processional coming in with all the regalia, the boy swinging the censer etc. We were even more delighted when one hymn that was chosen had four verses - one each for earth, air, fire and water (we were pretty certain that the vicar didn't know what we were, and we weren't wearing any obvious pentagrams or anything, but after that, we did wonder).
Afterwards, we stood with the vicar at the back, greeting and shaking hands with the congregation as they left (and petting all the doggies and kitties). One American lady stopped to chat with us, and was very keen to tell us how her miniature poodle - Fifi (yes, really Fifi, complete with pink ribbon & bow) had really enjoyed the service because Fifi was a born-again Christian. For once, I contained myself and didn't ask the question :)
[1] People were encouraged to bring their pets. We had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds, a tortoise and assorted other small furry items. We missed out on the year before, when apparently somebody brought in a pony.
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Wiccans find you amusing
Date: 2009-03-04 01:06 am (UTC)OF COURSE the salt must be saved to be a real Christian.
My 3 year old came back from daycare singing an old church camp favorite, about being a C-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n. I was in no way offended -- even if he COULD spell the word, which he couldn't really, he ISN'T a Christian because he's not old enough to make that decision.
My husband, neither Wiccan nor Christian nor anything else, was appalled. "How would you feel if he was marching around the house singing that he was a Muslim?" he asked.
"I would feel nothing," I told him, "Because he isn't a Muslim, either -- he's 3."
Because to a be a CHRISTIAN requires a decision. (http://www.dltk-bible.com/i_am_a_c.htm)
Re: Wiccans find you amusing
Date: 2009-03-04 02:13 am (UTC)Some years ago, I was friends with a woman who managed a charity shop for an organisation that provides vetinary care for the pets of people who can't afford to pay. It turns out that every year, the local church held a "pet blessing" service[1], and the collection for that service went to the charity. The manager of the shop was always the guest of honour and she asked me to go with her (we were both pagans).
It was high Anglican, so we felt quite at home with the level of ritual - the processional coming in with all the regalia, the boy swinging the censer etc. We were even more delighted when one hymn that was chosen had four verses - one each for earth, air, fire and water (we were pretty certain that the vicar didn't know what we were, and we weren't wearing any obvious pentagrams or anything, but after that, we did wonder).
Afterwards, we stood with the vicar at the back, greeting and shaking hands with the congregation as they left (and petting all the doggies and kitties). One American lady stopped to chat with us, and was very keen to tell us how her miniature poodle - Fifi (yes, really Fifi, complete with pink ribbon & bow) had really enjoyed the service because Fifi was a born-again Christian. For once, I contained myself and didn't ask the question :)
[1] People were encouraged to bring their pets. We had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds, a tortoise and assorted other small furry items. We missed out on the year before, when apparently somebody brought in a pony.