"I would be a Christian..... if it were not for the Christians"

As someone who identifies myself as a Christian (a follower of Christ), it is convicting to read these words that Ghandi once spoke.  In essence he is saying that because of the way we live our lives, treat other people, the decision we make...  he is turned away from the faith that we cling to. 

Every family has stories... I remember sitting down with my grandpa a few years ago and listening to the story that made him walk away from his church family.  He was a Catholic and was going to confession after a long hiatus from the church (caused by the illness of my grandmother - he had to take care of the kids and her).  When he entered to confess his sins to the priest,  he was told his sins would not be forgiven because of his lack of attendance and faith.   WOW.... I would leave too.  

I look online at many websites of people who claim to be Christians with titles that teach intolerance.  Hatred toward homosexuals, prostitutes, orphans, select people in our society...  sometimes it's enough to make me want to label my faith in a different way as not to be associated with these people.

Now, I am no scholar, I don't have a PhD in biblical studies or even a masters... but I have read the bible many times and find this intolerance nowhere!  Where does it say in scripture that because we don't come to confessional our sins will not be forgiven for lack of attendance.... IT DOESN'T..   what is does say is:

"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved"    Romans 10:9

Where does it say that it is our responsibility to shout from the rooftops that people are going to hell for who they are... NOWHERE!   I don't believe that Jesus condemned any person directly... so if the perfect "Christian" didn't do it... then why do we?

The book of James lays it out in the first chapter.

               "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

James 1:26-27

My thoughts:  If we stuck to these things in scripture the world would be a much happier place, and Ghandi may have been a Christian :)