MUSINGS

For a long time I have struggled with the concept of Christianity as propogated by the Church in India. I mean the overempasis on the do's and dont's and the preservation of church tradition and culture. The church hardly addresses the issues of today we are going through in the home, workplace, with friends, and the social life we are living. They tell us not to drink, smoke, dance, listen to "secular music," all the things that are external but do not tell us why these are important for our faith. For example: The Bible is full of godly people drinking, dancing and dining. It also encourages us to drink but moderately. Moderation is the key theme to all the drinking, dining, smoking, dancing, movies, music and other social bonding, but the church tells us this is wrong. Even the common believer upholds this line of teaching.

"If you do these things you are a sinner," says the church and its faithful condemn such a person. If not by words; by their body language (eyes, expressions, proximity,whispers) and their behavior. Jesus, in the bible says that evil comes from out of the mouth and not what goes into the stomach.

This has really confused me.

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