FREEDOM
Every denomination, every self-contained church, every sectarian group, every free, unbound community has developed its own subculture through time.
This subculture functions partly to a greater or lesser extent in parallel to the culture, the society in which one lives.
All these groups of people mentioned above do not escape the phenomenon of shell-culture, which is closely related to the religious subculture; they retreat to their shell on their spiritual island of faith when they are confronted with unwelcome criticism, or with scientific evidence that certain things might well be different from what they have learned and accepted as the truth.
Then the culture in which one lives becomes out of their religious subculture a grave threat that seems to affect the foundations of their existence and beliefs.
If you have read the previous chapters of this subject and the other op-eds of the writer on this site, you will not be surprised that he, as a convinced Christian, can not actually endorse such an attitude.
After all, Christ teaches us to be open to the truth, the facts, also scientific facts as they occur in our society.
He did not retreat into a subculture to avoid the harsh reality of Jewish life under the Roman yoke, He did not close his eyes to Roman reality, nor to the terrorist resistance of the Zealots, nor to the content of the spiritual and secular views of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Sameritans or someone like Flavius Josephus.
Christ was free from all the aversion that existed around Him.
” These groups of people do not escape the phenomenon of shell-culture; they retreat to their shell on their spiritual island of faith when they are confronted with unwelcome criticism, or with scientific evidence that certain things might well be different from what they have learned and accepted as the truth “
He taught us as His followers to stand in His freedom too, without dogmas, without condemnation of others for whatever reason.
He taught us Christians to be ourselves and as such also to accept ourselves.
In other words, He taught us the importance of self-esteem, self-respect and also to value this in every other person, regardless of faith, race, sexual orientation and political convictions.
Now, as already outlined, Christians handle their own subculture carried by creeds, dogmas and ecclesiastical rules.
If you do not adapt in such a subculture, you actually fall by the wayside, eventually being excommunicated from that subculture sooner or later.
Now there are infinitely many religious subcultures with all slightly different doctrines or so-called liberties, such as:
– With one subculture you may only take part in the Lord’s Supper as a registered member of that community; this is not necessary for the other subculture.
– In one subculture, divorce is out of the question and remarrying is completely impossible; not with the other subculture.
– In one subculture, classical music is the musical preference of God; with the other subculture there is also room for popular music and in some even rock ‘n roll.
– In one subculture smoking is a serious sin; in other subcultures in most cases they turn a blind eye.
– In one subculture, drinking wine in moderation is not permitted; in the other even drinking liquor is not a problem.
– In one subculture the spoken word is central; in the other subculture there is more room for a certain musical experience and expression.
– In one subculture necessary change, perfection of the inner-life and the behavior of the believer is central; in other subcultures this is certainly rejected.
– In one subculture the adult baptism of the believer is central; with the other subculture the baptism of the newborn.
– In one subculture the sinful man is central, salvation has to be awaited; in the other subculture, everyone who joins the community is redeemed unless you go against their rules.
– In one subculture rigid rules for sexual intercourse are used; homosexuals are welcome with the other subculture als long as one does not practice it.
– In one subculture no other views are allowed; in the other subculture it is allowed, provided that these are not expressed during the gathering.
So again a whole laundry list of differences can be made.
” If you do not adapt in such a subculture, you actually fall by the wayside, eventually being excommunicated from that subculture sooner or later “
However, whether or not in an ecclesiastical subculture, what remains is that the believer in Christ is nowhere released from dogmas, doctrines about how to behave and especially how and what to believe in.
Even though their preaching, their messages of change, healing for the total human being still sound so attractive, in the end the doctrines, the dogmas form and knead the believer to the wishes of the leadership in all denominations.
Even if people come to the conviction that it is such a joyful and free community, especially because of the musical setting at the gatherings of that community, then the hammer of the dogma often strikes the (nail)-head of the Christian, who then becomes deadlocked and cannot or does not want to think, feel or act outside the box of that subculture.
Virtually everything outside of his subculture is quickly perceived as threatening.
This makes one turn away from the world in which one lives.
Preventing for ever to see the many beautiful aspects of life in culture and nature as it could be.
In fact, the Christian is imposed an ecclesiastical yoke, as a result of which he or she is no longer free to think independently, to put to the test what is true and not true, what are the facts or complete or half fabrications.
Even expressing positive criticism quickly becomes disobedience to the leadership of the religious subculture and thus to God himself.
Thát is not the freedom that Christ promised.
Thát is not the freedom He has given us.
The freedom of the Spirit of Christ in man is chained and tied to the dogmas and doctrines of the religious subculture.
However, Christ sets you truly free.
The Spirit of Christ desperately wants every believer to experience that freedom within and acts accordingly.
The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, is looking for people who are able to make way for Him in themselves and by doing so becoming a real blessing for mankind anyway and whatever.
Then something will really going to change!
