Evangelicals love to claim that they are people of the book; that God said it, they believe it …. end of discussion. However, get into a discussion, debate, or argument with an Evangelical and you will quickly learn that he has all sorts of ways to avoid the clear meaning of the Bible.
Colossians 3:12-15 says:
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. . . And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Who is the Apostle Paul talking to in Colossians 3? God’s chosen ones, those who are holy and beloved. Most scholars agree that Paul is speaking to Christians. Paul sets forth clear commands for followers of Christ:
- Clothe yourself with compassion
- Clothe yourself with kindness
- Clothe yourself with humility
- Clothe yourself with meekness
- Clothe yourself with patience
- Bear with one another
- Forgive one another (you must forgive as Christ has forgiven you)
- Above everything, clothe yourself with love (which binds everything together)
- Let the peace of God rule your heart
Do these verses reflect how Evangelicals behave on this site? I think not. The Bible commands Christians to judge people by the fruit they produce. Based on my experiences with Evangelicals, all I see are rotting, worm-filled apples, with a few edible apples at the bottom of the bushel basket. And as sure as the sun comes up in the morning, Evangelical zealots will object to my exegesis. Fine, then by all means tell me how I am reading and understanding this text incorrectly. I will be waiting for your response, but I won’t hold my breath. Instead of raging against an Evangelical-pastor-turned-atheist, perhaps you should buy some clothing. You are naked, man.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
