When I went to school, back when they used to actually teach things like history (and I don't mean the history of climate change or such nonsense. I mean real world events) one of the things I learned about was Botany Bay. Apparently there were British subjects who were, shall we say, undesirable. They were convicts.

 

You know the type. Debtors, murderers, rapists. Your typical dregs of society. The British didn't want to just kick them out of England - they had tried to export them before to mainland Europe and some of them came back in force. So they thought why not ship them as far away as possible - pretty much the opposite side of the planet in a harsh place with seemingly few natural resources that they would be unable to come back from. You see, these prisoners were after all claiming to be British subjects - I am just not so sure the rest of England claimed them.

 

These days, it is popular once again to claim to be “Christian” or do “Christian things.” When we show mercy to someone we are told it is expected of us because it's the Christian thing to do. That all sounds well and good, does it not?

 

But there are folks who do lots of things, that involve worldly wisdom and may even seem merciful to some, but are not so Christian after all. Shooting an abortion doctor, or protesting against gays at funerals. Obviously you can be over the top and even the non­Christian people think that's not very Christian. But what about embracing all religions equally or, in most cases, putting them above Christianity.

 

To me most people think Christian means submissive and accepting, loving and not judging (in any way).  Respecting people by not trying to teach them about God, and not correcting them when they do or say anything wrong, is considered to be a true "Christian" attitude. They believe that Jesus would behave this way, not condemning those who practice wrong doing if they do it sincerely but are overall correct.

 

1 am reminded of the story of the rich young ruler, who did everything right lie came to Jesus and asked how to be saved. Jesus told him plainly, not some mystical mumbo jumbo, to live a righteous life. He was very specific. Un-cringing, the young man seemed to square up his shoulders and claim he lived exactly that way.  Jesus, who would know if this was true or not, looked at him and loved what He saw. Then He told him one thing He lacked - go and sell everything he had and follow me. The man went away, but you know I bet he did just that. The point is that Jesus didn't balk. He didn't say "hey you are a pretty good guy, in fact a very good guy, and you are good enough to be saved.” He told him straight out, without meanness, what the man needed. I think if we do the same today, many would brand us as not having a true and merciful Christian attitude. They would say "How dare you not accept me as I am. What makes you any better!” unable to see it's the bible that judges them, not us. Do you actually suppose that if a pagan snake worshipper ran into Jesus, Jesus would smile and "respect the differences between them"? Seriously?

 

Most people live according to their own set of' standards, derived from their own experiences. Some even read their bibles, looking for threads to justify their beliefs. They call themselves Christians, but they don't act, talk, or think- like Christ. Yes, they claim to be God's subjects - I am just not so sure the God of heaven claims them.

 

Botany Bay  colony as compared to a biblical place by many. Even in old Star Trek episode pokes fun at it in this light. Do you suppose you know that place that might be?

 

                                                                        Randy