I remember clearly the time at summer camp when the preacher was recounting a time he was at summer camp and the preacher was talking about “throwing the faggots in the fire.” Back then, a faggot was a bundle of sticks, but the preacher I was listening to knew about both meaning of the word “faggot” and said both were great ideas. It was said half-jokingly, and was met with half-jokingly vocal approval, but it was still said.

It was not a big deal to tease about violence toward another child of God because of the way they chose to live their life. This was a recurring theme growing up.

I could list other examples of appalling ideas and behaviors, and then make the argument that these are the reasons I rejected my upbringing, faith, and Christianity, but that would be an illogical response. These certain examples of poor behavior are the foundation of Christianity – they are the outcome of man’s depravity. We break everything we touch.

I am encouraged deeply by my generation because there are those of us who saw inconsistencies and problems with certain things that were preached as God’s Word, but weren’t quite so upon further examination. But upon these findings and realizations, we did not throw the baby out with the bathwater – that would have been inconceivable.

We adjusted the questionable parts to conform with what was right, and kept the foundational principles. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and just because someone advocates for something stupid and off the wall does not mean that Jesus is no longer the Son of God.

[This post was inspired by this article by Perry Noble and my friends agreement and acceptance of it.]