Is Christianity a Religion of Fear?

I was recently doing some research for my book, and as I was searching online for Author Bill Wiese, I came across an automatic search labeled, “Bill Wiese Fraud.” Curious, I clicked on the link, and came to "the Great Realization" blog. This blog is for the American Atheist movement, and is written by MagiKent. In the article above, MagiKent blasts Wiese as a fraud, calling his vision of 23 minutes in hell nothing more than a nightmare. MagiKent notes that Wiese uses his story as a way to get people to become Christians through fear.

MagiKent states:

Christianity’s motivation for morality is fear. There is no better example than Bill Wiese. Christians want to be good because they fear that if they don’t they will be put into a burning place to work for eternity. They define what ‘hell’ would be like in Earthly terms – fire, etc. Yet to describe what ‘heaven’ would be like is supposedly beyond what we can comprehend. What a load of garbage. Your religion is based on fear. That’s weak.

I wonder if MagiKent even bothered to read Mr. Wiese’s book or his follow-up “Hell.” Bill Wiese’s reason for writing the book was not to scare people into becoming Christians. He wrote it to remind us of the consequences of our sin, but also that the price was already paid. Mr. Wiese’s testimony gave authenticity to the Cross and the fact that there really is a spiritual world, both good and evil. Both books by Mr. Wiese use a tremendous amount of scriptural support and he expounds on that in his second book. If Mr. Wiese was a fraud, he wouldn’t have been able to use scripture to back up all the points he made, but yet he did. Many non-Christians like to define Christians as gullible, believing that they have been deceived. MagiKent instantly disregards Wiese as a fraud and assumes he had nothing more than a nightmare. However, what if MagiKent has been deceived? What if God really allowed Wiese to have this view of hell in order to be a witness to others?

What MagiKent does not understand is that my motivation for morality is not fear. I certainly fear and respect the Lord and His holiness, but I’m not a Christian because I fear hell. I am a Christian because I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and that the God of the universe loves me and knows me by name. I am a Christian not for religion, but for relationship, and even in moments where I struggle with the Lord, I know that He loves me. To be close to Christ is life-changing. It alters all reality. There is nothing weak about that. Any Christian worth their salt is not motivated to live a moral life by fear of hell, but by a desire to love their wonderful and holy God. True Christianity is not a religion of fear, but of love.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, and whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23

Billy the Marlin Can Wait…

This morning I woke up to find Yahoo Sports baseball writer Jeff Passan’s article on how Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria and President David Samson have ‘swindled’ 2.4 billion dollars out of the taxpayers in Miami-Dade County. While I’m not a huge fan of Passan’s writing*, I have to admit this is an eye-opening article, and to be honest, as a man who loves the game of baseball, the level of greed exhibited here is sickening. This is not to say the other owners in MLB have not exhibited greed. I can definitely think of a few, but the Marlins’ Jeffrey Loria has been a primary example of it. As the owner of the Expos, he was almost single-handedly responsible for the wreckage of that franchise, and now here he is deceiving the fans of his new club in Miami.

Loria and Samson have run off good managers (Joe Girardi and Fredi Gonzalez), refused to pay high profile players (Miguel Cabrera), and have done everything thing they could to not raise payroll while reaping in luxury tax money. This is not acceptable. This treatment of their fans and players (these players want to win, and if your ownership is cheap, you’re hamstrung) is uncalled for and an unnecessary burden on the fans/taxpayers in South Florida. MLB should be held responsible as well. They are currently looking for who leaked the financial documents on the Marlins, Rays, and other clubs, but they knew the Marlins were misleading their fans, and yet did nothing.

Now, every year, I make it a goal to hit two MLB ballparks. Eventually I’ll get to every ballpark in the country. However, I will not visit this new Marlins ballpark until a new owner is in place there. Since Tampa Bay and Florida are in the same state and we’d likely have done both at the same time, that means we won’t be heading there either. Perhaps it is not coincidence that Tampa was also mentioned in the article for not being honest with their supporters. As for MLB, I love the sport, so I just can’t give up on it, but I will not invest funds like I used to in a sport that is cheating its fans. If news leaks out on any other teams doing this, I will make the same decision as I did for Florida. As far as I’m concerned, Billy the Marlin can wait.

*In the article, Passan claims that the if-you-build-it-they-will-come philosophy for baseball does not work, using Cincinnati, Washington, and Pittsburgh for his examples. He fails to note that these franchises have not won in years. Cincinnati is having a great year and attendance is starting to come up. Fans fill ballparks when teams win. Fans filled Progressive Field in Cleveland until ownership stopped investing in the club. Passan also compares this situation with the situation in Washington when the Nationals were able to get ballpark funding for Nationals Ballpark. I disagree with Passan on this point. The city council in Washington made a conscious and informed decision to build the ballpark in DC. There was no other place for MLB to put a ballpark at the time (Las Vegas was mentioned as an option but they certainly did not have an MLB park ready nor did they have any funding ready), so Washington’s city council should have known better. In the case of the Marlins, Loria and Samson knowingly lied and withheld information from Miami-Dade County.

12th Anniversary

Twelve years ago today I made one of my best decisions and one of my worst decisions in my life. I left Youngstown, Ohio behind with my poor high school grades, broken friendships, a solid church, and wonderful girlfriend waiting. I left to try and make something out of my life and I think I did. Years later it’s hard for me to remember the boy that I was, and that’s exactly what I was, and my experience in the military changed everything.

The reason I label it as one of my worst decisions is because the Lord had given me a separate plan for my life. I ran from that plan and went for the career I hoped would make a better life for my girlfriend and for me. At the time, I thought she was going to be the one I married. Well, that didn’t work out, and I long regretted my decision. However, as I look back God used that time to help make me into a man.

When I left, I was scarred with all kinds of immaturities and completely unwilling to take responsibility for anything. It was my time in the military that taught me about life. It taught me how naïve we can all be, and it showed me how definitive right and wrong can be. It also taught me how easy it is to fall into a gray area morally. I found out how things work in this world.

The great thing is even though I had to learn those hard lessons; I was also blessed to travel all through Europe and the Caribbean. I got to visit Israel! I walked the Via Delarosa. I stood in Gethsemane. How many of us can say that? I saw the Tower Bridge in London. I stood underneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I enjoyed a gondola ride in Venice. I walked the sobering grounds of Auschwitz and Dachau. I got to see the beauty of the Sistine Chapel. I took a train through the Scottish Highlands and found myself at Loch Ness. I worked in the Pentagon! I experienced all these things before age 26. God blessed me which such wonderful experiences that I’ve never forgotten.

I left the Navy in 2006 a bit disgruntled, but over the years I’ve come to realize how proud I really am to have served this country. I served for 9 years and I wouldn’t give any of it back. I learned so much about what it is to sacrifice and what duty really is. Even as I faced personal issues afterwards, I was able to draw upon everything I went through and keep perspective. All of that came from God. Despite all I did to run from Him, He turned it into something wonderful, and now I’m proud to call myself a veteran of the United States Navy.

Absence!

So it’s been awhile since I’ve written and I just wanted to post a few notes:

A. The Arizona Immigration Law - I’ll go ahead and say I support the law pre-court ruling. This is not because I’m trying to lash out at any race, but because it’s finally something being done to curtail illegal immigration into the United States. I understand the possibility of profiling, but that’s already happening there without the law. That justification doesn’t make it right, however the real issue at stake is what is Arizona supposed to do to defend our borders when our government is doing almost nothing to protect them. Regardless the Arizona law is not that much different than Federal law besides the fact that Federal law rarely is enforced.

There is one thing that is really annoying me concerning the protests to this law. Anti-immigration law protesters are trying to get Major League Baseball to move the 2011 All-Star Game from Arizona as part of their protest. This past weekend at the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals game at Nationals Park in Washington DC, I believe protesters went over the line. First they post a banner in the garage facing the stadium protesting the All-Star Game. I’m cool with that. That’s fair. However, then during the game protesters ran out onto the field, interrupting the game and also breaking the law in the process. I have an issue with this. If you want to protest, fine, that’s your right, but don’t do it in such a fashion that you break the law and make yourself look like an idiot in the process. They made their cause look bad.

Another issue I have with protesters trying to get the game moved from Arizona is that it’s a dumb idea. The All-Star Game will pump 60 million dollars into the struggling Arizona economy that is supporting the people they are trying to stand up for. Moreover, if they were to look at the big picture they should want the All-Star Game there because it will provide them a public forum in which they can protest. The All-Star Game is shown across the country. There would be news reports everywhere showing their protests. It would bring them plenty of press. It seems shortsighted to want to have the game moved when there are more positives to be had for having the game played in Arizona.

B. I’ve started another workout/eating regimen. This time I’m keeping a separate blog on it. This should help hold me accountable. I really want to make it through this time.

C. The reason I haven’t blogged as much is because I’ve been at work on my book. So far I’m in the first draft stage, and I’m almost through with Chapter 3. It’s been challenging so far, and yet there is plenty more to be written. I’m not very confident in myself, but I’ve always wanted to write a book, and if worse comes to worse and no one ever publishes it, I’ll still have it to show my kids one day. The real problem I’m having is finding adequate people to talk about writing with. I checked out a Christian writing site, The Christian Writer's Guild, and they have some really cool seminars and classes I get excited about, but I don’t have the money for them. It’s just too expensive. It depressed me to see the prices for the seminars as I looked over the site on Friday night. There is one bright spot. A friend in Columbus and I are looking into starting an Ohio Christian writing guild. We’re praying about direction now for it. If you are interested, please let me know.

D. My application for UC is complete. I was told last week that I’ve been accepted, but they are still reviewing my file. There is a lot of stress here in terms of getting money from the government together for my GI Bill in time. Please pray.

Rants... Rants... Rants...

Pardon me, but I need to vent. There are so many things annoying me today, and I figured I should write them down.

1. If you want to cheer for Lebron James in his Miami Heat jersey, fine, but show some intelligence: don’t go to a Cleveland Indians home game wearing the jersey, especially when the Indians are playing James’ favorite team, the Yankees. You're asking for trouble. This reminds me of the time that I, as a stupid teenager, wore my Magic Johnson Lakers jersey and New York Yankees cap walking through Quincy Market in Boston. I got some dirty looks, but I am so glad I didn’t pull that crap at Fenway. Drunk Red Sox fans would likely have maimed me, even if I was only a kid.. You’re asking for trouble.

2. If you say you are a Christian, you need to act like it. You are never going to be perfect and you will make mistakes, but don’t be on your high-horse talking about God one moment and the next minute cussing people out and mistreating them. That’s disrespectful to other Christians who are doing their best to live in Christ and love people, and it throws mud on the face of Christ.

3. Okay. Middle-aged, balding white males should never - and I mean never - have dreadlocks, especially dreadlocks down to your butt.

4. Priorities, Priorities. This is not meant towards all parents, but just a choice ignorant few out there. Here’s an example: Let’s say I’m single and have two kids, with some money put away. We live in a small place which is definitely in need of an upgrade. The kids are old enough to get involved in sports, or maybe need tutors to help them with school. The kids haven’t been to a dentist in years, and one of them needs braces by the looks of their teeth. School is drawing near and they need new clothes. Which of these should I do with some extra money I’ve saved, and in what order?
A. Get the kid braces.
B. Get the kids in soccer, baseball, swimming, etc.
C. Get new clothes for the kids for the school year.
D. Get a tutor for the kid that struggles in school.
E. Get a bigger place that suits the family better.
F. Get myself Botox.

Anyone here think Botox is the first choice? I may not be a parent yet, but I still know that your kids and their needs always - let me say this again, ALWAYS - come first. You are their provider and you are the one that should be meeting their needs. No one else should be responsible for making sure your kids’ needs are met. God gave these kids to you, and to you alone, to raise them up and take care of them. So do it. There is no “I got botox because I deserve it” when your kids’ needs are not met.

5. There are numerous people out there who live their lives with illness and they still find a way not to mistreat other people. Just because you are sick, that does not mean that you have license to disrespect other people, even if you believe they’ve disrespected you. The Golden Rule still applies.

6. It might not be a good idea for a woman to go to a job interview dressed in a rather short pink party dress. I’m thinking that that won’t be seen as proper.

These are all instances I’ve seen in the past few days. I don’t mean to embarrass anyone or call anyone out specifically. I just need to vent. Some of it is just funny to me, and some of it is pretty serious. All of us are human and we all make mistakes. I am no judge, that’s for sure, I just needed to vent a little.

Nationals Park – June 8, 2010

Following our trip to South Carolina, where Jenn’s friends Beth and Brian took us in for a week, we made our way up to the Washington, D.C. area. We decided to leave a day earlier than originally planned so that we could visit Shenandoah National Park on the way. We camped out there on a Sunday night, which meant there was something like only five campsites being used. We virtually had the campground to ourselves! It provided a much needed peace after a rather stressful day.

The next morning, we continued on to the D.C. metro area, where we got to hang out with my old military friends, the McClures and the Greens. They gave us place to stay, they fed us, and most importantly, they spent some time with us. It was great to catch up with them; however, the brunt of our time in Washington was spent touring. We walked from monument to monument taking in as much as possible.

We were also sure to spend time going through the National Air & Space Museum and a couple other Smithsonian museums. Another activity that we did was stop in the town where I used to live, which gave Jenn an idea of where I’ve been, something that was important for me.

On June 8^th, we made our way to Nationals Park to see the Washington Nationals host the Pittsburgh Pirates. This ballpark opened on March 30, 2008, after the Nationals played their first three seasons in RFK Stadium. The ballpark itself is built differently from the more recent ballparks opened across the country: there is no red brick in this ballpark like the more recent retro-look that ballparks like Busch Stadium went for. Rather, Nationals Park is built out of steel, glass, and pre-cast concrete that was meant to reflect the architecture of Washington’s many buildings and monuments (specifically the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art).

It has plenty for fans to do, including numerous restaurants and an arcade. Another positive for the ballpark is that it’s easy for fans to get around. Jenn and I entered at the centerfield gate, went up one escalator to our level and walked right to our seats. There was no confusion, no double escalators, and no asking ushers where we needed to go.

However, the main issue that I have with the park is that it looked to me like an overgrown Minor League Park. The concrete, steel, and glass didn’t give it that special look that is reserved for a Major League ballpark. I understand what the architects were looking for, but it just didn’t work for me. It looked very sterile, and without character. It’s a nice ballpark with lots to do, but due to its lack of a signature look, it’s just a ballpark. I’m sure many fans will disagree with my assessment, but this is just my opinion. Overall it’s a nice ballpark, just not in my taste, and therefore not in my Top Ten ballparks.

This completed my ballpark trips for 2010 and possibly for 2011. I’m thankful for the friends that I got to visit and the sights I got to share with my newlywed wife. And I’m thankful that I have a woman in my life who supports me on these adventures.

Turner Field – Atlanta, GA

I woke up the morning of June 1^st, 2010 with the certain excitement that only comes for me when I’m going to the ballpark. I was heading to Atlanta to take in a game at the gorgeous Turner Field. However, there was a little more to it, too. This would be the first time since I was 16 years old that I was going to see my friend Laura, who has had such a positive impact on my life. It was going to be a fun night!

We got to the ballpark around 4 p.m. and parked across the street. Walking up to the ballpark, we saw that it had an extremely large boardwalk in the front of the stadium; in fact, it was the largest one I’ve seen at a ballpark. (I later read that the boardwalk was there as a result of Turner Field being retro-fitted for baseball after being used as the Olympic Stadium for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The extra space left over from the stadium reconstruction enabled the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games to build the outfield sections, complete with the front boardwalk, and numerous fan attractions, including a team shop, activities for children, and a couple of different restaurants. When we entered the ballpark, we could not tell it was ever used as an Olympic Stadium. We just found ourselves walking into a beautiful ballpark.)

Since we got to the ballpark early, the first thing Jenn and I did was seek shelter from the heat while we waited for Laura to get there. We sat down in the team restaurant and enjoyed a small meal, (one of the few times we actually ate out on our vacation). After getting our water bottles refilled, we went over to the team shop, and finally, Laura arrived. I slipped her ticket through the gate and she got into the ballpark. It was such a strange thing seeing her for the first time in years: I last remember her being a spirited teenager, and now here she was, a mature adult. I was glad to see her, and it was nice for her to meet Jenn. That was the important part for me: I wanted Jenn to meet this great person I’ve known for years, and vice-versa. I hope they will one day become friends.

Because Jenn and I were on an extreme budget, we bought the cheapest seats we could, in the upper reserve section on the first base side. (But it worked out well: we were so high up that we were under the rather small roof that covered only the highest seats, which protected us from the sun and the rain that came later.)

Off to our left, they had constructed a large Coca-Cola bottle and next to it the Chick-fil-A cow that does the tomahawk chop with the fans. There is also a small baseline built near the upper level for children to run down during the game.

The rest of the stadium was pretty standard, but sharp. The outside of it had a brick outlay with some old-school looking gates that bring flavor to the ballpark. However, there was more than the architecture that brought flavor to the ballpark.

The really special thing about going to a game at Turner field is how much fun it is. Doing the Tomahawk Chop and other cheers with the fans was a blast. The fans are so enthusiastic, which surprised me because Atlanta fans are stereotyped as awful; I was happy to find that that simply was not true. They were a joy to be around. Both the fans and the ballpark were entertaining and it was such a refreshing experience to watch a game there. I strongly recommend it.

My Top 10 List

1. PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA – Beautiful park with a great view of the three rivers. Go at night…it’s one of my favorite views.
2. Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO – Gorgeous Ballpark, with a great view of the Arch. The fans are very knowledgeable and courteous. It was just a wonderful place to watch a game.
3. Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD – Another great looking park. This park is the starter for all the new constructions of the 1990’s and in my opinion still has the old-time baseball feel the architects were aiming for. The warehouse in background is still a cool sight.
4. Fenway Park, Boston, MA – The newer parks look better in so many ways, but nothing beats the party going on at Fenway on game day. There is so much going at Fenway the moment you get to the park. It does look old, but they keep it painted and the Monster is still an awesome sight.
5. Angels Stadium, Anaheim, CA – This is an old ballpark, but when I visited in 2004, it had been overhauled into a baseball only-facility (the Rams used to play there), and it was gorgeous. It’s especially great at night to watch with the fountains where outfield bleachers used to be. I admit with the Angels being my favorite team, I’m probably biased.
6. Comerica Park, Detroit, MI – This ballpark doesn’t get mentioned enough with other ballparks, but it is absolutely gorgeous. I love the history they put into it with the statues beyond the outfield wall. I really enjoyed visiting this park.
7. Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia* – See Above
8. Citizen’s Bank Park, Philadelphia – This park is a nice-looking park, but what I thought was cool was the all the stuff they have for kids to do there. In the walkway section of the park there were all kinds of games and stuff to occupy the kids before, during, and after the game. Very cool.
9. Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH – Very nice ballpark that captures the history of the city well with its steam boat representation and the Ohio River in the background. There isn’t a bad seat in the ballpark.
10. Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH – There was a time when I’d rank this ballpark higher, but the last time I went to see a game there, it looked as if it were not being taken care of. It’s still a decent place to catch a game, but I remember how great it looked when I first went in 1997. Last time I went, it looked like the Indians were saving money on maintenance as well as being cheap with their players.
    
    *Changes – Dodger Stadium drops out of the top ten with Turner Field moving into 7^th on the list.