Enough Trite Sayings!

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Almost on a daily basis I hear someone spout some churchy saying that makes me ask, “What does that even mean?”

For example, some folks end a conversation with “Have a blessed day!” or “Have a bless’d day!” What does that mean? Is it better than “Have a good day”? Are they invoking their god into my life? I hope not. The saying makes me uncomfortable.

“Bye!” works for me.

Here’s another one: when something awful happens, people say, “God has a plan!” Some folks told me that in 1958 after my good friend Brad had been killed instantly when a fire engine broadsided him on his motorcycle. Are you telling me some god planned to kill Brad that day? I despise that god!

Please, let’s stop saying, “God has a plan!” It’s often hurtful and stupid. For example, how does free will enter into it?

Periodically, people ask me, “Have you been saved?” Immediately, I know that I am talking to a fundamentalist. Mainstream Christians don’t ask that innocuous question. I want to ask, “From what?” or reply, “Certainly not from stupid questions,” I but don’t. I suspect that this question is actually a code to figure out if I am one of them. Quickly, they find out I’m not because I’ll explain Jesus doesn’t save me from anything. Jesus simply gives me the tools to lead my life to the fullest, but it’s all up to me (free will) to do the work to make my life fuller and richer.

How about when someone says, “God bless you!” after another person sneezes or when leaving each other or from a politician? I think, “Why would NoOneUpThere care an iota if I sneeze? Or if we part company? Or when a politician says it?” When I become president, I’m going to issue an executive order that if anybody says that dumb phrase, he or she will have to do one hundred push-ups.

Here are some others: “Do I believe in God?” I want to ask, “Which one?” There are millions.

Or when folks tell me, “God wrote the Bible!” I’ll ask, “All of them?” There are hundreds of versions in many different languages.

Then there’s “Jesus died for my sins.” How does that work? The six o’clock news reminds us daily that if he did, it was a waste of a nice Jewish man because sin is alive and well.

There are those who, if I don’t think like them, tell me I’m going to hell. What does that mean? I suspect it’s code for “F— you,” but it sounds a little nicer.

Then there’s the bumper sticker “Jesus Loves You.” How does that happen? He’s been dead for almost two thousand years and never met me. Here’s my favorite retort: “Yes, Jesus loves us, but I’m his favorite.”

Too much of Christianity has become trite sayings and not enough unconditional loving.

Do you have any you want to share?

Peace Love Joy Hope

Bil

P.S. I used to have a bumper sticker that said “Jesus Is Coming—Look Busy!” I thought it was funny, but some lady saw it and told me I was an awful person. I thought she might slash my tires, so I took it off.

 

Photo courtesy of Dharmadhyaksha (CC SA 3.0)

13 thoughts on “Enough Trite Sayings!”

  1. It bothers me when people think the Bible was written right after Jesus died, it was hundreds of years before the entire Bible was written and it was written by those who didn’t even know Jesus as a person. For instance, Paul never knew Jesus.

    Reply

    • Thanks Marge for your email. It’s also so good to hear from you. The ignorance of those who claim to love and follow Jesus is overwhelming. They don’t realize they are loving and Following a fictitious character who never existed which makes their comments not even worth reacting to. I finally have left the organized church. It is simply straightening the deck chairs on the sinking ecclesiastical Titanic. My new search includes the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and Michael Fox, the excommunicated RC priest. It’s a new journey that I know is going to lead me into a new, inviting exciting look at what the church of the future looks like. PeaceLoveJoyHope Bil

      Reply

    • Thanks Julie for this comment and those in the past. I had a problem log gong into my blog site but that was fixed yesterday and saw quick a few comments from you. I so appreciate hearing from folks like you. Anne and I went skiing a week ago. The conditions weren’t very good but we had fun. On the 25th we’re going to BB for 2 weeks and they’ve received up to 4 feet of new snow with this storm so we ought to have a ball. It’s great to be so young, so old!
      PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness
      Bil

      Reply

  3. Keep it up brother…I’m with ya’…I have been threatened for questioning a saying or two. My bride has convinced me to stop responding…I seem to be too old to defend myself from self possessed folks.
    Cheers.

    Reply

    • Thanks Ashley for being such a loyal reader and responder. For a while, I couldn’t get into my site for reading my readers reactions to my blogs but yesterday that was fixed and now I have access. I so much appreciate hearing from you and many thanks.
      PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness. Bil

      Reply

  4. The more I hear from “Christians” the more I want to run. Certainly not all of them but, sadly, a great number. of them. The message of Jesus and the Bible has become so distorted, convoluted, and twisted that it is frightening. Wm Sloan Coffin said “Most Christians use the Bible as a drunk uses a lamp post—for support and not illumination.” The Bible is a VERY dangerous book if you do not study it AND HISTORY carefully and put into context. Religions in general can be and often are dangerous. We need to be cautious of all of them. Not necessarily reject, BUT VERY CAREFUL.

    Reply

    • Thanks Shirley. I KNOW I am no longer a Christian which is a great sense of relief. I see them as a drag on our country, democracy, Jesus, me, most of my friends for starters. Sarah was a big help in my getting to this point. I do know I’m a Follower of the historical Jesus and I’m ready to start searching again.
      Incidentally, there was a nice picture of Lori in the latest edition of the Church-State Separation monthly magazine. Pax
      Bil

      Reply

  6. Speaking of bumper stickers, I like the that says, “ When the Rapture comes, this driver will disappear.”

    My response: “ Can I have your car?”

    Reply

    • Thanks Michael for reading and responding to my blogs. I know my car will disappear when the Rapture comes because I’ll disappear also. But I’m not staying awake at nights worrying about the Rapture.
      PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness
      Bil

      Reply

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