Dave and I came across this guy standing on Westminster Bridge last week. Whenever I see someone proselytizing like this, I don't think about my relationship with Jesus. I wonder what the heck would make a person stand on a busy bridge with a sign all day. I guess he thinks he's saving souls.
The side of the sign shown above is relatively nice -- the "carrot" in his message. The other side is the "stick":
He was happy to make sure I got a picture of both.
I may flatter myself, but I have no anxiety about meeting Jesus. If it were to happen -- and that's a pretty major IF -- I have no doubt he'd know that I am basically a good person and have lived my life well. Perhaps that's a prideful thing to say (and isn't that one of the seven deadly sins?) but that's how I feel. I don't get people who have all this internal struggle about sin and purification. Maybe that's because I grew up Presbyterian, a relatively guilt-free religion.
Speaking of how (and where) I grew up, I got another Florida History postcard a few days ago:
This photo by Bruce Mozert is captioned: "Visitors looking into the water during a glass-bottom boat ride at Paradise Park, 1950s." Back in the days of segregation, Paradise Park was adjacent to Silver Springs, in Ocala, and was meant for black customers. As with the other postcards I've received, this one just has a number on the back (4) and no other message.
I wouldn't want to meet Jesus as he's a scruffy fellow with an unkempt beard and sandals. I bet he never used "Head and Shoulders" or under arm deodorant. I wonder why that chap on the bridge thinks that his certainty outweighs the certainties of non-believers.
ReplyDeleteIn the unlikely event I ever meet Jesus I'll ask him to have a word with his Father about all the wrong that's going on down here. It's time for some Holy Smiting.
ReplyDeleteJesus will judge him for his dress sense.
ReplyDeleteFifties segregation in Florida! It was unofficial here but there was segregation here by practice.
Our indigenous were not even citizens of this country, though they had been here for 600,000 years. Yes, I can't go hard on segregation in the US when it happened here.
I tend to admire the tenacity of someone prepared to stand with a sign that probably invites jeers, even though I think he's misguided in what he believes.
ReplyDeleteAt least in England, they are content to stand on bridges or in the middle of busy intersections (circuses). Over here, they come knock on your door and try to have a discussion with you specifically.
ReplyDeleteI think I have the same relationship with Jesus you do -- I think we'd be OK together. He'd know I wasn't perfect but have been a pretty good person all my life and he'd be good with that. He wasn't perfect either. Who is? We have corner people who stand with little signs made out of cardboard that you can't read asking for money. They need to take sign lessons from this guy. At least use foam core so you can read it.
ReplyDeleteI’ve met many guys named Jesus. I never felt judged nor saved. And I don't understand, if Jesus is so powerful and he came to save the world the first time around, why didn’t it work and why does he have to come back? Doesn't he know it didn't work?
ReplyDeleteThat's such a happy postcard until you learn the truth behind the boat filled with only black people. What a country. I’m glad at least that has changed (for the time being).
it always amazes me that people think Jesus is on his way, any day now, when it's been over 2,000 years. reality check people...he ain't coming back if he was ever here in the first place. my cousin attends an evangelical church and he would send me those little Lake Of Fire pamphlets all the time after he learned I rejected christianity. when my son was deployed to Iraq, he sent him a shoebox full. repent and receive christ before it's too late. that really pissed me off and I finally told him in no uncertain terms to stop. it's not what you believe, it's how you live.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder what it would feel like to have grown up in a religious household, to believe in ancient stories, to pray. There's a whole world out there I know nothing about, but those stories still shape the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ellen. They've been pedaling this message for a long time. The fear mongering is to soften up gullible people so that they fall for this line.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Christian and it bums me out that so many people judge an entire faith based on select groups within it. (and the same can be said about Islam and other religions) If anyone ever wants to know what I believe, I'll share, but I'm not pushing my beliefs on anyone else, nor am I judging others. It makes me no difference if someone is an atheist or agnostic (I have lots of friends and family who are), but it sometimes surprises me how many folks ridicule others for believing. (not that I'm making that accusation here!!) *stepping off my soapbox* 😉
ReplyDeleteI'm not in that space myself anymore, but having grown up in an evangelical church I totally understand the reason that people try to "save" other people. They absolutely believe in hell and damnation and if they can keep just one person from experiencing that then they have fulfilled their mission on earth. That's the ones who are sincere. There's a whole industry attached to that belief that is NOT sincere - they're into power and fame and money. But I understand the ones who really believe & I know why the argument "just live and let live" doesn't work for them.
ReplyDeleteIf being prideful is a stumbling block for getting into heaven, that guy's in trouble with the smug look on his face.
ReplyDeleteI have no desire to meet Jesus here or anywhere else. And I don't like the look of that guy--so smarmy!
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with you about meeting Jesus. I'm not worried about it. I am however worried about the people who think DJT is the second coming of Christ. It takes some pretty warped religious understanding to come to that conclusion.
ReplyDeleteLove the Florida post card. When I was a kid, I took the Silver Springs glass bottom boat ride.
To Ed. The Jehovas Witnesses came to my door today. I am in England.
ReplyDelete100%, Steve. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.
ReplyDeleteI had a couple of cheerful youngsters ring my doorbell today and invite me to Fun Days at the park but they said they would be spreading "Christ's word". As always, I thanked them and wished them a nice day. Unless they're mind readers, too, they have no idea what I really thought.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked in oncology I found those with the strongest religious beliefs fought dying the hardest. You would think they would be happy to go and meet their maker.
ReplyDeleteSegregation is such an evil concept.
Oh yeah, evidence based, the dude not a critical thinker is he...But he thinks he is doing y'all a favor. Reminding you that People are idiots.
ReplyDelete