Loving the lost

[beetiger]

The depression is hitting heavy again, the way it did a few years back. I recognize it now, so I'm hoping I can meet it part way before it blindsides me, this time. Casual IMs and friendliness help a lot with that, so don't be shy.

But I don't want to talk about that. The main reason I haven't posted much lately is that I don't want to talk about that, and that's been most of what's on my mind, except for T-shirts about which I suspect you are bored.
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At one of my previous jobs I had a friend who was a literalist Christian. She was a sweet person, and we were sincerely friends -- we sang together in the company choir that went to nursing homes at Christmastime, she helped me choose bridesmaids' dresses for my wedding, we talked a lot. But I knew that she was utterly and completely sure that I was going to Hell.

I can easily see why I could be friends with her; I just thought she was wrong on that topic, and it wasn't an important topic to me, so I just connected with her on other things. But I find it hard to understand how she could be friends with me, believing that I was damned. Perhaps she thought that there was still a chance there somewhere. Or perhaps, like those who befriend the elderly or those with terminal illness without worrying about how much time they'll have together, she just thought she'd share her love in the present and not wory about the ultimate results.

When does it make sense to give up on a lost cause?

Comments

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

From a Christian perspective, Jesus didn't hang out with the religious elite, but rather with the poor, the sinners, the unclean, etc. They followed him because he was first and foremost their friend. (That's not to say, of course, that you fall into those categories!)

One of the aspects of my life which is still very Christian is my belief in a merciful God. I remember asking my mother (who was ordained in the Salvation Army) what would be the status of Sam in the movie Ghost, since he wasn't a Christian. My mom told me that there was a line in the funeral service for a non-Christian which was not usually included for a Christian: "We commend his/her soul to the mercy of God Almighty." The biggest reason that I no longer describe myself as a Christian is that I can't handle the egocentric, conversion-centred aspects of the faith. I still believe there's a heaven, I believe most people will find it by living to the best of their knowledge and revelation, and (what is least Christian about me) I believe they have different paths to get there. Perhaps your friend, without even being conscious of the shift, has accepted a little bit of this pluralism herself - at least enough that her concern for your soul does not overwhelm her joy in your friendship.

Someone who is walking the Christian walk the way it should be done will be prepared to take joy and happiness where they are found. If that's in the friendship of someone with a wildly different worldview, so be it. Maybe the best parts of each faith will rub off on each of you. We are enriched by sharing of ourselves, if we accept the gifts as they are. It's only when we question them that they become problems.