Real Christians...

I was talking to my friend Kimmy the other day... she noted that she can't stand Christians who "don't follow the rules", and that she would decline an invitation to visit my church.

Well, what are the rules when it comes to Christianity?

The funny thing is that we've been discussing it in my Sunday School class. To give an idea of my church... it's a Baptist church... and is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Now, they don't have the best reputation (after all, they are the same group that, back in 1998, they said that wives should graciously submit to their husbands). The nice thing about the SBC, though, is that churches can decide for themselves how to run themselves.

Well, here's what I learned...

• What is explicitly allowed/forbidden in the Bible (10 Commandments, etc.) is a sin
• Those that aren't explicitly mentioned, but have sort of a gray area (smoking, drinking, dancing, etc.)... that is up to the individual's beliefs, and should be respected as it's not necessary a sin
  
• If you are not sure or feel bad about doing something not mentioned, it's likely a sin. If you feel comfortable about it, then it is not a sin.
• It is a sin if you knowingly and maliciously disrespect another's beliefs on such a matter. It is not (obviously) if you work out the differences.
  
• Oh, and you're all going to hell (just kidding).

Anyway, in my apartment, you'll find an empty can of Guinness, an empty can of Murphy's, an empty bottle (small) of Jack, and an empty bottle of Jack Daniel's Lynchburg Lemonade. Does that make me an alcoholic? Nope. In fact, Murphy's and Guinness are both imported from Ireland, because I am part Irish. The bottles from Jack are about one of my new home state's biggest things they pride themselves upon. Yeah, I drank them, but not to get drunk, and not all at once. But, that's my belief, and i'm comfortable with it.