A Christian in the 21st Century

 

The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo, (1475-1564 CEI)

“I had me a good sermon this last Sunday down at St. Luke’s…” Dave has spied me walking past his house and has fallen into step beside me. He has a lot to say about God, evidently. “…for next time, Sunday, June 2^nd, my sermon’s gonna be about what it means to be a Christian in the 21^st century.”

            I nod, keeping my answer to myself: “I could write a sermon about what it means to be an Atheist in the 21^st century.” Dave might or might not get the humor in this.

            I quicken my pace, not really wanting to get into a Christians v. Atheists debate with him. Though I do wonder what it means to be a Christian in the 21^st century. First, to be a Christian, very generally, I suppose, is someone who believes in the one almighty God: White male, all powerful, kind when He feels like it; cruel when He doesn’t. Of course, there are those who embrace various sects of this religion: Catholic, Protestant, Episcopalian. I’m not sure which branch St. Luke’s is in. And, of course, God created everything! The trees, the flowers, the animals, the sky, the oceans, the people. He is the Great Creator. And the only One!

            Then there’s the behavior of Christians, right? They are ‘do gooders’ correct? Taking care of their family, neighbors, friends without any payment but a ticket into heaven for their good works.

            Okay, I’m being a little snide here, I know. This is why I didn’t want to get into a discussion with Dave. I’m sure he’d have a very different definition. And the fact that he’s narrowed his sermon to the 21^st century, I’m sure, will give his sermon a present-day utility about it.

            Yet, what is it about the 21^st century is he gonna focus on? How Christians view technology? What do they think about AI? Has AI taken over the role of their God? Maybe they need to get rid of AI. But then wouldn’t that require, at the very least, nefarious technological weaponry? Would this be ‘Christian’?

            And to be an Atheist? Well, for me this is straightforward. I don’t believe in this one powerful male deity or a ‘heaven’ after our time here on Earth. I think that we’ll all just end up in the same unknown void that we were in before we were born. And who knows what that was or what it will be. I have no memory of it nor do I have a crystal ball to see it in the future.

            Unless, AI can find a way to delve into the future. Robots will tell us what happens after we die! Yes! Of course! They can be ‘killed’ and then brought back to life and then they can tell us what it was like. Though since they’re robots and not humans, they may not go to the same place that we would.

            Oh, it’s all too much to think about at 10 in the morning walking up 32^nd street with Dave at my side trying to gain my ear.

            “…I haven’t put together my sermon yet, but I’ve got some great ideas and…” I’m marching down the middle of the street at this point, trying to shake him. He’s not getting the idea, but continues keeping pace with me. However, I know he has stage 4 lung cancer and I can probably outpace him.

            Of course, this isn’t a very Christian thought, is it? ? But since God creates everything, he created Lung Cancer too, right?

            Or did Dave have just a little to do with this given his dumbass smoker history? Did God create dumbasses?

            Grinning to myself, I wave goodbye, “See you later, Dave.”

            He’s slowing down, getting the hint? Or just cancer tired?

            I don’t care as I turn the corner at McBryde, leaving Dave in the middle of the street to ponder some more about what it means to be a Christian in the 21^st century.