Could this be the source/root of my contention with Christianity?

A

Alejandro Murphy

New member
my dad was a pastor, who did not get paid. he worked 12 hour days in a machine shop, 6 days a week, and came home dirty and tired. Never earning more than 500.00 a week. He then got up on his only day off to go to church. His evening were filled with phone calls from members who needed someone to talk to, or he had to take off to go visit the half cousin of a friend of a member who was in the hospital to pray for this person he had never met. Birthdays were interrupted by people calling needing him to drive an hour to go pray for someone with a belly ache. seriously! I loved him, but never really knew him. And I wanted to, but they got all of him, and they didnt want to know him. They asked for money, he gave it, time, money, food, etc he was there for everyone of them. Later one of them actually wrote him a letter on christmas eve stating he hadnt done enough. His family didnt want him because he was religious, they loved him, but didnt want to be invited to church. As I stood there with the eulogy in my trembling hands, and looked out over the enormous crowd..I just wanted to screa, WHY ARE YOU HERE? You never knew him, you just used him. THIS IS OUR TIME...HE IS OURS IN DEATH! you sucked his life out of him.
I am sitting here thinking...is this why I hate christianity with such a vengeance? Is this the root of my disgust with organized religion? and if so, how do I overcome it?
 
You aren't mad at Christianity, you're mad how he was so committed to his work. Sure, it isn't his fault he had to help all those people, maybe you're mad at not Christianity, but the people who asked him to perform those deeds. You have to learn how much it meant to him, he wouldn't complain doing the work he's doing. Christians are one big family and he's the father that must attend and help people. That's why a crowd gathered for your father, they loved him because he was also their father. And I'm sure he wasn't at work 24/7. He was your father too and he gave you most of his love and guidance. God Bless.
 
My friend, this was a hard story to hear. I'm sure it was a harder story to live, as you have related.

Your father meant well, you and your family loved him, but he made a mistake. He neglected himself and his family to live what he thought was a Christ like life. Christ's life is often mis-understood. To many of us, the bible is confusing. In the end we have to go deep into our heart and soul and pray for guidance, then listen closely for the answer. It is the best way to know for sure what is right for your life.

Now you must deal with your anger. You must forgive your father, and those he served. If you can forgive them you will find peace in your heart.

Wishing you nothing but Love and Peace,
PJammer
 
I'm sorry that you feel your Dad didn't spend enough time with you. Mine didn't either, and I had two. My real father drank and partied right up until he committed suicide when I was 15. My step father was a good man but was also too busy with his hobbies to take much of an interest in us. At the very least, you can take comfort in knowing your Dad spent his time helping people. You should be proud of him for living what he believed, he sounded like a very good man. I hope you can forgive those people for being so selfish, they likely didn't realize they were causing so much harm to you.
 
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