When I was a kid being taught in school, I used to dislike the story of Jesus in Mary and Martha's home. Actually despise would be a better word.
That actually changed more recently for me, and made me realize that the reason I disliked it was the way it was taught. You go to a Christian school of any kind, unless it's progressive (do those exist, even?) there's going to be unhealthy cishet stuff going on. It's really innocuous on the surface usually but the more you hear the worse it gets.
If anyone isn't familiar it's Luke 10: 38- 42 (I always have to look up specific numbers because the Lord did not bless me with that kind of memorization.)Â Jesus and the disciples stop at their house to rest. Martha does her job. Preparing the house and meal for the guests. Jesus is teaching (are the disciples there or is it just Mary? Unsure. Interesting to think about), Mary is listening, and Martha gets angry. Of course she gets angry. The role of women in society at the time was to be a good little homemaker.
When she points it out, this happens - ""41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”"
As a kid I was always taught that Jesus was doing this harsh rebuke of Martha. Rereading it as an adult it's not that at all. The repition of her name is almost good humored to me, a gentle chiding if anything. There's no anger. The phrasing is odd by today's standards but that's a frequent thing in reading from the Bible. In fact, the tone seems very similar to me as the one from John 12, a situation where Mary is also involved again, anointing Jesus. Our good friend Judas Iscariot is like what the heck. That's expensive why didn't we give it to the poor (guy was also stealing though aside the point from this analysis rn)
And of course the response, "7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
In fact this one is a little harsher. So I'm left to the conclusion that the reason it was taught so negatively was because Martha is a woman. Teaching it this way turns it from a story about being focused on Earthly things while missing what's right in front of you (literal Jesus) to "haha woman is stupid for doing expected woman roles". Some of these same people who taught me believed in women being tradwifes btw. Like. No jobs at all only wife (usually they hid it poorly too).
Anyway, I usually only discuss bible analysis with friends so đź‘Ť Hope this isn't super weird.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
âś“ Live Streamingâś“ Interactive Chatâś“ Private Showsâś“ HD Qualityâś“ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
if you've never been to a Lutheran church service here some tea. Martin Luther write this hymn called 'a mighty fortress is our god'
the lyrics are fine for the first verse and get progressively more clunky and harder to sing the further it goes on. I mean. That's average for hymns actually- but. Here's the thing.
There's the normal version and the slow version. If they play the slow version be prepared for your feet to ache and your eyes to glaze over. It is. So slow. And therefore. Harder to sing. I don't know anyone who likes the slower version!!! And yet! Sometimes! It appears!!!!
also my theory is that it's definitely clunkier in English and probably sounds better in German, but my German is literally probably not as good as a toddler's, so I can only vaguely assumes it sounds better. Iirc it definitely flows better to the ear even though I don't know the language.
There's also my theory rhat. Maybe Martin Luther just wasn't good at writing lyrics.
im bad at praying with my eyes closed and as a kid we all got told like hey guys close your eyes fold your hands.
Eventually I realized it didn't work for me. Instead I tend to keep my eyes open. With other people I love watching their faces- though that might be weird. I clasp my hands behind my back, or put them on my knees when I'm sitting.
You don't need to look like a picture perfect illustration when praying. If folding your hands is distracting? Don't do it. Find what works for you to help you focus in prayer.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
âś“ Live Streamingâś“ Interactive Chatâś“ Private Showsâś“ HD Qualityâś“ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
there's absolutely no way to know what the dead would say 100% especially those we didn't personally know, but I firmly believe that Rich Mullins would be devastated that 'awesome god' became a source of trauma for many people. everything I've heard about the man seems to show he disliked the exact type of churches that makes people associate that song with bad times.
many "Christian first" movies I think have tried to portray stuff like in wake up dead man, but fail because of certain principles y'know. sometimes it's just something simple like characters not being allowed to swear even though it doesn't make sense, or lack of a strong villain - but like.
damn. what a beautiful look at faith and deconstruction y'know ? a christian first movie wouldn't have allowed Benoit Blanc to be atheist/agnostic without him being turned christian at the end. tbh, I feel like a Christian first movie would be afraid to criticize the conservative christianity on display in the movie, because it would offend some people.
idk it was a really really good look at it!! I can't speak to the Catholic elements in detail, but man.
if you wanna make art to praise god, I promise you even a "bad" ms paint drawing will be better than ai stuff. the act of creating itself can be part of your relationship with god. by using ai to generate creepy images of jesus or mother mary you are not only doing like a very ethically dubious thing, you are taking away a chance to have another aspect of your relationship to god.
