People get angry when someone dares to believe outside the mainstream. By definition, the mainstream is how most people believe. However, just because the majority of people believe something, doesn't make it right, moral, logical, or accurate.
"Women are property." "Blacks are 3/5 human." "Jews are little more than apes who killed Jesus." These are all beliefs once held to be true by Bible-touting preachers throughout history. Religion is often wrong and has often deviated from the message of Christ. There was even a time when churches preached "The earth is flat" and "the sun circles the earth" and excommunicated anyone who believed otherwise.
We now know all these things to be falsehoods; yet many other falsehoods persist in our day. Some falsehoods not only persist but thrive and fuel multimillion-dollar organizations that propagate such falsehoods. Am I describing Satanic or Atheistic organizations bent on destroying the message of Christ? No. These multimillion-dollar organizations of hatred, oppression, and falsehood are churches in the mainstream. Mainstream churches by definition are scattered all over the country and the world. They are the ones you see around the corner and on television. But just because they hide behind the title "Christian" does not mean they are Christ-like.
Let me be clear. I am a devout Christian and a sincere follower of the teachings and person of Jesus Christ. I know that not every church is preaching a message of hate (for instance, I attend a great church that is globally-minded and full of compassion), but many do. I would say the message of hatred is the definition of "mainstream" in America. Loving, accepting, and compassionate are outside the mainstream, radical even. Remember: it used to be radical to think that women are equal to men, or that blacks and Jews have human souls.
Jesus thought outside the mainstream. He healed the sick, raised the dead, chastised the high priest, turned over the money tables, spoke to the Samaritan woman, drank wine with harlots, denounced the Pharisees, and walked on water.
The teachings of Jesus and the teachings of mainstream churches are often in opposition to each other. Christ was perfect, religion is not. Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek." Mainstream religion says, "Deny this group of people equal rights." Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." Mainstream religion says, "Kill that group other there before they kill us." Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." Mainstream religion says, "We are the only ones going to heaven. Everyone else is going to hell."
Jesus' teachings were very simple. In fact all his teachings can be summed into one word: Love. Love God, love your neighbor, love yourself. Mainstream religion has built an empire on doctrines that contradict that simple message. The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I fall in love with him and his message... and the farther I distance myself from the mainstream.
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