A day or two after I began to explore this rather disturbing (and extremely large and complicated) issue, I was driving to a trailhead in the valley on a breezy, cloudy Sunday when Johnny Paycheck’s song, The Outlaw’s Prayer, began to play through my radio. Honestly, I’d forgotten that song existed, let alone was in my playlist, until I recognized the piano tune the song started off with. So, I sat back and listened to Paycheck’s story: one that I, in a lot of ways, relate to on a deep level. 

I haven't set foot in a church building in years, and after months of prayer and consideration, I still don't feel ready to attend one yet. One reason (out of many), is because I'm usually out-and-about on Sunday mornings, and often get caught up in the After-Church-Lunch-Brunch-Crowd.

To put it as lightly and politely as I can, I am certainly not all that impressed by that crowd. In my experience, the After-Church crew are the most entitled and aggressive people in the restaurant. They're dressed in their Sunday best, but treat their servers like slaves and let their kids run rampant and screech at the top of their lungs. It's gotten to the point that my dad and I really try our best not to eat out between 10 AM and noon in most places. If I'm out on my own, I'll just go to the grocery store and grab a quick lunch to enjoy in the serenity of my Xterra or on a picnic table in Ken Caryl Valley. 

Y'know, away from the not-so-Christ-like crowds that infest every brunch-serving restaurant in town.

But, that's just a surface level issue. However, the After-Church people definitely signify a much larger, and much deeper issue. Or, rather, a massive cluster of issues.  

Christianity has been bastardized from its origins numerous times throughout history. One of the quests I've been on has been getting as close as I (an American living in the 21st century) can get to the Original Christianity. The Christianity Christ represents (hence the name, Christ-ianity). But, just a few hundred years or so after Christ's crucifixion, the Roman Empire decided to essentially use Christianity (among some other faiths) as a tool of power and persecution. Since then, numerous empires, tribes, expeditions, and political groups have used bastardized versions of the Christian faith to persecute, oppress, conquer, murder, and straight-up commit genocide. 

In modern times, I certainly see how Christianity continues to be used as a tool to oppress and persecute others, rather than be used as a vehicle of service and unconditional love, as Christians are called to do.

To this day in our nation's safest suburbs, LGBTQ+ kids and young adults continue to be thrown out of their conservative Christian parents' homes after coming out to them. To this day, a huge chunk of conservative Christians are fervently against teaching evolution and comprehensive sexual education in public schools. To this day, millions of people flock to see creationist "scientists" at Church symposiums, where they're fed lies and mischaracterizations of modern science by people with PhDs. To this day, millions of Christians don't give two shits about wearing masks and getting vaccinated to avoid spreading illness, yet are willing to criminalize abortion and miscarriages in many red states. To this day, so many Christians are against "welfare" and free basic healthcare for the needy and poor, because they view such people as being lazy, and want to keep as much of their wealth to themselves. 

I could keep going, but I think you get the picture.