Loving people more than the message of the gospel

I read a bit of Darrin Hufford's book "The Misunderstood God", and I like what he shared about himself coming to realise that "something changed in me after I fell in love with these people" because he used to love the message of the gospel even more than he loved people. I agree with his observation that in the evangelical christian world, too many preachers have put the message before the people, which "had mutated into something... that it actually hurt people rather than helped them".

I have come to see that almost every gospel message or sermon, no matter how well-intentioned it is, has some form of legalism. Perhaps the only way to love people unconditionally is to simply be with them and accept them the way they are, without trying to preach to them or fix them. I think in this respect, Darin Hufford has indeed shown unconditional love and acceptance to many people, especially through Free Believers' Network. David Hayward's forum came to mind too, as it seeks to foster an atmosphere of unconditional love and acceptance among the people.

How we can deal with belief systems that make us suffer

"Examine your possible motives for wanting to suffer. Do you deny that there’s anything wrong? Do you think it makes you a better person not to show others that you hurt? Do you enjoy the attention you get when you are sick or in distress? Do you feel safe being alone and not having to make tough choices?

Belief systems are complex—they hold together the self we want to present to the world. It is much simpler not have beliefs, which means being open to life as it comes your way, going with your own inner intelligence instead of with stored judgments. If you find yourself blocked by your suffering, returning to the same old thoughts again and again, a belief system has trapped you. You can escape the trap only by ending your need to cling to these beliefs."

~ Deepak Chopra

In response to the contemplative post above, I suppose belief systems are complex because we human beings are complex as we are all conditioned or influenced by different worldviews and experiences as we grow up in life. Perhaps our way of thinking as little children tends to be simpler and more carefree, but after growing up and facing hardship and disappointment, we begin to form certain beliefs about ourselves and others. Usually organised religions may appear to offer some help in relieving these sufferings, through their promises of "eternal life" and "salvation", but they are limited at best and misguided at worst and may only add to the suffering, such as their sin theology which causes people to think there is something wrong with themselves and others, or the idea of denying one's humanity.

Like what Deepak Chopra wrote, letting go of old limiting belief systems and being open to life can help relieve people from self-imposed sufferings. I think the Christian religion often propagates the idea of "martyrdom" in that the followers think they must silently suffer for "God" and bear hardship and even glory in their "persecutions". While there is a place for cultivating patience and endurance in life, regardless of one's religion, I think sometimes religions carry things a bit too far in this aspect, to the extent the church culture allows abuse and manipulation to go unchecked or unnoticed by preaching submission to leaders or elders and frowning against any open display of honest questioning and any expression of doubt, hurt, anger or bitterness. A recent blog and Darin Hufford's article "The Bitterness Phenomenon" came to mind, which remind people that it is ok to feel angry or bitter, and we can choose not to allow ourselves to be guilt tripped by those in the religious circles for expressing our humanity. It is our way of finding greater freedom through recovering our humanity and being true to ourselves.