I realize that everyone has the choice to decide who they
are and are not friends with on social media and I think that as a whole on
facebook I keep my head down and out of any controversial
statements/remarks. However, what I
think that has left me is cowering to sometimes not say what I believe in hopes
that people will not be offended. So
here it is, let me put it out there. If
you didn’t know before, I’ll tell you now, I am a Christian (gasp). If you
choose to unfriend me now based solely on that, then please stop reading. However, if you are open minded you will not
make assumptions about me because of that fact.
The heart of the message of the bible (God’s word), is love. Not hate, not divisiveness, not segregation,
not political party, no, if anything, it is in contrast to those concepts.
That being said, let me clarify some things. I believe America was created so we could be
free from religious ruling and based on the fact that all men (and women) are
created equal. Thus, I believe that gay
marriage should be legal. Whether you
agree or disagree with homosexuality, it is not anyone’s place to impose their
beliefs, religious or otherwise on someone else. I have spent enough time in countries where
my “religion” (I hate that word) was the minority and trust me, you don’t want
that imposition to happen to anyone. I
believe that every person should have access to healthcare (no, this does not
mean I believe Obamacare is necessarily the way forward). I also believe in fiscal responsibility. I do not think it is right that my husband
and I work very hard to pay off our debt while our country continues to spend
well outside our means. I believe that
there are some very hard working people that live in this country that do pay
taxes and abide by the laws that live in fear everyday they will be kicked out
because they were not born here. I also
believe there are many people who were brought here well before they knew any
different and know nothing other than this place as their home yet are still
not welcome here. So where does all this
leave me politically? In nowhere land.
Where that leaves me is in disbelief that our system works
as is. More than healthcare reform, we
need political reform. And yet when those that make the laws have a vested
interest in keeping the system as is, change will not happen.
However, I believe there is another way. I believe that if we (people who call
themselves Christians) and those that may not believe in Christ but still want
good for humankind, would focus less on who is in office and more on what it
means to love, the world would be a better place. Love means providing for those that are less
fortunate, sharing what we have with those that don’t, opening our homes and
our lives to those around us, and truly caring about people…regardless of their
gender, sexuality, race, political affiliation, etc. Some may say this is socialism at its best…and
in some regards, the concept is the same.
But socialism put forth by mandate does not work. Government requirements to feed the poor and
other well intentioned government programs just make people that pay for those
programs bitter and angry. I’m not
saying this is right or wrong, it is just the reality of what we have seen in
societies around the world. And,
unfortunately, that bitterness and anger turns into flippant complacency and
selfish ambition which can lead to feelings of entitlement.
No, the only way this concept works is if love is the
motivation. And for those of you/us that
are Christians, shame on us for not making love the motivation of every aspect
of our lives. Yes, we are going to mess
up, we’re human, but the world would be a much better place if everyone who
claims Christianity would live by this concept.
So many times the “Love” passage in 1 Corinthians 13 is used at weddings
and yet, it was not written for that specific of an audience. While it applies to that, it does not ONLY
apply to that.
If I speak in tongues
of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a
clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the
mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can
move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. If I give away everything that I have and hand over my
own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no
benefit whatsoever.
Love is patient, love
is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant; it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t
irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for
all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. As
for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop.
As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end. We know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be
brought to an end. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child,
reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve
put an end to childish things. Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see
face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same
way that I have been completely known. Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three
things—and the greatest of these is love.
I could go into all the details about how we have enough
food in the world to feed every human yet people starve to death everyday and
how families in America have the wealth and space to house all the orphans of
the world if we would open our homes to them. Shoot, the money spent on the two
biggest political campaigns this year could change entire third world countries! If love is our motivation and driving factor,
these problems could be completely stamped out.
I hope you got to this point and didn’t shut down as soon as
I said the word Christian. I think
Christ would be sickened by what is said and done in his name both today and
historically. I realize that these thoughts and desires about “saving the world”
are a bit idealistic. The good thing is,
part of my belief system is faith and I do have faith that we, as humans, are
inherently good.
If now, at this point, you still want to unfriend me please
do so. And in the future, if you have
questions about who I am, please ask me before making assumptions.
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