Father, Forgive Them, For They Know Not What They Do

Once again social media has become dominated with political rants, debates, hatred, judgement, and ignorance (and ignoring). I fall into the last category there-- I am first ignorant of the "current affairs" going on around me in the political realm, and secondly, I just plain ignore (getting involved) in these "discussions" of what out world, ahem, social networking world, has become infiltrated with. Certainly not to undermine that this is indeed an issue in the world, and it is not something to overlook or turn a blind eye to. The world is changing. The world has always been changing.

This post arises from the latest social media trend of the red pictures. You may have seen them. Equal signs. Plus signs. A cross. Baby feet. They have come to replace the "face" of many by becoming profile pictures. No need for words to express where one stands on this issue.. just look for the red picture that is bound to be somewhere on their profile. Then there is instant judgment. "Ooooh, they believe t h a t way?!?!? I cannot possibly be friends with h e r (or) h i m!"

 Now it is no secret that our society has this unspoken rule that if two people don't agree with each other, than the friendship cannot possibly exist; there is instant hatred. Perhaps they have tried to talk it out. Perhaps they have tried to persuade each other to "see the light." All these "fruitless attempts" and then, just like that, the friendship is ended. But we are all made unique and different. If we were all the same, the world would never advance--because everyone would be thinking on the same level. There would be no diversity among professions, dreams, goals, etc. We would all walk around in a stupor repeating what has already been said and thought up. It takes different minds, and yes, even disagreements, to make the world go 'round.

 So, what is this controversy? What has taken over our social media and turned our attention away from love? This is centered around legalizing gay marriages and equality for all people-- no matter the sexual orientation.

That brings me to this: Why judge because their sin is different than mine? Yes, the Bible does clearly state in Leviticus 18:22: "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." But it also says a multitude of other things: "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5). "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:27). "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37). That is just to name a few.

So while we are so busy here, pointing fingers, calling other out on their sins, have we forgotten that we too are sinners?? "There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans).

This situation that has arisen, leaves us with ample opportunity to show Christ's love! To shower people with the blessings that God has given freely to US!!

 What exactly does it look like to show Christ's love? That is something that I have often struggled with myself. When a situation arises that I have no idea how to deal in it, I just respectfully .. humbly.. or perhaps more like cowardly, bow out. I don't want to be uncomfortable. Almost like "I don't like the choices you are making, I won't get into an argument about it. So live your life how you want and I'll live how I want. The End. Good bye." Excuse me?!?! I don't think so! It has really been placed on my heart that this is something that I need to really rethink.

 Perhaps I need a mentality more along these lines: Discussion should be had... take advantage of any opportunity to let my cup, that is filled with Christ, pour truth out into the lives of others. And just because someone has a different world view than me, I still need to have the patience and love to listen and love. Not just that, but also take the time for them to pour out into my life as well! So we don't agree on some things, they still have wisdom to offer that I don't have. They have been though life experiences that I have not and can offer that to me. Because, again, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Not anyone is all bad.

Have you ever thought that maybe we judge others so harshly because we are judging ourselves? We have a subconscious (or in come cases, even conscious) moral standard, a set of values that we hold ourselves up to-- and then, not intentionally in most cases, try to push these off onto others claiming it is done in the Name of God? Let me ask this: When was the last time God got in your face and openly condemned you and called you out? He is so gentle. He stands there loving us in our sinfulness and brokenness. And we are called to bear HIS image! If He can do that for me, then by golly, I need to be able to do that for others.

So here we are with these posts going around online. People picking fights. People stating their honest to goodness opinion, beliefs, and being judged, rebuked, De-friended. Not in every situation, but there have been many sparks flying the past week. Tempers flare, emotions stir. And we forget that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We forget that we are bearers of God's image. We forget that we are all sinners and fall short of God's glory.

 Just because someone sins differently than you, does not mean that you can run at them with guns blazing. While it is easy to point the finger and call out our homosexual brothers and sisters, let's not. Leave the ultimate judgment up to God. Love on them. Show them Christ's love. Show them the love that you show to every one else. They are human just like you and me. And by being so harsh it may turn them, as well as countless others, off to the love of God. They may be physically here, but many will turn a blind eye, a deaf ear to you.

 Yes, we have the freedom of speech. Yes, we can openly show our support upon the walls of our social media. But don't let worldly views cloud the lens of a view much greater then this, with rewards that last an eternity.

 We call ourselves Christians, but some of our actions tell a different story. Here we are just hours away from Easter- one of the most pivotal moments in the Christian faith. Let us allow our old selves die with Christ-- our sins have already been nailed to the cross-- and let us rise anew with Christ!

 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." -Ps. 19:14

"Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." 2 Timothy 2:23-24

 "Sometimes when we do something we are unqualified to do, it qualifies us."

 Please note, "they" does not mean homosexuals -- it refers to sinners as a whole.

Spring: A Time of New Growth

God is love...

This past week has been so amazing, so beautiful, so humbling, so surreal. This past week brought people into my life who inspire me, encourage me, strengthen me, love me, respect me, and sometimes even annoy me and so so so much more. As I reflect on this past week, I am just amazed at the sequence of events. I am awe-struck at how God planned everything and how things worked out so very perfectly that no human can even try to take credit for the outcome.

There were certainly highs, and there were certainly lows. Just in the few hours that I have been home, I feel as though I am getting stuck on the lows without acknowledging the highs. Once again there are feelings that I should have, could have, would have, done things differently. But then I realize that everything worked out exactly as God saw fit. Had things happened any differently, there may not have been such tremendous inner, spiritual growth.

As I am home from Florida, the green grass has been replaced with brown dry grass and the warm, sweet, breezes have been replaced with chilly winds. The sun shines though. The air holds the sweet odor of spring on its way. Now that we turned the clocks forward, and it stays sunny out longer, spring feels all the closer. Soon the trees will be bearing new leaves and there will be flowers poking up thru the soil (or in my case they have been trying that since the end of January). Spring is a time for new growth, new beginnings, fresh starts. How blessed I am that I can say Spring Break 2012 has been a huge learning experience for me and it is time for new growth and new beginnings in my life. I hope and pray that this past week has been life changing for me and that with God's grace I can live out the life He has planned for me each and every new day.

Sometimes I feel as though I need all these profound words. Sometimes I feel that I need to explain every single situation in great detail. Sometimes I feel as though what I am saying is too simple.

One of the best things that happened to me this week didn't even happen in Florida. It happened somewhere between Chattanooga and Nashville on the way back home. I don't even remember where or when or how it even happened. I was being co-pilot. First time of riding shotgun all week. The entire van was just talking and then our driver said something which sparked an almost 2 hour long conversation between him and me while our van listened ever so quietly and patiently. All week I had been feeling like I was floating out in limbo spiritually. I was having a hard time relating to people and I did not know how to reach out to people. There was a huge burden on my chest and as much as I longed to seek advice and find answers or even just some truth to grab onto and cling to so that I could continue with building a solid foundation. After what seemed like a hectic, chaotic conversation in which I wasn't feeling a bit better at all, all of a sudden it was made clear to me by God thru my friend, my van driver, that God is Love. Simple. Truth. Straight forward. It was exactly what we had been covering all week in small groups from our packet as well as reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. But all week it didn't make since. My head has always known this, but for the first time in a long time, or maybe even for the first time ever, it hit me right in between the eyes. It landed right on my heart... God is Love. That simple. Peace flooded my heart, my soul and my mind. There was no longer a constant fight trying to find answers, trying to find a place to stand. I know God. God is love. God sent His Son Jesus to die on the Cross for my sins. That is the greatest of all examples of Love.

All throughout the week, there were many, many examples of God's love surrounding me. God was and is ever so present in this group of people. From the late night conversations, the hugs, the tears, the laughter, the sisters and brothers in Christ who were by my side the entire week, the seeing God's creation by going to the beaches and kayaking down the river and seeing wildlife, to singing praise and worship in the bus, the quiet walk down the beach crying out to God, the moments alone, the moments with new people who fan my flame for Christ, to just every single small moment, the fellowship, the new friends, the sessions, the small groups, the sunshine and so so so much more! This has most certainly been one of the best weeks of my life yet. I am so very thankful that God has blessed me with this opportunity to fellowship with fellow believers who love me and respect me, and accept me and only want what God wants for me. I don't always have to have it together. I don't always need to be smiling. I don't always, or ever, need to pretend to be someone or something I am not. I am loved for being me; for being the daughter of God that I am.

I pray for all of my new and old friends, for fellow brothers and sisters that I did not get the chance to meet and connect with. I pray that God draws you near and dear to Him and that He continues to bless you all for being such a blessing to others around you. I am honored that I had the privilege of coming on Spring Break 2012 with all of you. My life will never be the same. :)

 

Hillsong "From the Inside Out"

 

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

My Soul cries out to You
My Soul cries out to You
to You, to You

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out.