I so don't get the group of people I call myself a part of. We Christians sometimes really, really don't see the damage we do by "making a point". Oh, I know all the reasons so many felt the need to stand in ridiculously long lines Wednesday to purchase a fast food meal. I know that for many folks, who staunchly support the political ideology of any company that this is important...very important. I also 100% support the right of anyone, or any company to say what they want to say, to support issues they believe in.
What I despise is how blind we all are to how this exact sort of thing, the nitpicking, the "taking a stand", the divisiveness that we somehow believe means we are "stronger Christians" but actually does nothing more than support every non-believer's opinion about us...that we claim we offer a new life in Christ which leads to finding peace, to reaching out to others in love, that is about showing what joy life can actually offer as we live in the ways Jesus taught us, but is really NO BETTER than what the world has to offer.
Now tell me, folks, how in the world is what's happening during this asinine culture war doing a SINGLE THING to help others find that joy or peace? How does this "taking a stand" draw any single person to that new life?
It doesn't. I know I have a ton of non-believers who read this blog. I apologize for what you are seeing in our public Christian discourse. It is NOT the kind of Christianity I know, it is not anything I can relate to at all. I know this is not reflecting anything at all to you that would make you have any sort of desire to step foot in the door of a house of worship. I can't even call it a "sanctuary", for the sanctuaries of America are often quite the opposite for those whose beliefs don't align perfectly with those who dwell inside, otherwise all that "Jesus loves you" stuff goes flying out the window and you will clearly be receiving the message "You are NOT welcome here...unless you want to go eat at Chick Fil A with us this afternoon..."
I am sickened that our American lives are so well off, so clearly blessed, that we think THIS is taking a stand for Jesus. Tell that to Jesus as he points to the very children my own walked hand in hand with in the streets of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Tell that to the mothers in African whose weakened bodies carry their own dying children across miles and miles of desert to try and obtain medical help...or even water. Tell Jesus that you "Made a stand for him" by spending $20 at Chick Fil A...as you strode past the homeless, the ailing, the hurting from alcohol and drug addiction...and did nothing.
And watch Jesus shake his head in sorrow and utter disbelief. Listen as he says "Did I EVER say that following me was about THIS?"
Call me a weak Christian, call me one unwilling to "take a stand". I'll take a stand, all right. My stand is "Love". If it doesn't lead others to find the Jesus I know and follow, then I am not participating. Period.
Are you as sick of this as I am? Are you Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Atheist but want to "take a stand" yourself for those who truly need us? Do you think, regardless of how his people sometimes act, that Jesus actually taught some pretty cool things? Then join with me to say "KNOCK IT OFF" to anyone of ANY faith who thinks this sort of action accomplishes anything that Jesus really wanted us to accomplish.
Do what Jesus said...provide for the widows and orphans. Show love. To everyone. Let God sort out the rest.
Donate $5 or $10 to John Wright over at www.actofkindness.blogspot.com and "take a stand" for love. You can agree or disagree with with gay marriage, I don't care. Frankly, I have a feeling that Jesus cares a lot more about feeding the hungry than he does who sleeps with who. But let's use our disgust to show a little love, not support a corporation. Take a stand, feed an orphan, make a REAL difference.
What I despise is how blind we all are to how this exact sort of thing, the nitpicking, the "taking a stand", the divisiveness that we somehow believe means we are "stronger Christians" but actually does nothing more than support every non-believer's opinion about us...that we claim we offer a new life in Christ which leads to finding peace, to reaching out to others in love, that is about showing what joy life can actually offer as we live in the ways Jesus taught us, but is really NO BETTER than what the world has to offer.
Now tell me, folks, how in the world is what's happening during this asinine culture war doing a SINGLE THING to help others find that joy or peace? How does this "taking a stand" draw any single person to that new life?
It doesn't. I know I have a ton of non-believers who read this blog. I apologize for what you are seeing in our public Christian discourse. It is NOT the kind of Christianity I know, it is not anything I can relate to at all. I know this is not reflecting anything at all to you that would make you have any sort of desire to step foot in the door of a house of worship. I can't even call it a "sanctuary", for the sanctuaries of America are often quite the opposite for those whose beliefs don't align perfectly with those who dwell inside, otherwise all that "Jesus loves you" stuff goes flying out the window and you will clearly be receiving the message "You are NOT welcome here...unless you want to go eat at Chick Fil A with us this afternoon..."
I am sickened that our American lives are so well off, so clearly blessed, that we think THIS is taking a stand for Jesus. Tell that to Jesus as he points to the very children my own walked hand in hand with in the streets of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Tell that to the mothers in African whose weakened bodies carry their own dying children across miles and miles of desert to try and obtain medical help...or even water. Tell Jesus that you "Made a stand for him" by spending $20 at Chick Fil A...as you strode past the homeless, the ailing, the hurting from alcohol and drug addiction...and did nothing.
And watch Jesus shake his head in sorrow and utter disbelief. Listen as he says "Did I EVER say that following me was about THIS?"
Call me a weak Christian, call me one unwilling to "take a stand". I'll take a stand, all right. My stand is "Love". If it doesn't lead others to find the Jesus I know and follow, then I am not participating. Period.
Are you as sick of this as I am? Are you Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Atheist but want to "take a stand" yourself for those who truly need us? Do you think, regardless of how his people sometimes act, that Jesus actually taught some pretty cool things? Then join with me to say "KNOCK IT OFF" to anyone of ANY faith who thinks this sort of action accomplishes anything that Jesus really wanted us to accomplish.
Do what Jesus said...provide for the widows and orphans. Show love. To everyone. Let God sort out the rest.
Donate $5 or $10 to John Wright over at www.actofkindness.blogspot.com and "take a stand" for love. You can agree or disagree with with gay marriage, I don't care. Frankly, I have a feeling that Jesus cares a lot more about feeding the hungry than he does who sleeps with who. But let's use our disgust to show a little love, not support a corporation. Take a stand, feed an orphan, make a REAL difference.
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