Thoughts inspired by a loving soul who is braver than anyone I know.
If you knew the truth, would you still love me? If you knew the thoughts that are in my head?
If I said I didn't know what I believed, would I still be welcome? If I didn't go to Bible study, or church suppers, would I still be the same person in your eyes?
If you knew that I lived "in sin" before I was married, and didn't consider it "sin", would I suddenly become "not the person you thought I was"?
Do you see me? The real me, the one who listens to secular music as well as hymns, the one who loves the Bible and yet reads "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"? I am both of these people. I love "Rent", even took my daughter to see it to raise her awareness. Would you judge me because I am not afraid of what is in the world? Is it wrong to acknowledge that those with different sexual orientations may love The Father The Son The Holy Ghost as much as those who sit in the pew next to me?
Does going to the "right" church make it OK to say whatever you want about whom ever you want? Does standing with a large group in your beliefs mean that you are right? Can two or three standing in their beliefs be just as right? Is there room for all of what has happened in this world since it's inception, created by a mighty hand, to find love?
God loves the gay. God loves the straight. God loves the drug addict, gambler, over spender, under tither, the weak, the strong, the unwed mother, the abusive father, the man woman child who have yet to even hear of Him. How far do we go to spread the word? Why would you stand there, saying those things against your brother or sister, when if you really love God that much, so much that you are offended by his or her questions, you aren't out on the field, reaching those who don't have the luxury of Christian T.V, Christian radio, church? If we put our money where are mouths are do we come up broke? Is it so easy to see Aids as punishment from God, terrorist attacks as His judgment, hurricanes as His way of getting our attention? Do we remember what He sacrificed? Does One who loves that sacrificially long to punish those He sacrificed for? How easy it is to hate the "different" when you see yourself as "right". Is there just one way to love Him, only one sort in many forms? I pray God forgives us for what we decide is His will, His view, His way. His ways are perfect.
The problem, it seems, is not that God's love is flawed, but that ours is.
That is so true. For the most part we take the love out of love. If we could only concieve how powerful God's love is. We would truly be happy for the rest of our lives. Good post.
Posted by: Pastor Josh | May 22, 2006 at 09:13 PM
exactly.... it's just so sad to me, what it's all become...
much love to you...
Posted by: natala | May 23, 2006 at 04:42 PM