When I was trying to explain why there were so many people at Chick Fil A yesterday to my teen, I was trying to figure out the best way to explain it without taking sides or sounding like I was judging on either point but also sharing with her what I believe. I explained to her that there are some things that are very controversial, and the two that came to mind were homosexuality and abortion. People will never see eye to eye regarding those topics here on earth....they just won't. And whether I support those things or not, I have the right to express my support or non-support as long as I do it in a way that is not hurtful to others. I do not have the right to condemn or judge others ever. Support/Non-Support is very different than condemning and judging. With that being said, I have certainly been judged and have certainly placed judgements on situations and people in my life. As I've grown as a person, christian, mother, wife, friend, daughter, and in my relationship with God; I've discovered many things....REMEMBER THESE ARE MY OPINIONS!
1. I always have something to be thankful for!
2. It is not my place to judge!
3. Love is the greatest commandment, and if we all truly love our neighbors and embrace them; existence would be much more peaceful.
4. Being discerning and being judgmental are two different things.
5. I take most public things I hear with a grain of salt.
6. I can co-exist, be compassionate, embrace and have a relationship with people who dont' share my beliefs or lifestyle. It's not always the disagreement or situation which causes a ruccus, but it's usually the reaction to the disagreement or situation.
7. Not everything is God's plan, sometimes it's part of the worldly circumstances or a choice that someone has made...but God will bring good from it....if I will open my eyes and see it.
8. God is good....all the time!
If someone believes that homosexuality or abortion (I use those two just because those are two things I spoke to my teen about) are sinful things-which I'm not saying I do or do not (and will not get into that debate on FB); and are willing to condemn someone because they are gay or have had an abortion; then I should also be condemned for.....gossiping last week, or yelling at my child yesterday, or coveting my neighbor's pool, or not keeping the sabbath holy! Does that make sense? Sin is all the same in God's eyes, and as my friend Lisa said....we are sinners, we all fall short! We gossip, we eat too much, we don't honor our mother/father, we lie, we lust, we let anger or worry or temptation separate us from God; and that's just to name a few. Thank God for His mercy and grace! If we don't agree with someone's beliefs, instead of condemning them, let's love and embrace them. This is the point I was trying to get across to my teen. I have people in my life who are homosexual, who are alcoholics, who have had abortions....and it doesn't make me love them any less....whether I live the same lifestyle as they do or not, whether I share the same beliefs as they do or not, whether I believe those are sinful things or not. I also have people in my life who are not christian or have different spiritual beliefs than I do....and it doesn't make me love them any less either. And I am SOOOOOO thankful that they don't love me any less, because I am a heterosexual...non-alcoholic...christian woman who has not had an abortion...but has made my own questionable or bad choices in their eyes and mine. I will do my best to teach my children right from wrong and share my beliefs with them and why I believe the way I do, but I realize that some beliefs they will develop through their own life experiences, struggles, and relationships; and they may be different than mine. Yes I will do my best to raise my children to be accepting, loving people who know when to trust their own discernment but also recognize the difference in discernment and judging others. And I will continue to practice these things right along with them.
Romans 14:12-13
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
Yes, I think Jesus calls us to love our neighbor, but I don't limit my thoughts or the power of love and think only christians can love their neighbors. One of the general definitions of LOVE is.....Love is also a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection —"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another"
However my personal opinion AS A CHRISTIAN is that, I do believe that I have the responsibility to let people know that the love I have to share is because of the love Christ has lavished on me. If I had not felt Christ's love so fully, I probably would not be able to love others as easily. It all comes from HIM! I also believe that I have NO right to judge anyone on their choices, beliefs, lifestyle, etc.; and that should be left to Our Holy Father.
THESE ARE ALL MY OPINION! Take it for what it's worth!
1. I always have something to be thankful for!
2. It is not my place to judge!
3. Love is the greatest commandment, and if we all truly love our neighbors and embrace them; existence would be much more peaceful.
4. Being discerning and being judgmental are two different things.
5. I take most public things I hear with a grain of salt.
6. I can co-exist, be compassionate, embrace and have a relationship with people who dont' share my beliefs or lifestyle. It's not always the disagreement or situation which causes a ruccus, but it's usually the reaction to the disagreement or situation.
7. Not everything is God's plan, sometimes it's part of the worldly circumstances or a choice that someone has made...but God will bring good from it....if I will open my eyes and see it.
8. God is good....all the time!
If someone believes that homosexuality or abortion (I use those two just because those are two things I spoke to my teen about) are sinful things-which I'm not saying I do or do not (and will not get into that debate on FB); and are willing to condemn someone because they are gay or have had an abortion; then I should also be condemned for.....gossiping last week, or yelling at my child yesterday, or coveting my neighbor's pool, or not keeping the sabbath holy! Does that make sense? Sin is all the same in God's eyes, and as my friend Lisa said....we are sinners, we all fall short! We gossip, we eat too much, we don't honor our mother/father, we lie, we lust, we let anger or worry or temptation separate us from God; and that's just to name a few. Thank God for His mercy and grace! If we don't agree with someone's beliefs, instead of condemning them, let's love and embrace them. This is the point I was trying to get across to my teen. I have people in my life who are homosexual, who are alcoholics, who have had abortions....and it doesn't make me love them any less....whether I live the same lifestyle as they do or not, whether I share the same beliefs as they do or not, whether I believe those are sinful things or not. I also have people in my life who are not christian or have different spiritual beliefs than I do....and it doesn't make me love them any less either. And I am SOOOOOO thankful that they don't love me any less, because I am a heterosexual...non-alcoholic...christian woman who has not had an abortion...but has made my own questionable or bad choices in their eyes and mine. I will do my best to teach my children right from wrong and share my beliefs with them and why I believe the way I do, but I realize that some beliefs they will develop through their own life experiences, struggles, and relationships; and they may be different than mine. Yes I will do my best to raise my children to be accepting, loving people who know when to trust their own discernment but also recognize the difference in discernment and judging others. And I will continue to practice these things right along with them.
Romans 14:12-13
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
Yes, I think Jesus calls us to love our neighbor, but I don't limit my thoughts or the power of love and think only christians can love their neighbors. One of the general definitions of LOVE is.....Love is also a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection —"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another"
However my personal opinion AS A CHRISTIAN is that, I do believe that I have the responsibility to let people know that the love I have to share is because of the love Christ has lavished on me. If I had not felt Christ's love so fully, I probably would not be able to love others as easily. It all comes from HIM! I also believe that I have NO right to judge anyone on their choices, beliefs, lifestyle, etc.; and that should be left to Our Holy Father.
THESE ARE ALL MY OPINION! Take it for what it's worth!
2 comments:
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I couldn't agree more!
I love this! Russell & I just had this discussion tonight on our date night. In my opinion, God is love....period. Thank God for His grace...where would any of us be without it?!
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