Thursday, April 12, 2012

Not me

Lately I've been seeing a lot of posts on The Facebook that kind of make me want to kick people. In the face. While wearing steel-toed boots.

The political posts are one thing. Everyone has an opinion and some people are going to rant and rave about theirs. I pay no more attention that than I did to the guy who was riding his bike past me when I was in the Avon Walk who shrieked at me about "killing the planet with my car!". While I was walking. Not very intelligent, that one.

Politics don't mean that much to me, I guess. My faith does, though.

I've seen several rants recently posted on the walls of my friends, about religion. About God. About the Bible. Mostly I don't let this bother me. Because it's Facebook. And as much as I love Facebook? It's really not much more than a stupid distraction. I love stupid distractions. They don't really change my life in any tangible ways.

But these posts I've been seeing? Nearly every one of them used the word "us".

Don't tell US how to worship. Don't tell US who to vote for. Don't tell US we are wrong when we are right.

I am a Christian. You don't speak for me.

Because you know what? My God loves you. My God loves my friend who is an priest (and also a lesbian). My God loves my dear friend who is a female Baptist minister. My brother who is at the very least agnostic? He loves him too. My God loves and blesses me even though I certainly have done nothing to deserve it. Even though I fail him every day.

I am extraordinarily imperfect.

So are you.

But my God isn't.

And he loves me, AND YOU, all the same.


You don't speak for me.

You don't speak for my God.

Because my God, the one I believe in, does not hate or oppress people because of their gender. Or their race. Or their political affiliation. My God loves everybody. Even horrible people. Even people who completely do not deserve his love. Even people who curse too much. Even liars. Even sinners.

Like me.

LIKE YOU.

I don't speak for my God. I am an idiot, but not arrogant enough to think I could ever know the mind of the Lord. I could be a much better representation of His love, and I know that. I know that every day. I'm getting there. I'm working on it.

He loves me all the same.Even though I can't often articulate the way I feel. The love I have. Even though I'm an emotional nightmare and pretty much only feel safe around my own kids and my husband. Even though I am a mess. A mess. All. The. Same.

If you decide to speak for God, I certainly can't or won't stop you. But if you do? At least try to speak the way God would. With kindness. With love in your heart. With at least some forethought about who God is. Which, in case it needs to be said, is not a hateful, hate-mongering, sack of hate. God is mostly completely anti-hate. In case you didn't know.

I'll never, ever understand why people who seemingly want you to come around to their way of thinking trying to accomplish this by behaving as though they are right and you are wrong and you are a complete idiot and nah-nah-nah-boo-boo-stick-your-head-in-do-do. Or by being a judgmental ass (I said "ass". Judge me). I promise that when you behave that way? The opposite is achieved. Much like my declaring "WHATEVER!" when I'm losing an argument with Jason...it's pretty much a total fail.

But you know what?

My God loves those people anyway. He loves ME anyway.

Because my God is awesome.

Also? He thinks I'm rad.



(Really. He told me it was cool to say that)

9 comments:

Little Red Hen said...

I love you. And our God, but also you. So bad.

Thank you!

Christina Berry said...

Well said, beautiful friend.

mumof3boyz said...

Just another reason why I love you and your blog!! Thanks for the reminder! And I think you are rad also!

Principled Slut said...

Yeah well God is right then. You *are* rad. :) And very right about this.

My brother in law pulled something similar recently on my facebook. I posted a statement with a link to the article about JCPenney and Ellen and that million moms group. I compared it to the 60's civil rights movement, and said I support anyone who stands up against hate and discrimination.

My brother in law, who is a minister, replied "except Christians". Apparently by supporting those who stand up for a lesbian, I am not standing up for Christians.

I guess he knows God better than me, since he's a minister. I wanted to reply that I support all christians who stand up against hate and discrimination too, but I decided to NOT start a family war on my wall!

Kim said...

You and your commenters inspired this post. It has been rattling around in my mind and heart for a while. Thanks for the push.

http://tinyurl.com/86vvb6t

queenrandom said...

I know you're rad.

I couldn't have put it better myself. In fact I can't. Cool if I bloglink this?

Bethany said...

Amen!

Toritopia said...

Thank you. I believe that it is not up to us to decide what God wants or what God judges. That is His job, not mine. If we want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we should love others, be accepting of others, even if we don't agree with their choices. It is not up to us to judge. I try to remember this every day. It is hard sometimes. Mostly when I visit Walmart, but I try. ;) I wish more people would try as well.

Thank you for this post.

C. Todd Dolen, DVM said...

You are awesome. Were you creeping on my page? ;)