And so it begins...
That seems like an appropriately epic enough beginning, don't you think? To all those dear folk who may just stumble upon(isn't that a really cool website thing now?) this blog, good luck! Here you'll find my unmasked honesty as I share learned truths and struggle to find the truth in a world that has so much muddled up mess that sometimes you have to dig pretty deep to find the truth. I'll share the wisdom that I have gained at my ripe ole age of 25(....to anyone who's angry with me for that statement...joking!..sorta) as well as the stupidity I'm trying to shake off me.
So whose words are you reading? The words of someone who does believe in absolute truth, and believes lies like to masquerade as watered down truth. This someone believes that there's a difference and that not everything leads to truth as we are being forced to believe. This someone has heard some really great sounding ideas that looked like light and felt fun...but in the end it just led to death. This someone doesn't want to encourage death and darkness because she's too scared to confront a lie that might hurt someone's feelings. That's not love...that is fear and I'm done being a coward.
What truth do I stand on, then? The only truth...the truth that there is this amazing, wonderful, kind, loving, just, beyond your imagination, not limited by my human speculation...GOD who created each and every one of us with love and a purpose. A Majestic power who tells His story of creation to redemption to restoration from Genesis to Revelations. A Marvelous artist whose creativity is copied every day in attempts to make beautiful things. A Father who has made us like him, to take care of his earth(which we've done a pretty shitty job at), love with everything we've got, make things like He did, and enjoy life! If you're wondering where I'm getting THIS info from...read the Bible in a new light and see His heart. If you're offended that I said shitty(I almost deleted it so that I wouldn't offend anyone...then I got a grip) and have decided I can't possibly be a true lover of Jesus...I think it's time to call things for what they are...don't you?
So, without further ado...let's buck up, figure out what our ground is, and take a fearless, love grounded stand on it.
That seems like an appropriately epic enough beginning, don't you think? To all those dear folk who may just stumble upon(isn't that a really cool website thing now?) this blog, good luck! Here you'll find my unmasked honesty as I share learned truths and struggle to find the truth in a world that has so much muddled up mess that sometimes you have to dig pretty deep to find the truth. I'll share the wisdom that I have gained at my ripe ole age of 25(....to anyone who's angry with me for that statement...joking!..sorta) as well as the stupidity I'm trying to shake off me.
I make no promises to be politically correct or a people pleaser. I'm happy to say that I have broken free of that prison. Although it's never my intent to hurt anyone's feelings...don't we live in a world that has become so cowardly and wimpy in a fear of "hurting someone's feelings" that you're ready to gag? I am...(and I'm constantly told by my family I'm too sensitive). To a world that is too scared to give definite answers in fear of being sued, disliked, or persecuted, look out because there is a tired generation from 97 year olds all the way down...who is ready to stand up for something. I am one of them.
So whose words are you reading? The words of someone who does believe in absolute truth, and believes lies like to masquerade as watered down truth. This someone believes that there's a difference and that not everything leads to truth as we are being forced to believe. This someone has heard some really great sounding ideas that looked like light and felt fun...but in the end it just led to death. This someone doesn't want to encourage death and darkness because she's too scared to confront a lie that might hurt someone's feelings. That's not love...that is fear and I'm done being a coward.
What truth do I stand on, then? The only truth...the truth that there is this amazing, wonderful, kind, loving, just, beyond your imagination, not limited by my human speculation...GOD who created each and every one of us with love and a purpose. A Majestic power who tells His story of creation to redemption to restoration from Genesis to Revelations. A Marvelous artist whose creativity is copied every day in attempts to make beautiful things. A Father who has made us like him, to take care of his earth(which we've done a pretty shitty job at), love with everything we've got, make things like He did, and enjoy life! If you're wondering where I'm getting THIS info from...read the Bible in a new light and see His heart. If you're offended that I said shitty(I almost deleted it so that I wouldn't offend anyone...then I got a grip) and have decided I can't possibly be a true lover of Jesus...I think it's time to call things for what they are...don't you?
So, without further ado...let's buck up, figure out what our ground is, and take a fearless, love grounded stand on it.
Definitely something I've had to struggle through, especially in sharing the gospel. So, I'm interested in your opinion on, what constitutes a righteous offense versus an unrighteous offense? How should/should not a Christian be offensive (or as some might understand it, intolerant)?
ReplyDeleteHey Scott, you've struggled with being totally honest with where you stand while being loving so that you didn't turn someone off? Is that what you mean? If it is...I have struggled with this plenty. I never want to come off as closed minded and hateful...but in the effort to not do that, many times I've lost the chance to truly communicate the power of the very truth I was trying to protect, and in that...I wasn't truly loving the person.
DeleteI don't think we should be offensive in the sense of screaming in peoples faces and valuing only counting them as a soul we're out to win. I don't think we should be unnecessarily rowdy and out looking to rile up other's feathers just for the sake of riling them up. I care about the other person and will no matter how they respond to me, even if they never choose Jesus...I will still love them...but I also don't want to pretend that I agree with what they're saying or that everything they believe is right on.
That is hard to say, and it's hard not to compromise...it's really tough when someone looks you in the eyes and says "so you think your belief is better than mine?" But, the problem is that the mindset there isn't even where I'm at. It's not that at all...it's that I believe my God is the only God, and I love you enough to tell you that so you can experience this beautiful life I'm experiencing even at the risk of you being mad at me or calling me arrogant or narrow minded. I feel like...you can't be a follower of Jesus without people sometimes misinterpreting us and being offended(def. happened enough times to the prophets and apostles and...christians as a whole have given some not very Christ-like reasons for people hating us) .
Jesus offended people left and right and called out the self-righteous and didn't apologize for it...yet he loved those who were aching for it with the most amazing kindness and mercy. We have to listen for that small voice of the Holy Spirit...I'm still learning. AND...if that's not what you were asking, haha feel free to clarify and I'll try again :)
And...I think that being intolerant...wasn't always a bad thing, it's just become the hip thing to call people who don't believe every religion and opinion is equally valid. The reality is that some things...aren't good for us. I'm intolerant of human trafficking and murder...lots of people are...but they don't get attacked for being intolerant of it. I hope that sort of makes sense...
Yes, you understood me perfectly.
DeleteSo, at first my struggle wasn't with being honest. I pissed plenty of people off. Then, when it finally dawned on me that it was me offending people, not my message, it became the "struggle to be totally honest with where you stand while being loving so that you didn't turn someone off."
The gospel carries in it plenty of offense, we don't need to add to it. The simple truth that EVERY man falls short of the glory of God is offensive to man's pride. I don't need to add my own offense (pride, mostly of the "not only am I Christian but i'm also intellectually superior to you" type) to the already offensive message that man needs to be saved.
I think a lot of people get the idea of tolerance wrong. Tolerance necessarily dictates that there is a disagreeance that I love and respect you in spite of. Not that I agree that your position is equally legitimate.
I'm a bit nervous about a conversation Kelly and I will probably have to have soon with a friend of ours. We've recently befriended a lesbian bartender. She knows we're christians and although she isn't, she still has respect for our beliefs. We're supposed to be going out to dinner soon with her and her girlfriend. Kelly and I both know that eventually, the topic of their lifestyle will come up in relation to our (kelly and I) religion. It's going to tough to be both honest and loving in such a way that they feel our disagreeance and our love.
God's so good...He pierces our hearts. Thanks for your honesty about where you've been. So many of us...have arrogantly done the same. I will be praying that those women sense your love and are disarmed by it more than they are offended by your honesty.
Deletei like that you said shitty. really, lets call it what it is. miss you friend.
ReplyDeletemiss you :) you are the best person I know at calling it what it is. Thanks for teaching me to stand my ground.
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