Love Wins.

Lately my mind has come back to the white elephant in the room, if you will. I have avoided posting anything about it on my personal social media because I fear people unlike myself want their voices heard (read: I don't comment on controversial issues on facebook). Since I'm sure nobody reads my blog besides maybe 2 readers and it's really just an online diary, I've decided to write something. :)

My heart is so saddened and hurting for my generation, my nation which I have no choice but to call a hypocrite nation. One who laments with the murders of 9 a church shooting, but rejoices in evil in the face of a Holy God. 

So what then can I do? What do I do? I feel so hopeless and helpless when I look all around me and people I have been raised with in youth group and taught along side in college youth are now posting rainbow pictures and liking same-sex posts.  I think I feel saddest the most by those people because I expect more from them. I have plenty gay friends and am not offended by their celebrating, I see why. But from the believers: Is this the future of the Church?

I feel so counter culture. Anti-American.

Christ tells his followers in Luke 9:23 that if anyone wants to come after him, he is called to deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Christ. A cross is much more than a fashion statement. It is a means to die by. I think it goes without saying this includes your comforts and fleshly desires.

Homosexuality is a desire of the flesh and I believe with the power of the Holy Spirit it is possible to control it. It is a sin just like any other but the difference between it and heterosexuality is that one God created (Genesis 2:23-24) and the other man created (Genesis 19:4-7, Romans 1:26-27). Clearly heterosexuals can and do sin when they enter into pornography, adultery, and premarital sex.  

So why then as a 26 year old do I feel so against the grain, countering culture for my beliefs? Because Christ calls us to die to ourselves by taking up our cross daily. It's not easy and neither is going against culture. Which is why I think a lot of people do it instead of standing for what it right.

And how do I respond?

On my knees. Asking the God of mercy for just that - mercy. He is the only one who can convict and turn the hearts of the people.

And another thing. The 5 Justices? They too will answer to a God one day being held responsible for their decisions.  (As will all of us).

The United States is not the first country to legalized same-sex marriages, nor will it be the last. Go talk to the Christians in the countries where it's been legal for a while, they can provide testimony that it will be okay. I know it's hard to swallow right now. I'm sure the evangelicals the Roe v. Wade decision was made also had a hay day, and if facebook had existed back then, it would have been the talk of the web then too.

Fellow Christian, please be an example of love. John tell us in his gospel that we will be known by our love to others. Let us show the love of Christ, but ever so cautiously with your words during this sensitive time.

Love has already won 2000 years ago and it's because of that love we can (and should) live in peace with others. And love will win again when He comes again in His final glory.

Articles I've agreed with for further reading:

http://www.faithit.com/5-things-jesus-would-say-to-the-gay-community/
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2015/06/26/but-what-does-the-bible-say/

Four Wall Christian Homes.

I lived in my Christian 4-wall house for far too long. And I think a lot of Americans still do, if I'm not wrong.

And I don't mean we don't know pop culture or the world. I think we do that a little too well.

Let me explain. 

I was reading a really great book last week, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, and in it we hear the story of a devout Muslim raised in America come to faith over a 4 year journey in college. One of the things that amazed me reading this book was that this boy raised as a Pakistani Muslim, knew so much of the Bible. Now, facts or twisted truths, that's a different story. But none the less, his family had a KJV Bible in the house growing up and when talking to Christians as a Muslim, he could refute their faith, always anticipating what they were going to say. This amazed me! Growing up Baptist, we never learn anything about any other religions. Is that not the truth? To this day I have trouble knowing the difference because Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, honestly.

So, maybe when I say American Christians live in their 4-wall houses, I mean their Christian home and there is nothing else. No rooms, closets, no where to find out about other religions. NOBODY but Jesus in that household.

Now clearly I'm not wanting idols. Far from it! I also think we make idols out of the smallest things, from iPhones to husbands, but we'll save that for another day ;)

But is it bad to talk about those other religions within the home?? I never once growing up talked about Orthodox Judaism or Islam. What I learned about it was from the television. Reverse that. Do I want Muslims or Jews learning about Christians from what they see of it portrayed on t.v.?? Heck to the NO!  They make us out to be pious no fun duds!!

How are we supposedly to evangelize and teach truth if we don't know what we're speaking against? I realize the Bible stands for itself, but if we don't know what others believe and teach, how will we know what angles they have? We'll be blindsided.

Or how about Ramadan. I really don't think I knew anything about that growing up, but now I know more, finding that it's maybe the second most important month in the Muslim calendar? It's their holy month, full of fasting and seeking Allah. And it's known that during this time God often reveals himself to them in visions and dreams! It's a wonderful month to celebrate in prayer in fasting alongside them and I encourage you to look it up if you don't know much about it here.

I'm so grateful to God for making me aware of many things now, but I feel like it was a cost to myself. But the good, is that now I have a lifetime left to discover how to use what I know and to continue studying it!

Tunesday Tuesday.

Embracing Accusation by Shane and Shane. We'll call this a celebratory post since the guys are working on a new album, Psalms 2!!! :)