Happy Easter!
We went to Church this morning and there was a great message that I wish more Churches would focus on more often… especially in the “Bible Belt” area.
It wasn’t too centered around Easter. It was a start to a new series they’re going to be doing over the next month or two about “breaking free” from the “chains”. Today’s sermon was all about hypocrisy and how much of hypocrites Christians can be. There was a pretty intense Ghandi quote that George, my mom’s Church’s pastor, read us. He said, “I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians.”
I loved to hear that this message was being preached because I was watching things that really hurt me to see yesterday. I was watching out of curiosity these little video segments from Michael Moore’s An Awful Truth. First of all, yes it was Michael Moore, and completely twisted. He is a very mislead man. But, the thing that hurt me to see was the video footage of these “Christians” in Kansas and other states saying “God Hates Fags” and “Burn in Hell Fags”. I don’t really understand how we’re getting a message out as the body of Christ that Christ is loving. We’re supposed to teach that God loves everyone regardless of what they do.
Am I trying to say that we should let gay people start having sex on the streets? Not at all, but c’mon people! We were just told in Church today to be wise about how we witness to people. It was just really good to hear a Church talk about it. So, think about it for today! I love you all!
And to any homosexual readers, on behalf of Christ, I personally welcome you into the Church to hear his message anytime!
April 8th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Awesome! As a follower of Christ it’s important that we become better by fixing ourselves first. That’s a lifelong job! We can not worry about changing others, but know that we can change others through our own actions. Nowhere in our teachings does it say that we must condemn homosexuals or anyone else. Rather, it says we must embrace those who we don’t agree with, show them God’s love, and spread the Word. You’re doing a pretty good job of that.
I love the quote from Ghandi! Don’t forget mine, “Religion is a wonderful thing until people get involved.”
Through my actions, my failings, and my successes, I am having an effect on your life and your sister’s. That’s a pretty big responsibility that I take very seriously - and I often don’t do a great job. But I do try to tell you when I fail and why and how I might improve myself. I look at you and Katie and think to myself… hey, at least I’m successful at something!
I love you, bud!
April 14th, 2007 at 11:15 am
It says in Ephesians 4:15 and 29 to “speak the truth in love”, and “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” A true Christian will follow these guidelines when they speak to issues in our society.
I believe in mercy and forgiveness and treating others with kindness and respect. I believe in honesty and justice and fighting against poverty. I believe in hard work and responsibility and persevering through hard times. I also believe in the importance of maintaining the high moral standards of purity and chastity–before and during marriage. These may be impossible to attain, but I believe that the laws of our land must always maintain this “gold standard”, and not give in to the lure of money. Anything less says that our culture values materialism and self-centeredness above all other values, and I believe that these are hollow and false premises on which to build our culture.
Keep on doing the right thing, Bill!!