I’m not going to start this post with contrived niceties: I’m tired of the us versus them mentality adopted by Christians.
Old versus young
Gay versus straight
Modern versus traditional
Pentecostal versus Evangelical
______ versus _________
Why do we as a people continue to tear each other apart? The “media” is not bullying us–the persecution happens within our own sanctions first. We are brutally ripping apart the Body of Christ from the inside-out, leaving ourselves mutilated, bitter, and unable to function correctly.
Yesterday on Facebook, I saw a shared picture that said something like “That person who has tattoos might be the most godly person you meet & the person who looks like they have it all together could be the worst person ever.” …You’ve got to be kidding me right? Why does any of that really matter? I don’t remember there being a clause in Christianity: *Appearance must line up with certain ideal or else you clearly didn’t mean it when you accepted Jesus.
(Thank goodness that God doesn’t judge by appearances, am I right? Just check out 1 Samuel 16:7 for proof.)
If we call ourselves sons and daughters of God and yet continue to sow discord, we are liars. If we don’t even love those who have been saved and sanctified by the same Jesus, how can we love God (as 1 John 4:20 states)?
I want to be a peacemaker, described as treating others with a “spirit of gentleness,” as Galatians 6:1 says. I want to be known for loving others, not pointing out the minuscule differences like age, appearance, or past sins.
This post does not have answers. I could quote a few dozen verses on peace and the spirit of discord, but they’re all in the same Book that we all are supposedly following. Sometimes I just wonder if everyone is reading maybe a different version than me?
UPDATE 7:27 PM: Found the picture…which logically, by basing statement A on appearance judgement calls, it totally shatters its own argument of not judging others…
Reblogged this on the train of his robe and commented:
This short post from my friend Kelsy describes perfectly the same feelings I’ve been feeling lately. I’m not ashamed of Jesus, but often, I am ashamed of Christians. //