this strawberry tastes amazing! part 2.

then again, there are way too many areas where I feel the Christian community has become bound by legalism, by putting God into a box simply so we can call one thing black and the other white, so we can understand it and feel safe.

and I hate this so, so much.

too often we focus on rules, and what's "bad" and what's "good" and create a safety net around ourselves, in order to keep the world away. not even to stay in the nonconforming state, but we push the world and those associating with the world away.

seriously. consider this. some Christians condemn others who frequent bars in order to establish relationships with the lost, and to share the hope of Jesus with them. yes, obviously it would be stupid for someone like me (24 year old, blond hair blue eyed single white female) to do this. as would it be for someone who had alcohol addiction problems. but in the sense that a strongly planted man of God, then why the issue? Jesus set the example by hanging out with the prostitutes, tax collectors, and those with leprosy. who's the equivalent in our society? well let's think...prostitutes, of course. maybe the homeless? or how about former sex offenders? perhaps even the gay community?

instead, we find our churches sanctuaries of people who spend endless amounts of time with each other, learning how to reach the world, while at the same time, getting offended by gay rights, Christians who swear, get tattoos, and go to bars.

rather than condemn that which you cannot understand.....maybe we need to build a relationship with the person we cannot accept fully. maybe we need to learn to understand their heart- and love the person Jesus died for.

yes. sin is sin. but not everything is black and white, is it? honestly, is it? and how can a person know that Jesus loved them and died for them, when all we ever do is judge the externals?

:: love wins ::


essentially what it comes down to is I feel caught between the extremes, some people on one end and others on the other. and I know naught where I stand, in many aspects. there's ultimate truth and God's law and His standards. but there's also grace and forgiveness and redemption and mercy. trying to mesh it all together is often a mind-boggling and confusing thing for me to do, especially when I get such opposing views. and please.....if you're going to comment, don't tell me what to do. and if you don't fully understand what I'm saying, ask questions before stating your opinion. It gets wearying, having people jump to conclusions or assume they understand exactly why my thoughts are what they are.