Wednesday, March 31, 2010

We are called to Love.

I don't know what part of Mt 22:37-40 is confusing...

"The first and greatest commandment is 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Yet, I find myself reading about Westboro Baptist Church and the things they do. The Bible doesn't call us to judge. This church makes me so sad, making it hard to love. I just want to grieve. It is hard for me to think people can be so mean. They think the United States is being punished for their sins... yet, this church is benefiting from those very "sins". Now understand, this is not a political rant because honestly, I care little for politics. This instead is about the Bible and love.

I find myself thinking over and over about my brother's recent blog about decisions. People are always talking about God's will this, God's will that, blah, blah, blah, excuses. But I think my brother, Dakota, nailed it in the head when he said this... "God's will isn't for me to live in Joplin Missouri, That was my choice, His will is for me to be like His Son. See I have made decisions that have changed my life forever." God's will is for us to be like His Son, WOW. Really, any decision you make you should ask yourself, "am I being like God's Son?" If not, you aren't in God's will. How is Westboro Baptist following God's will? How am I following God's will?

It is not for me to judge Westboro, but their decisions have made it hard for me to do what I need to do. It is hard to love someone when that person has a wall built between you and them because of another persons actions. I have to be all sorts of creative. There is so much getting in the way of what it means to be a Christian that is makes me sad. "Christians are hypocrites and Christians hate gays" All these things are about things Christians don't like instead of about love, generosity, humility. Aren't those the things we are called to do?

I will continue to live like I am called to live. I pray that others will follow my (and many others) example. I hope people will feel the love.