A Rant of Epic Proportions
I have a lot on my mind. In fact, I don't even know where to start, exactly. Sometimes I sit back and look upon my life with a sense of detachment, wondering how I got here, and how time went as fast as it has. I sometimes even allow myself to ruminate on how different my life is than I imagined it being when I was 16, 17, 18, even 20. Not that my life is bad, just different. Some of my dreams were idealistic, some were lofty, some were impossible, but some...well, some I should have accomplished and I have failed myself in not doing so. Some of the slack I try to blame on people or circumstances that didn't or haven't fallen my way, but when I push away all of the excuses I am left with the reality that ultimately I am responsible to God FOR myself. Period. My responsibility, my choices, my life. God gives us free will. He also blesses us with grace and forgiveness and renewing.
Integration is what has me in the stronghold of spinning thoughts lately. I am so very sick and tired of people who are Christians who set such a firm dichotomy between their religious beliefs and their lifestyle. Tired of the materialism and the fakeness...the "it is cool to be a Christian" mentality that is so rampant in my part of this state. It is sickening, really. When faced with a decision, such as the election that just passed, so many of my Christian friends (and no, I will not put that word in italics because I have no grounds upon which to stand and judge their hearts) felt that it was important to separate belief and morals from the political decision. Such things as the economy (which I agree is in dire shape) became much more important than the sanctity of life. But I feel the need to shout it from the rooftops here and now. Christianity is not something that we put on and take off. It is not a part of us. It is all or nothing. It really is. Christianity is all about a love relationship with God; a relationship that defines each and every area of our lives. One cannot vote for a leader of our country and just casually set aside their morals in the name of politics. People who choose not to believe in God or who choose not to enter into a relationship with Him can indeed do this. Their morals are something that can shift and change and be put on and taken off with the shifting whims of society because there is no foundation. But we have a foundation and our God is one who never changes. Everything traditional and conservative is being flagrantly attacked these days in the name of change. Relativism is the name of the game...there is no truth, everything is relative and a personal decision. But this is so wrong. There is truth. And even the new generation of Christians who are in our colleges right now are questioning this very thing. People, we serve a God who does not change. He accepts us as we are and extends His grace upon us, but we cannot mess with the truth of Scripture and try to make it become whatever we want it to say all in the name of comfort or so called freedom. I am so tired of people making major decisions in their lives and giving the explanation of God told me such and such. But when questioned, their reasons don't hold truth or wisdom. Instead of "The devil made me do it" Christians like the excuse, "God told me to." I am not saying that God cannot speak to individuals. I believe that He takes a very personal role in our lives, I know He has mine. But if we are ever to claim that He is urging us to do something, we had better have Truth backing us up. Not comfort, not what ever feels good, not fear. Perfect love drives out fear. Stand on the truth of God's love. We are God's ambassadors to this world. We are His face and hands, and how it must grieve Him when we deface Christianity with hypocrisy, slander, selfishness and a general wishy-washiness that leaves everyone else scratching their heads in regards to our faith.
If you have read this far and you are not a believer or you have no idea of what I am talking about, or you think I am a crazy traditionalist who probably wears a long dress and cooks over an open fire, please message me for specifics (I don't wear dresses or cook over an open fire...by the way!). Christianity, as God meant it is not what you see on television. It is not the hypocrisy that reeks from the hallways of many churches. It is a relationship. It is peace and hope and love and most of all, as much as you may think that it will hinder your personal freedom, I want to tell you that rather than take your freedom...a relationship with God through Jesus Christ grants you the freedom that you never even knew was missing from your life.
I serve a God who is the essence of love. He is the giver of grace and the forgiver of sin. He has granted grace when none was deserved. He has blessed me far more than I will ever deserve. As or me and my house...we will serve the Lord, no matter how popular that may or may not be.
Photo compliments of Amy Wenzel at www.amywenzel.com
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