So, let's take a minute and look back at a few weeks ago and the debate over chicken. I still feel strongly about it, but only to the points that I raised in my last post. The point that chicken isn't what matters, but justice is. Our neighbors matter.
I know that by saying "take religion out of the equation," some people were not happy. That's alright. We don't all have to be happy all the time, nor do we have to agree with each other.
Today, I'm bringing religion back into the equation.
Christians and Justice. What does this mean? What does it mean that our founding fathers did not put it in the Constitution that God was "the Creator"? Were the founding fathers not Christian? Were they not believers? Did they have no faith???
NO!
In fact, they were better Christians than most of us today. This group of men came together and realized that at the heart of Christianity was not the belief that people should be punished for not believing in God, but that the world God created was centered on love. LOVE is, essentially, justice. Love in action. The world Christ lived in, and the example he set, was not to beat people who didn't believe in him, or that were different than him. The adultress was not punished, but accepted and stood up for. Christ did not deny her life. In fact, Christ STOPPED people from stoning her.
Are we doing that today?
Is the Christianity that exists in our world today standing up for people whether they are Christian or not? Just because you don't agree with someone's choices or wishes, is that any reason to belittle them? Is it any reason to deny them their life?
Is the example of Christians (the uber-conservative, picketing Christians) anything to envy? This model lends itself to PUSHING PEOPLE AWAY! I don't care how much of the Bible you know, if, in fact, your actions make people hate you! I'm not saying to go with the flow and compromise your beliefs, but to me, the essential foundation of Christianity is love and welcoming.
Justice is loving and welcoming people that are not just like you. It is recognizing our differences and yet moving forward. It is fighting for the people that are different than you. It is not differentiating. It is not denying rights.
Seriously: Where is the love? Why has love and compassion left our world in favor of hatred and division. As much good as there is in the world, and the good work that is being done, it is negated by the negativity and divisiveness.
This is not okay.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. (John 8:7)
I know that by saying "take religion out of the equation," some people were not happy. That's alright. We don't all have to be happy all the time, nor do we have to agree with each other.
Today, I'm bringing religion back into the equation.
Christians and Justice. What does this mean? What does it mean that our founding fathers did not put it in the Constitution that God was "the Creator"? Were the founding fathers not Christian? Were they not believers? Did they have no faith???
NO!
In fact, they were better Christians than most of us today. This group of men came together and realized that at the heart of Christianity was not the belief that people should be punished for not believing in God, but that the world God created was centered on love. LOVE is, essentially, justice. Love in action. The world Christ lived in, and the example he set, was not to beat people who didn't believe in him, or that were different than him. The adultress was not punished, but accepted and stood up for. Christ did not deny her life. In fact, Christ STOPPED people from stoning her.
Are we doing that today?
Is the Christianity that exists in our world today standing up for people whether they are Christian or not? Just because you don't agree with someone's choices or wishes, is that any reason to belittle them? Is it any reason to deny them their life?
Is the example of Christians (the uber-conservative, picketing Christians) anything to envy? This model lends itself to PUSHING PEOPLE AWAY! I don't care how much of the Bible you know, if, in fact, your actions make people hate you! I'm not saying to go with the flow and compromise your beliefs, but to me, the essential foundation of Christianity is love and welcoming.
Justice is loving and welcoming people that are not just like you. It is recognizing our differences and yet moving forward. It is fighting for the people that are different than you. It is not differentiating. It is not denying rights.
Seriously: Where is the love? Why has love and compassion left our world in favor of hatred and division. As much good as there is in the world, and the good work that is being done, it is negated by the negativity and divisiveness.
This is not okay.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. (John 8:7)
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