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Sunday Morning thoughts:
I’ve lived all 33 years of my life identifying as a Christian. About 2 years ago, l began to question if being identified as a Christian made me complicit in the mistreatment of others by the church. I began to ask a few simple question: 1/
I’ve lived all 33 years of my life identifying as a Christian. About 2 years ago, l began to question if being identified as a Christian made me complicit in the mistreatment of others by the church. I began to ask a few simple question: 1/
1. How does my spiritual beliefs shape my morals and values?
2. Does being bi-sexual mean this group I’ve always identified with would turn their backs to me?
3. How can Christians reconcile Christ teachings with the Republican Party platform?
2/
2. Does being bi-sexual mean this group I’ve always identified with would turn their backs to me?
3. How can Christians reconcile Christ teachings with the Republican Party platform?
2/
What I discovered was heartbreaking, not inclusive, and an uncomfortable amount of bigotry.
Fast forward to the last 4 years. Many Christians doubled down on the idea that being a Christian was synonymous with American. It is not. Because of that flawed belief... 3/
Fast forward to the last 4 years. Many Christians doubled down on the idea that being a Christian was synonymous with American. It is not. Because of that flawed belief... 3/
... what happened last week didn’t surprise me. It angered me.
Some believe to be Christian you must be Republican, or come down on one side on the issues of gun control, abortion, and gay marriage.
These people have wrongly equated what it means to be Christian, 4/
Some believe to be Christian you must be Republican, or come down on one side on the issues of gun control, abortion, and gay marriage.
These people have wrongly equated what it means to be Christian, 4/
to what it means to be American and in doing so have been complicit in a racist system that prioritizes westerners over the rest of the world.
What happened Wednesday is the poorest representation of Christ and his teachings I have ever witnessed. 5/
What happened Wednesday is the poorest representation of Christ and his teachings I have ever witnessed. 5/
Well, next to those Blue Lives Matter counter protests. Many of us will enter places of worship this morning hurt by the supposed representation of Christianity last week.
Here’s a reminder about Jesus:
-he was born to a poor family with no power or prestige.
6/
Here’s a reminder about Jesus:
-he was born to a poor family with no power or prestige.
6/
-his parents were immigrant refugees fleeing for their lives from a man who was determined to kill him, and set up a system for his demise.
-he then lived as a homeless vagabond(nomad) with a bunch of outcasts(disciples). 7/
-he then lived as a homeless vagabond(nomad) with a bunch of outcasts(disciples). 7/
-he did this UNTIL he carried his own execution tool, and died a murderers death.
Jesus showed us what God does in response to the demands of good intentioned people to exert power for chaos and violence. 8/
Jesus showed us what God does in response to the demands of good intentioned people to exert power for chaos and violence. 8/
He showed us who God is, and what God does in response to evil systems of power in the world.
If you are worshipping in a place today that glorifies the oppression of other people, and condones the actions at the capital last week, you are worshipping among the worst of us. 9/
If you are worshipping in a place today that glorifies the oppression of other people, and condones the actions at the capital last week, you are worshipping among the worst of us. 9/
Today, I identify more Jewish. The Jewish faith has filled me in a way Christianity failed too. My spiritual walk is complicated, but what I know is Matthew 5 is the same in both faiths. 10/
Welcome the stranger
Feed the poor
Bless your enemies
Give your life for your friends
Care for the sick
BE A PEACEMAKER
If these aren’t principles you live by, you aren’t a Christian. You are in cosplay. 11/
Feed the poor
Bless your enemies
Give your life for your friends
Care for the sick
BE A PEACEMAKER
If these aren’t principles you live by, you aren’t a Christian. You are in cosplay. 11/
“It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.”
2 Peter 2:21 END/
2 Peter 2:21 END/
