selective reading

This is particularly hard to write.

Where did we go wrong?

As the daughter of a pastor, the church very much has been and will always be the best thing in my life...but in light of several events in recent memory, I'm not even angry- just really disappointed. Last night I was reading in Matthew and I just saw Jesus come alive on the page, and his undying and unconditional love and belief in us was as beautiful as ever.

But why have 'believers' today thought that its okay to pick and choose what parts of the Bible we can believe or not? Who are we to think we can read and highlight the parts that support our lifestyles so that our consciences' can sleep with one eye open and disregard the rest to not only cheat ourselves of fullness of life in Christ but even worse- attack a fellow human being in the name of self proclaimed self-righteousness?

It's become very evident in the media that 'christians' are now seen in a negative light- we're seen as bigots, fanatics, zealots, backwards inbreds (never got this one), close minded conservatives (Disclaimer: I am not a conservative...you all knew that, but I am sick of people questioning my love for my savior out of my political stances. Anyways.) But it now has seemed that everyone can speak except for 'christians' because of such hostile views..

Where did we go wrong?

To be a Christian is to be Christ-like. Who was Jesus anyways? He loved unconditionally. He hung out with 12 rejects of the system and made them his friends. He taught us to do everything out of love because He is love. He gave everyone everything expecting nothing in return, knowing we had done nothing to earn His love and knowing that we could never do anything to pay him back. He was a King yet the gospels tell us that He "didn't have a place to lay his head." The King of all was homeless...doesn't look too much like Christians who have tried to merge belief with the American dream. (Which is why I don't buy the health and wealth teachings...I think if Jesus was truly concerned with a house in the suburbs and a 401k he woulda been born into a similar social circle himself, right? But no.)

He was love...and in love, everything changes. We can't expect to impose our beliefs on others thinking we're holier than thou and expect anything...we need to talk less and love more. Who are we to think we can reinvent God in our image? We need to encounter the real Jesus all over again and fall in love. Yes- we need to love everyone regardless of their beliefs, lives and flaws because you may seem alright but we're all flawed, don't lie.

God wants all of us or none of us...sometimes what we read may in His word may contradict us and we can't ignore it...contradiction is good because it means that I'm still in repair and even though I think I'm right I might not be and isn't it healthy for us to hear that we're wrong sometimes? 

We need a true revolution in the church...it blows my mind that people who claim Christ speak so much hate. (And to see 'believers' be so adamant that they're right bothers me.) We all make mistakes- some more visible than others, but all of our faults are there. We are all made of the same flesh and bones and arms and eyes and hearts...we're no better than our brother. I pray everyday that people that I come into contact with me see His love radiate and not me...trust me guys. Read the Gospels. I want to be like that. I want to be just like Jesus.

I dream of a day when the church becomes synonymous with love.

Where did we go wrong?