Lately I have had a couple of people who are not related in any way, shape, or form talk about how a person who calls themself a christian has judged them.
Now, before I go own I have to say that asking someone to obey rules in your home is different from judging a person. Many people establish rules in their home which create boundaries and safety as well as confirm their values. This is not what I am talking about. I am talking about people not having a relationship with someone, or telling you not to do something or talk about something you do in church. Asking others to behave and follow what they believe to be christian behavioral standards when the people they are asking aren't even christian to begin with.
Also, if anyone actually reads the Bible, the whole Bible, even just the whole New Testament, they will find out that Jesus came to tell these very people (the ones imposing the behavioral rules) to take a hike and straighten up. See, Jesus came for those who needed love and forgiveness, and he died at the hands of the people telling him to "obey their rules". Jesus was crucified because he refused to obey silly rules, and instead chose the heart of what God wanted.
Jesus hung out with lepers, prostitutes, insane people, seedy extortionists, and he dared to talk to a woman who was ousted by her community because she had had so many husbands that she had to avoid the gossip and gather water when everyone else was avoiding the hot sun. The man even touched dead people when that made you an outsider. He gathered the children to him when others tried to shoo them away.
So, if you DARE stop talking to someone because you don't like what they do- SHAME ON YOU! Its one thing to keep unsafe people from being alone with you or your children, its another thing to not even talk to them. (and if you cut off the relationship, shame on you for being just as closed minded!)
If you don't want someone to talk about who they are or what they do when they come to church, SHAME ON YOU!!! Seriously, because I think Jesus just shed another tear. Jesus doesn't want us to be clean and shiny on the outside, but dirty and contaminated on the inside, the wants clean from the inside out.
Perhaps the day when people use religion as just another way of judging will never come to an end.
My friends, I say to you that Jesus loves you.
Jesus loves you if you are gay, straight, black, white, green, purple, broken, infested, misdirected, sick, toreup, built up, ugly, pretty, sane, insane, fun, boring, dead, stealing, hiding, sinning, judging, fumbling, fat, skinny, weak, strong, angry, sad, confused, irritated, hurting, smelly, lame, retarded, addicted, screwed up, messed up, f'd up, nuts, lonely, busy, sorry, mad, happy, sore, crazy, sane, average, American, African, Chinese, whatever. Jesus loves you - not because of who you are, but because of who He is.
And on behalf of everyone who ever judged you or hurt you in the name of Jesus, I apologize. Especially for what I have done.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Just because you are "christian" doesn't mean you are perfect. No one is perfect. So quit expecting us to be perfect, and call us out when we are acting un-Christ-like. Instead of judging us, you might help us to be more like Jesus, which is really our goal.
I want to know you, and love you for who you are, and have a relationship with you. I want you to know and have a relationship with Jesus. If you can start with the first sentence, and realize I might screw up, then let's be friends. I want to show you what the grace of God has done for me.
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