Learning to love again

 

I'm very glad that I did not hear the comment at the time because I probably would've shown her to the door. I'm grateful Hunter waited to tell me once we had left the church so that I wouldn't show my hiney.

 

I thought more about it later, just frustrated with the comment, and the audacity of her to judge students, youth, CHILDREN, because the music wasn't just the way she liked it.

 

Our church is going through, what Hunter and I call, a revolution. There is a change happening in the church. The older generation is struggling to maintain their power and control over the church while it is steadfastly dying with their generation. We are part of this revolution to change the church. We want to welcome any and all folks; I don't care what color your skin is, what you have done, where you have been. All we care about is

 

where you're going.

 

After I was done fuming (for the most part), Hunter said something to me that I will forever hold in my soul:

 

You judging her is no different than her judging the music, or our youth.

 

Uhm, deep?? Me judging her for her inability to actually put her selfish desires aside to worship a SELFLESS GOD, is no different than her judging the music or our youth. Or the sermon. Or the color of the sky for that matter (ya'll laugh but I'm telling ya, there are some folks who will argue this).

 

Thanks to Hunter, I realized I cannot judge her. Yes, she still irritated me. But I need to love her. Just as Jesus has called us to.

 

I need to still love those who spit in my face for my faith. I still need to love those who mock my God. I need to love those who say they are "Christian" but still live a lie.

 

Because I am NO DIFFERENT. I am just as much of a sinner as they are. And you know, what they do is between them and God. What I do, is between me and God.

 

So today I challenge ya'll, just as Hunter challenged me (thank you Lord for that man!). I challenge ya'll to LOVE those that make you so mad, you could just spit nails. I challenge you to embrace those who are full of judgment, just as Christ embraced those who judged and condemned Him.

 

I challenge ya'll to be a part of a revolution to change the world. Start small, in your home or church, and spread outwards. Show people the true reason why Christians do what they do. It's not to judge others, or belittle them for their different faiths or lack of. It's to show the love of Christ as He loved us.

To myself: I pray that I can fully love without restraints. I pray that I am slow to anger, and quick to love those that ruffle my feathers.

 

To the elderly woman who sat behind us yesterday in the pews of God's house: I pray for you and your heart to be more open to change. I pray that you will someday, maybe not in this lifetime, realize your hurtful words. And lady, I gosh darn it love ya!