In our world today, people are constantly fighting over who is right and who is wrong, or whose rights have been violated. Abortion rights, women’ rights, gay rights, discrimination by race, gender, nationality and on and on it goes. I think we could come up with a different topic each day to fight and argue over.
In the natural world, I do not think this will ever change. Each of us want to have our rights upheld, and we do not want to back down from what we think are our rights.
In Kingdom living, I’m not sure any of us really have any rights. We have turned everything over to God and we let His life flow through us. At least, that is the way it should be. We have been crucified with Christ, we are dead to the old self and it’s no longer about what we want, or how we want it, but letting His love and compassion live in us every day.
God created man (being both men and women) in His image. No one group of humans are better than another. There is no upper, middle and lower class of human beings. We were created in His likeness, and we are equal in His eyes. Needless to say, in our world each of us grow up in different cultures and have different opportunities and lifestyles, so there are upper, middle and lower classes based on economics, but spiritually each of us are created equally in His image.
One area that has been given a lot of light recently is the decision in Indiana of the so-called Religious Freedom Act. Although I don’t understand the law completely, it is certainly not right for anyone to be discriminated against. Truthfully, I do not know why, especially in America, we need a religious freedom act. We already have all the ‘religious’ freedom we need. True, there are certain things we feel are being taken away, but honestly, we are free to love God, talk to God anytime and anywhere, love others, attend church or not attend church, and many other things without the fear of being put in prison or killed.
In regard to the Religious Freedom Act, I personally believe the gay and lesbian community should be free to live their lives and be loved and accepted like anyone else. It seems we Christians want to demonize gay people and say they are worse than anyone else. I’m not sure why that is, but I certainly do not believe this is the way it should be.
Even those who try to show acceptance have a strange way of doing so at times, such as a recent posting I saw on Facebook stating something like .. Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes, yet you can’t make a cake for a gay couple? I understand what they are trying to say, but to me the underlying message is still saying that being gay is a sin.
Truthfully, I don’t think we are to be the judge of such decisions. We are not called to say who is right or what is sinful. We are called to love God, love others and make disciples. The decision of who is right or wrong, what is sinful and what is not is in God’s hands, not ours. The Holy Spirit will convict the worldly of any sinfulness. We are to love everyone we come in contact with, and accept them as they are….just the way God did for us.
We all have different thoughts on what is right and wrong. What we feel is wrong, may not be wrong to someone else. No matter how we feel, do we have the right to point out the issues in someone’s life that we don’t agree with or accept? Many times we want to uphold our right to express our views and point out the differences of others, when we should not say anything, show God’s love and allow God to do what needs to be done.
It seems each of us have certain sins that we consider worse than others. I’m not sure why we are so hard on some things and yet never talk about others. You never hear, gluttons can’t eat at this restaurant…is that a sin or a poor life style? Cussing isn’t allowed around here…is it a sin or a bad choice of words? Smokers aren’t allowed here…is it a sin or an unhealthy choice? No divorced people allowed to participate in our church…is it a sin or a bad choice in your mate? Why do we make so much out of making it our right to point out what we consider sins or flaws in others when we should be showing Jesus and his love to them?
Let’s face it, we all sin at times. There are no levels of sin, none that is better or worse than another. Through Christ, our sinful nature was crucified and buried at the cross. We are now free of the sinful nature, although we obviously still sin when we take our focus off Jesus. Thank God our sins have been forgiven by Christ’s death because God has provided His grace for everyone.
Just as much as we should love others and accept them for who they are, that doesn’t mean we are always going to agree. Each of us have our way of thinking and each of us have what we feel is right and wrong, and we don’t have to give that up. We do need to realize we are all different, we feel different ways about things, and we consider different things right and wrong. We should not discriminate against anyone for being different, and we should love and accept everyone and just agree to disagree on some things.
I think it is time to stop being negative and focusing on what we think is wrong, stop worrying about our rights and start realizing that God loves each of us. We need to stop putting people into groups we do not want to associate with or those we treat differently, and accept the fact that we are not all the same. We can accept and love one another in Christ by letting Him live through us, and loving those He brings into our lives each and every day.
Hey Daryl, thank you for taking the time to read my article, and thank you for your comment. It’s so good to be able to post our thoughts and feelings even when they differ. Thanks again.
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I agree with some of the article,but there is much i think is untrue or lacking.I think our founding fathers would cringe to hear”I do not know why,especially in America,we need a religious freedom act”. It is untrue that we are free to talk of God anytime,anywhere…not in many of our schools at least. Also, while some christians may be “demonizing” gay people,i find the reverse to be true as well.Worse yet are those who say they are gay christians,and perpetuate homosexuality as natural,acceptable,with no interest or desire to search the Scriptures to see what they say,(and there is not one scripture that has anything positive to say about homosexuality).I completely get the point that sin is sin,and many of us christians struggle with a variety of sin,but you dont see christians battling with alcoholism,promoting alcoholism,defending it,etc. Christians struggling with adultery or adulterous thoughts,don’t promote their struggle as “ok” ,blessed by God, I could go on,but the point is some christians are simply ignoring that homosexuality is sin,and that is wrong.When other christians stand against that,they are not demonizing gay people,they are simply being discerning and care about the Body of Christ.Also,while sin is sin,some have greater consequences.I may break the law and get a speeding ticket,but I will not suffer the same consequence as one who commits armed robbery,nor should i. Homosexuality in the Body of Christ is certainly a sin of greater consequence, and the Body will suffer if it simply accepts it.I am bothered that in the Body of Christ,there are those who “use” Grace as just a means to justify their own choices,preferences,inclinations,rather than to humbly receive the Word and allow the the Holy Spirit to teach them.The grace of God teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness….not accept it. The religious freedom act is not discriminating against homosexuals.They have put a “spin” on the whole thing misleading people. Notre Dame University did not want to be forced to have to provide contraceptives as part of their insurance coverage,as it is against their religious belief.The act was mainly put in place to protect in such a case as that. Thats not a bad thing,but good.If it upsets u,don’t work at or go to Notre Dame…and you can still purchase contraceptives anyway.Some in the gay community made this out to be something it isn’t.
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Yes, good comment. We certainly aren’t there yet, but God has already provided all we need. Seems more and more people are beginning to see it. Thanks for your comment.
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“All have sinned and fall short of the glory”… Nope, no one is left out. My job is not to judge; my job is to love them, lead them to Jesus and let God be the author and finisher of their faith. Jesus even TOLD us in John 3 “…17″For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18″He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19″This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil…” That would be right after “God so loved the world”. If I’m crucified with Christ, I’m dead. If I’m dead, I HAVE no rights. “Freedom of religion” will be stripped away, but we aren’t there yet.
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Thank you Susanne.
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Yes and amen, Mike. Very, very well said! ⭐
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