Facebook has BLOWN UP over the past few days with Invisible Children's new awareness campaign, KONY 2012. I have been an avid supporter of Invisible Children since I watched their original documentary on my campus at University of Alabama...I don't remember what year, but it was their first year of being an actual organization. They aren't perfect but they are acting. They are doing what we are called to do in caring for the least of these. Lots of people are criticizing them, questioning their finances and their partnership with the Ugandan government. They make it clear that they do not give money to the government and they have their spending report on their website...it's not like they're trying to deceive people as to where their money goes, and whoever threw the 84% figure out there that apparently goes to staff was incredibly inaccurate.
I get that people want us to take care of "our own." But, I object to this as a Christian. Don't misunderstand me, I don't object to taking care of those that need it in America. At the same time, we have resources here that are unimagineable to people in Uganda and Central Africa. And, this organization is not funded by our government, so the objections that "we" should spend the money here is unfounded...because unless you're donating, it's not "your" money. And furthermore, Jesus said this:
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:41-26
No, I'm not saying in any way, shape, or form that you are condemned to hell if you don't support Invisible Children. I know there are people who don't support Invisible Children but do support grassroots efforts in Uganda working toward the same goal...again, not saying everyone has or should have a passion for Africa or the situation with Kony. But every Christian should have a passion for people, especially those who cannot act for themselves for whatever reason.
I AM saying that Jesus did not have America in mind specifically when He told this story. I don't believe He meant for us to only worry with our nation when talking about this type of compassion. I believe He was referring to people...everywhere. I think it's incredibly one-sided to say we should care for our own and they should care for their own. They have no capability of doing that. I saw one comment that their parents and government must not care enough to do anything. The problem is, these children have been made to murder their families...and their government is pretty corrupt as well. I think the president should definitely have to answer for the fact that Kony has gotten away with this for over 20 years...but the first step needs to be to stop Kony.
These children...they are the least of these...and they are my heart. I will not change my mind about supporting Invisible Children. I will continue to help those here as well, and I'm not wrong for that. I believe I'm fulfilling my duty as a Christian. And, my friend Kevin wisely pointed out today that if we wait for the perfect charity to do something, nothing is ever going to happen...anywhere.
KONY 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Why?
I find myself seeking clarity often. I know people probably think I sound like a toddler when I'm constantly asking why, but I believe that every action should have reason behind it...otherwise, WHY do it?
For instance, I've been at my current job a year. I've been moved to another area for one month now, and have already gotten into a groove. I've gotten to know my team and if I don't know what to do in a situation am completely comfortable asking my fellow social worker on the unit what she would do. So, why did my new supervisor decide last Friday that starting Monday, I'd have to go over my patient list EVERY DAY with another social worker as a form of "orientation?" I immediately thought perhaps I had done something wrong, but have been assured by my co-workers that this is not the case, and my supervisor says the same. I'm doing my job effectively and in a timely manner, so why suddenly do I need extra "training?" My co-worker, who is quite a bit older than me, and much, much wiser (she has kids my age) told me that I have to stop asking why so much...and that sometimes there really isn't a good reason. She told me to stop doubting myself. Oh to do that, sweet lady.
That takes me to my next point. I've felt distanced from some people since I've begun placing my opinion out there...really being honest about the way that I feel Christianity is today and how I wish it was. I was slightly fearful of sharing my heart on it all. What I don't understand in this situation, again, is why? Why can't I express the way that I feel, the way that I believe the Lord has led me to live my life? Just because I express that everyone should have equal rights, love, does not mean that I've signed to the list supporting things that the Lord defines as sin. Make no mistake, as I've said before, I know what sin is. I know what the Lord says about sin. But, I also know I sin too...and God doesn't view sin in levels...sin is sin. Frankly, I'm GLAD that the Lord doesn't see things the way that we do. Otherwise, He'd kick all of us off His list, because no sin is worse than another to Him. I mean, what is the criteria for us to decide what sin is not so bad and what sin merits a person being considered LESS than that?
It hurts my heart that I can't put my opinion/feelings/thoughts/rants out there without my faith being questioned...without my ability to understand the Lord and the Gospel being on trial. I don't want people I love to hold poor opinions of me because I'm most passionate about loving people. I almost wish I had never said anything. But just almost. I can't apologize for my heart, my passion, or my view of what Jesus would do in America today. I just really wish I could understand why people take it so personally, since after all, I just want to see a Christian culture that loves like Jesus. All the time.
Until next time, friends...
For instance, I've been at my current job a year. I've been moved to another area for one month now, and have already gotten into a groove. I've gotten to know my team and if I don't know what to do in a situation am completely comfortable asking my fellow social worker on the unit what she would do. So, why did my new supervisor decide last Friday that starting Monday, I'd have to go over my patient list EVERY DAY with another social worker as a form of "orientation?" I immediately thought perhaps I had done something wrong, but have been assured by my co-workers that this is not the case, and my supervisor says the same. I'm doing my job effectively and in a timely manner, so why suddenly do I need extra "training?" My co-worker, who is quite a bit older than me, and much, much wiser (she has kids my age) told me that I have to stop asking why so much...and that sometimes there really isn't a good reason. She told me to stop doubting myself. Oh to do that, sweet lady.
That takes me to my next point. I've felt distanced from some people since I've begun placing my opinion out there...really being honest about the way that I feel Christianity is today and how I wish it was. I was slightly fearful of sharing my heart on it all. What I don't understand in this situation, again, is why? Why can't I express the way that I feel, the way that I believe the Lord has led me to live my life? Just because I express that everyone should have equal rights, love, does not mean that I've signed to the list supporting things that the Lord defines as sin. Make no mistake, as I've said before, I know what sin is. I know what the Lord says about sin. But, I also know I sin too...and God doesn't view sin in levels...sin is sin. Frankly, I'm GLAD that the Lord doesn't see things the way that we do. Otherwise, He'd kick all of us off His list, because no sin is worse than another to Him. I mean, what is the criteria for us to decide what sin is not so bad and what sin merits a person being considered LESS than that?
It hurts my heart that I can't put my opinion/feelings/thoughts/rants out there without my faith being questioned...without my ability to understand the Lord and the Gospel being on trial. I don't want people I love to hold poor opinions of me because I'm most passionate about loving people. I almost wish I had never said anything. But just almost. I can't apologize for my heart, my passion, or my view of what Jesus would do in America today. I just really wish I could understand why people take it so personally, since after all, I just want to see a Christian culture that loves like Jesus. All the time.
Until next time, friends...
Monday, March 5, 2012
Jesus was a Revolutionary
Take a deep breath, self...breathe...breathe. I don't know if anyone reads this, as I only have a few followers on my actual blog...but I do post the link to my facebook for everyone to read, so sometimes it makes me really nervous to share how I truly feel because I come from such a conservative place, and have a whole lot of super conservative friends and family that might take things I say as a personal attack. I NEVER want things that I say to make people feel singled out. This is just something that has been on my heart and mind lately with all the crazy going on in the political world. If you think I'm talking to you, that's totally on you, because I write this from my heart with no one particular person in mind...except all the politicians and news people that cannot seem to stop saying really crazy things.
Jesus was not a conservative man. He probably wouldn't be a republican in today's America. Gasp! Also, this is not me implying he would be a democrat, either. He would probably hate politics...
I know what you guys are thinking. "Leah has become a bleeding heart liberal...Leah has "fallen away"...we just need to love her back to where she needs to be..."
Bear in mind while reading this, that I do believe in sin, and I do have beliefs on the big issues according to the Bible, which I believe to be the infallible word of God. However, that is not my point right now. My point is for Christians to try to look through the eyes of our Lord...at the person, not how they choose to live. I strive to look at people...not their choices. I know that I forget at times that I cannot expect people to make decisions the same way that I would because not everyone believes what I do. My world would be super small if I surrounded myself only with people I agree with and that agree with me. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I'm very imperfect, in fact. I judge people when they speak poorly, I say way too many snide things about clothes that people wear, I'm the MOST stubborn individual, I have a hard time admitting when I'm wrong, I gossip, I argue even when I know I'm wrong, I am horrible at asking forgiveness, I lock my doors when people walk by my car if I'm at a stoplight in the government housing section of Birmingham, as if everyone there will rob me, and I could go on, but this isn't about me. I say all that to ensure that my readers know I'm not preaching at you guys...I'm just as much at fault as any other person.
I'm not liberal. I'm not conservative. I'm not libertarian. I'm not democratic. I'm not republican. I don't know what I am, but I try to be reasonable. My heart bleeds...but not because I feel sorry for everyone. I believe in social justice. I believe with my whole heart Jesus fought for social justice, and against injustice, and that I should too. People not having equal rights hurts my heart. Jesus commanded us to go to the "least of these." He called for us to take special care of the poor, the widow, the hungry, the unloveable. He spoke to women in public places when that kind of thing was unheard of. He dined with those shunned by society. He touched those that were unclean...and in that society, HIS society, that made Him unclean...He wasn't even supposed to walk on the same side of the street as them. He walked with those that people hated (even when people could see Him.) He called people out on what they were doing wrong, called religious leaders out on their legalism, and didn't apologize for that, but also didn't stop loving them because of those things. Peter denied that he knew Jesus THREE times before Jesus DIED for him and Jesus STILL died for him. Do you HONESTLY think, if you were to sit down and think about it, your own prejudice aside, that Jesus wouldn't do that very same thing today, reach out to the "scrubs" of society? Can you even think that way? Can you put your own prejudice aside and view people the way that He would?
I feel like all of these sentences should start with "I believe" because He didn't personally tell me these things, so pardon the redundancy.
I believe Jesus would not look at a man and think "Oh he's gay," and not talk to him because of that. I believe He would not protest on the side of the road disguising His cries of hatred as "love" for girls that are walking into an abortion clinic. I believe He would not stop talking to someone that was an alcoholic. I believe He would not shun someone in church if they weren't dressed the right way. I believe He would not try to take someone's freedom to CHOOSE whether or not they'll follow Him. I believe He WOULD walk alongside that man and share His love with him, while listening to what he has to say so that he would in turn listen to Him. I believe He wouldn't care what people said if they saw them talking, because He cared about people, not appearances. I believe He WOULD be there for those that are hurting because of a choice that they made, whether or not He agreed with that choice, and offer love, offer everything He could give. I believe He WOULD be the person to drive that someone home if they found themselves in a situation where they had too much to drink. I believe He wouldn't care what people thought when they saw His car parked outside a bar at 4 in the morning. I believe He WOULD sit by that strangely dressed visitor, and probably take them out to lunch afterward. Finally, I believe He WOULD openly share that He is the way, but that it must be chosen and that He has given people the ability to choose. What is love if it's not real, after all?
Don't misunderstand me. I know Jesus was clear about what was sin and what was not. He did not, however, stop seeing the person. I believe that is our biggest problem today. We see people's choices; past, present, and future, and stop seeing THEM. We take away people's rights because of their choices...sometimes not even their choices, but how can we do that? What makes one person okay to decide what another person can or can't do? It's not okay.
I find myself flabbergasted at the prejudice in our society. I know it's naive but I cannot grasp how the color of someone's skin immediately defines them. How a girl with a short haircut is automatically labeled "butch." How an accent can suddenly make someone unintelligent. How the way someone is dressed defines who they are before they ever say a word. What is going on here? Jesus, fully God and fully man, walked the earth a vagabond. He was homeless. He most likely smelled bad, was dirty, and had a whole bunch of men who looked similar following Him, calling Him the Messiah. People probably thought He was CRAZY!! He came to this earth in a humble form, which I believe was the point. It's not about how you look...we're all human. We're all imperfect. We disagree. Why does that make those that disagree with us bad? Those that are different from us abnormal? Have we really come as far as we like to think we have in this country? This IS 2012, right? Why do people have to fight for rights? Why did women have to fight to vote?...black people have to fight to drink from the same water fountain as white people?...why are people STILL fighting for equality? What group is going to be next to have to prove their worth to have a voice? Why is this necessary? Why can't all humans be treated like humans, period? I have probably said this a thousand times in this post alone, but who gets to decide what person deserves more than any other person? I mean, I believe the Lord can make that kind of decision, but I don't think any PERSON should get to make that call.
I'm not better than anyone because I'm a Christian. I can't choose for someone whether or not they follow Christ. I CAN be clear about who I am and what I believe, and I can do that without demeaning someone. I can absolutely express what I believe to be sin without making a person feel worthless. I can express that I think someone is wrong without making them feel small. I refuse to not love someone because they choose not to follow Christ...and I will take every opportunity that I have to share Him with people, and I won't give up; sometimes people choose to follow Him because of the Holy Spirit using me as an instrument...sometimes they don't. That's something I cannot control...all I can control is my faithfulness to spread the gospel, which I strive to do whenever I'm given the opportunity. I LOVE Jesus with all my heart, and of course I want people to choose Him. But, if I'm judging them at every corner, how will I ever have an opportunity to share that love and how real it is in my life and the way that it has changed me? I won't. I love God. I love people. I don't really see how you can be a Christian without loving...people. No descriptions...just people.
Jesus was not a conservative man. He probably wouldn't be a republican in today's America. Gasp! Also, this is not me implying he would be a democrat, either. He would probably hate politics...
I know what you guys are thinking. "Leah has become a bleeding heart liberal...Leah has "fallen away"...we just need to love her back to where she needs to be..."
Bear in mind while reading this, that I do believe in sin, and I do have beliefs on the big issues according to the Bible, which I believe to be the infallible word of God. However, that is not my point right now. My point is for Christians to try to look through the eyes of our Lord...at the person, not how they choose to live. I strive to look at people...not their choices. I know that I forget at times that I cannot expect people to make decisions the same way that I would because not everyone believes what I do. My world would be super small if I surrounded myself only with people I agree with and that agree with me. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I'm very imperfect, in fact. I judge people when they speak poorly, I say way too many snide things about clothes that people wear, I'm the MOST stubborn individual, I have a hard time admitting when I'm wrong, I gossip, I argue even when I know I'm wrong, I am horrible at asking forgiveness, I lock my doors when people walk by my car if I'm at a stoplight in the government housing section of Birmingham, as if everyone there will rob me, and I could go on, but this isn't about me. I say all that to ensure that my readers know I'm not preaching at you guys...I'm just as much at fault as any other person.
I'm not liberal. I'm not conservative. I'm not libertarian. I'm not democratic. I'm not republican. I don't know what I am, but I try to be reasonable. My heart bleeds...but not because I feel sorry for everyone. I believe in social justice. I believe with my whole heart Jesus fought for social justice, and against injustice, and that I should too. People not having equal rights hurts my heart. Jesus commanded us to go to the "least of these." He called for us to take special care of the poor, the widow, the hungry, the unloveable. He spoke to women in public places when that kind of thing was unheard of. He dined with those shunned by society. He touched those that were unclean...and in that society, HIS society, that made Him unclean...He wasn't even supposed to walk on the same side of the street as them. He walked with those that people hated (even when people could see Him.) He called people out on what they were doing wrong, called religious leaders out on their legalism, and didn't apologize for that, but also didn't stop loving them because of those things. Peter denied that he knew Jesus THREE times before Jesus DIED for him and Jesus STILL died for him. Do you HONESTLY think, if you were to sit down and think about it, your own prejudice aside, that Jesus wouldn't do that very same thing today, reach out to the "scrubs" of society? Can you even think that way? Can you put your own prejudice aside and view people the way that He would?
I feel like all of these sentences should start with "I believe" because He didn't personally tell me these things, so pardon the redundancy.
I believe Jesus would not look at a man and think "Oh he's gay," and not talk to him because of that. I believe He would not protest on the side of the road disguising His cries of hatred as "love" for girls that are walking into an abortion clinic. I believe He would not stop talking to someone that was an alcoholic. I believe He would not shun someone in church if they weren't dressed the right way. I believe He would not try to take someone's freedom to CHOOSE whether or not they'll follow Him. I believe He WOULD walk alongside that man and share His love with him, while listening to what he has to say so that he would in turn listen to Him. I believe He wouldn't care what people said if they saw them talking, because He cared about people, not appearances. I believe He WOULD be there for those that are hurting because of a choice that they made, whether or not He agreed with that choice, and offer love, offer everything He could give. I believe He WOULD be the person to drive that someone home if they found themselves in a situation where they had too much to drink. I believe He wouldn't care what people thought when they saw His car parked outside a bar at 4 in the morning. I believe He WOULD sit by that strangely dressed visitor, and probably take them out to lunch afterward. Finally, I believe He WOULD openly share that He is the way, but that it must be chosen and that He has given people the ability to choose. What is love if it's not real, after all?
Don't misunderstand me. I know Jesus was clear about what was sin and what was not. He did not, however, stop seeing the person. I believe that is our biggest problem today. We see people's choices; past, present, and future, and stop seeing THEM. We take away people's rights because of their choices...sometimes not even their choices, but how can we do that? What makes one person okay to decide what another person can or can't do? It's not okay.
I find myself flabbergasted at the prejudice in our society. I know it's naive but I cannot grasp how the color of someone's skin immediately defines them. How a girl with a short haircut is automatically labeled "butch." How an accent can suddenly make someone unintelligent. How the way someone is dressed defines who they are before they ever say a word. What is going on here? Jesus, fully God and fully man, walked the earth a vagabond. He was homeless. He most likely smelled bad, was dirty, and had a whole bunch of men who looked similar following Him, calling Him the Messiah. People probably thought He was CRAZY!! He came to this earth in a humble form, which I believe was the point. It's not about how you look...we're all human. We're all imperfect. We disagree. Why does that make those that disagree with us bad? Those that are different from us abnormal? Have we really come as far as we like to think we have in this country? This IS 2012, right? Why do people have to fight for rights? Why did women have to fight to vote?...black people have to fight to drink from the same water fountain as white people?...why are people STILL fighting for equality? What group is going to be next to have to prove their worth to have a voice? Why is this necessary? Why can't all humans be treated like humans, period? I have probably said this a thousand times in this post alone, but who gets to decide what person deserves more than any other person? I mean, I believe the Lord can make that kind of decision, but I don't think any PERSON should get to make that call.
I'm not better than anyone because I'm a Christian. I can't choose for someone whether or not they follow Christ. I CAN be clear about who I am and what I believe, and I can do that without demeaning someone. I can absolutely express what I believe to be sin without making a person feel worthless. I can express that I think someone is wrong without making them feel small. I refuse to not love someone because they choose not to follow Christ...and I will take every opportunity that I have to share Him with people, and I won't give up; sometimes people choose to follow Him because of the Holy Spirit using me as an instrument...sometimes they don't. That's something I cannot control...all I can control is my faithfulness to spread the gospel, which I strive to do whenever I'm given the opportunity. I LOVE Jesus with all my heart, and of course I want people to choose Him. But, if I'm judging them at every corner, how will I ever have an opportunity to share that love and how real it is in my life and the way that it has changed me? I won't. I love God. I love people. I don't really see how you can be a Christian without loving...people. No descriptions...just people.
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