Faith and Respect

I love Jesus. I'm pretty sure almost everyone I know would agree that's true about me. I have for awhile now and it's a major part of who I am, the decisions I make, the people I spend my time with, what I do for fun. One thing I've learned growing up as a church-goer in a fairly conservative area (there were at least 6 churches in town I grew up in) but also surrounded by people who, in my opinion, faked it, was that Christians and the church (meaning all Christians everywhere) hurt people.

• Six in 10 young people will leave the church permanently or for an extended period starting at age 15, according to new research by the Barna Group. To me, this statistic is incredibly sad, but I've watched it happen. Once lukewarm (faith-wise) parents start to allow their children to choose whether or not they will continue going to church, the kids stop going. Because mom and dad don't care what their kids believe. Agree with me or not on that issue, you have to see the growing trend of people leaving the faith. 
• I'm always slightly paranoid (for lack of a better word) that I'm going to offend someone with my faith. That may seem silly to some people, but I look at it this way: I get uber annoyed when people try to push feminism or gay marriage rights or politics or whatever else in my face. Why would anyone else enjoy me pushing my faith in their face. I don't agree with what they believe, but I choose to love and respect them for who they are because they are God's creation and He loves ALL of us, no matter what choices we make. Sure we hurt His heart when we choose to disobey or believe false things, but that doesn't make us any less His sons and daughters. 

So here's my approach: I introduce people to who I am. This is who I am and what I believe and why I believe it (when it comes up in conversation; I'm not going to force the topic nor fight with someone about it) and if they feel like I'm being pushy or disrespectful, I tell them they have the full right to tell me I'm pushing the limit. 

Example: I have this weird .... thing... going on with this guy I know. We're not dating, we're not doing anything inappropriate, it just so happens that we speak sarcasm and it turns out kind of flirty... and confusing. Especially since he doesn't love Jesus the way I do. I don't even have to ask him direct questions about it because it's answered in everything else he does and says (and not in a bad way). I talk about the situation with one of my coworkers (who is Agnostic) because I like getting her opinion. 95% of her friends are male and she is understanding to the way I feel. I explained to her why I can't just date this guy: I don't date for fun, first of all, and I don't date any man who doesn't love Jesus, especially the way I do. Sure this guy is attractive, funny, smart, caring, etc. but that doesn't negate my morals and values. Any who, tonight we were over analyzing the interactions I had with aforementioned guy, who we'll call Andy (name changed for his confidentiality... as well as mine!!!), like we typically do on Fridays. This weeks interactions with Andy were especially tricky and confusing. She again just encouraged me to ask him something and slip in something about going out. I chuckled (because I don't think I could EVER, and I mean EVER, ask a guy out) and explained again that Andy doesn't love Jesus like I do. Not that he ever won't love Jesus like me but he doesn't right now and I have to give it time. She respected my answer and flat up said it. She explained to me growing up in a very legalistic (my word, not hers--hers was "strict" but from the description, my word is more appropriate) Catholic church and was turned off by it. She doesn't go to church regularly anymore but has gone with "super-religious" friends and enjoys hearing about different religions and faiths. She has done some homework and likes bits and pieces of religions but hasn't made a decision on what she believes. She also told me that she respects me and what I believe because I don't force my beliefs on her. She says I tell her what I believe without being rude and being a great representation of the opposite of what her church was growing up.

There are a lot of Christians out there who give the rest of us a bad name. You know who they are: the ones burning the Qu'ran, picketing abortion clinics and military funerals, the ones going around telling people they are going to burn in hell if they love someone of the same gender. Don't get me wrong, the Bible is crystal clear on the issues of homosexuality, the value of life at all stages, and false gods. But the greatest commands given revolve around love, not hate.

Matthew 22:36-40

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” [emphasis mine]

 It doesn't say anything about me picking and choosing who to love. Love God, Love People. All people.

 I don't agree with my coworker who is Agnostic. But I love and respect her enough to talk about religion in way that answers her questions and simply lays out on the table what I believe is true. She can take it or leave it at her leisure. (Although I did admit to her today that I would LOVE for her to come to church with me sometime... we'll see...) And I hope she sees a little bit of Jesus in me: the way He loved and spent time with and advocated for those who did everything to hurt Him and eventually killed Him. But love conquers all and 3 days later He rose from complete death to actively show His love and compassion for us never ends. The grave cannot hold back His love for us and how much He cares for us. Nothing should hold me back from sharing that with other people in a way that will point them TO Christ, not turn them away. Jesus spoke truth and love into their circumstances. And since I'm called to be like Christ, I need to do the same. Because I wouldn't want anything different from anyone else...