One of the things that bothers me in today's society is that if you don't accept something... if you don't adopt a certain way of thinking... then you are considered a hater... a judge..... non-christian... or a "judgmental better than thou Christian"... This way of thinking drives me crazy....
I have my beliefs and my beliefs do not necessarily go with the "politically correct" way society is today... But one thing that must be understood is this: Because my beliefs and my value system is different than some... that does not mean I judge them... it does not mean I condemn them.... it does not mean I hate them.. It does mean that I do not agree with them and I choose to live my life differently...
Acceptance and Judgment has a very fine line..
I don't believe in having kids before marriage.... but I would never point my finger at someone and judge them... I would never condemn them.. their children.. that is a ridiculous thought...
I don't agree with gay marriages.. I believe a marriage is between one man and one woman... but I would never tell a gay couple that they are wrong.. I would never place them in a defensive or hurtful position... Frankly, a very dear friend of mine married her partner of over 20 years... I love her and her partner... and in that love we respect each others beliefs... it's okay we disagree...
I don't believe in getting so drunk that you lose perceptive.... you lose rational thought.. I do believe drinking is okay in moderation... for some.. But I would never serve alcohol at my home if there was someone there fighting a drinking addiction.... because I do not believe I am being a true friend if I tempted them with something they have a hard time controlling...
I don't believe in sex before marriage... I am not going to pretend that I was innocent the day I got married... so far from it..... way way far from it... and I have had to pay the price for my indiscretions. Having to fight precancerous problems for the rest of my life because I slept with the wrong guy in college over 20 years ago... Not being able to give my husband that special gift of myself.... I hope and pray that my girls will use better judgment than I did..
I do believe in love.... I do believe in acceptance.... I do believe that we were all created by the same God and that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.... whether you have accepted Him or not... I do believe that regardless of our beliefs and value system we must find a way to accept one another and respect our differences... and not place judgment...
10 comments:
I agree with you.
Amen sista... I do agree with you also! Thanks for sharing your opinion! ♥x♥x
Well stated...especially the last words..."and not place judgment"...God bless.
Great Blog :)
BTW I tagged you
http://kdking0541.blogspot.com/2009/09/tag-youre-it.html
A wonderful post Kelly. Thanks for sharing your thought with all of us.
Although I strongly agree with you that we are not to judge a person's state of soul...or their Salvation...nor are we to condemn them...I do differ in opinion from you in that I also strongly agree that we ARE supposed to judge right from wrong...and speak it. To admonish a person's sins is an act of charity...not hate...and I hope that those who love and care for me will always have the courage to admonish MY sins when they are evident to them.
I actually think that if we know that fornication and gay sex is wrong and we don't say something...then we are doing a DIS-service to God, to ourselves...and to all people...I think there is a danger...when we try to live in a way that "accepts" our brother in his sin...to cross a line into validating it through our silence.
I think of Jesus...often people say "He ate and dined and socialized with grave sinners"..but they fail to leave out that He did that in order to call them out of their wrongful ways of living...not to simply say "well...we disagree, but so be it".
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this...if you don't want to keep up the discussion here on your post (where I've already taken tons of room)...I'd love for you to email me...you know the address!
As always, I'm blessed by my visits here Kelly! THANKS!
Thanks for your thoughts, and the post. I try not to judge others either, but deep down I believe we all do, some way or another, maybe we just don't speak our thoughts. The bible says that we would know them by the fruit they bare. It really does not matter if I agree or disagree with how people live their lives, but it comes down to, what does the bible ( Gods Word)say about it? The bible also says that we should be of a sober mind, and I know that it is talking about a clear mind, but I use to drink, and even one drink changed my way of thinking. I fight my flesh everyday, and drinking would only add to this. Some may drink only have one drink here and there, but me, one would led to another, sooner or later. I don't agree that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, Without HIS salvation in us, we can not be in HIM, so therefore, we can not all be brothers and sisters in Christ. Thanks for your post, and being open on what you believe. Its OK if we agree to disagree on some matters. I'm sure that a lot of people don't agree with me, and thats Ok. God bless
As to Steve's wonderful comments above...I believe that we have "separated brothers and sisters in Christ"...meaning...Christ makes Himself AVAILABLE to ALL of us...and therefore EVERYONE can receive His gift of Salvation...which...in a certain way...unites us all...but, like Steve wrote...since not all ACCEPT that gift...we also remain separated in Christ.
I am interested to know your thoughts Kelly (or anyone else's as well) on whether or not you see a danger, in being willing to "accept" what you believe to be sinful relationships, actions, or beliefs...that your continued interaction and tolerance becomes a certain "validation" of the sin.
Does not Jesus teach us to FLEE from temptation and to FLEE from satan's works? If we become willing to overlook the sin by allowing it in our homes, etc...(such as in homosexual relationships)...are we not, in an unspoken way, condoning and validating is as though it is a TRUE relationship? I love your post and am VERY interested in your thoughts because you have touched upon an issue "tolerance vs judgment" that has been rearing its head in my life lately. I am learning and discerning much by what I read here. THANKS!
That was a great statement of belief about beliefs. Very well said and I love the tone you say it in. Nice job.
Good Morning Kelly,
Your statement of beliefs was well written and I concur 100%
I have a key fob that says it all for me..."I am not religious, I just love the Lord"...as I really do not like when people are referred to as being religious.
Have a blessed week..
ALBERTA Lori
Powerful post and powerful comments! Your header is beautiful!
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