Weighing On My Mind

"It takes nothing to join the crowd. It takes everything to stand alone." 

- Hans F. Hansen

It's really no secret that I'm a Christian and a conservative. Hopefully the way I live my life testifies to that and also the things I treasure and talk about. I find it relatively easy to ignore a lot of what people say to me about just believing what my parents do, or that I'm uneducated or unaware of what the "real" issues of today are because I'm stuck in some backwards way of thinking. I try to practice turning the other cheek when people attack me for my beliefs because honestly, I don't want to argue, and I don't want to engage ignorant people. Sometimes I'll say something on Facebook, only to have my opinion and beliefs ripped to shreds because other people's religions or beliefs don't match up. They call me close-minded, yet they attack me for having an opinion. Doesn't that seem just a little backwards?

Either way, I try to stay away from any sort of political or controversial topics on my blog, simply because this is a space that's all mine to express funny stories, serious thoughts or otherwise insignificant musings. We all should have a space to simply be ourselves, and this blog is that for me. It doesn't matter who reads it to me, it only matters that it gets written. That being said, today I'm going to venture into the world of rantings. I don't like to rant since I think a lot of things get said that shouldn't, but sometimes things need to be said. For all those who disagree, I appreciate your opinion and I'd be open to hearing about it, but please don't just rip apart this blog in a comment. Address me directly. I can take it.

So I have a professor who has made it no secret that he thinks the idea of Christianity is a joke. "God causes bad things to happen" are the words that poured from his mouth the very first day of class. As one who is used to professors not agreeing with my views, this still kind of stopped me in my tracks. As he continued to rant about how conservatives have it all wrong and christians have their heads stuck in the sand when it comes to real issues, etc., it was all I could do to just sit there in class. I came back and ranted to a friend who has similar views as me and got out all my anger. Perspective gave me a sad heart as I pondered what could've caused this professor to be so bitter towards certain people. I prayed for him, that whatever wounds he had from Christians would eventually be healed as he came into contact with believers and conservatives. I moved on, basically.

Yesterday though, I came across an article a Facebook friend had posted. The title of the article was something along the lines of "8 Biblical Views of Marriage" and the comment that went along with it was something like "If this is biblical marriage I want no part of it." What? I had to see what this was. The article was basically a scathing view of Biblical marriage as it was in the old testament (remember all those laws about taking a brothers widow/some polygamy that happened back then/etc) complete with a clever graphic representation. What broke my heart was the author who said that shouldn't marriage be between a loving couple (presumably not just man and woman) and not in these "old fashioned" biblical ways? It all comes down to context. What this poor author, as well as my professor, was missing was context and understanding.

First: God does not cause bad things to happen. I would never serve a God who sits up in heaven and sends out horrible things to people for the joy of seeing pain. That is NOT the God I serve and love. The God I serve and love, loves us so much that he sent his only son to die for our sins. To pay the price we deserved to pay, and to cover us with a perfect record forever and always. Thank you Jesus, my sins are gone! The God I serve and love has given each of us free-will to do what we want because no one wants to serve a harsh, demanding, legalistic master. God tells us to love him and love others, and all our actions should flow from that. If I love someone I'll CHOOSE to do things that benefit them and to honor them. I'm not forced. God does not force me into anything. That being said, because I am sinful that means I get to make choices that could potentially hurt other people. I could choose to make something bad happen. "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) God doesn't cause bad things to happen. Because there is free will and there is evil in the world, bad things do happen. The difference is that God renews what the devil means for evil. Even Joseph, after being betrayed by his brothers, having one bad injustice after another happen to him, understood this concept. "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..." (Genesis 50:20) To my professor I say no. God doesn't cause evil, but God renews evil.

Second: On the issue of this "Biblical view of marriage", perhaps some context is needed. Those prime examples the author seems to have found all come from the Old Testament. Don't get me wrong. The Old Testament is great. "ALL Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) But, in regards to these laws that the Israelites followed in the days before Jesus? They are fulfilled. What does that mean? It means that the rituals that God had in place aren't needed anymore to spend eternity with God. We had one ultimate perfect sacrifice, Jesus, thus we don't need to continue to sacrifice goats and whatever other animals. No more following this rule or that rule about wearing three tassels on your cloak or wearing your hair a certain way. Those "rules" that God had in place- which were ultimately reminders that we as humans can never do enough to be good enough for God, only one person could ever do that and provide a way- were for the time and for the people. When Jesus came, all those things ceased. Now, I'm not saying that the Ten Commandments went out the window simply because Jesus came (in fact, most of our laws in the US are based off the principles set forth in the Ten Commandments). Jesus said the most important commandment were love the Lord and love others, which basically sums up all the commandments in two. If you loved your neighbor, would you covet his wife? His possessions? Would you murder? No. 

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17) Jesus himself said he didn't come to abolish all those. Rather he came and paid the price we never could. He did all the things right that we never could. This means that all those things in the Old Testament are no longer "valid." We serve a new law, for this time, for these people. So your biblical view of marriage? Maybe check your context next time. That was for the people, for the time. And really, the Israelites  much like Christians today, made many rules that weren't God ordained, and made choices that God found abominable. It doesn't matter what we say is acceptable, it matters what GOD says is acceptable, and our actions should flow from there. In the New Testament it says that a man shall leave his house and be joined to his wife as one. Over and over it describes a relationship that is a small picture of Christ loving the church- a man loving his wife. God didn't design marriage for our pleasure, he designed marriage to say something about the way he loves us and ultimately to point people back to him and glorify him. This means a marriage between a man and woman. I'm not saying that homosexuality is a sin that's worse than any other. I'm simply making a point about biblical marriage. The REAL biblical marriage  which is a man and a woman joined together in order that the picture of God loving his Church could be illustrated and ultimately displayed for the whole world. So keep your old views, I'll take what God says as my view.

This has gone on, so I'll end it now. All I know is what the scripture says, and until I read something else that changes my mind, I think I'll keep my biblical view of marriage and of a gracious, loving and just God. 


In Him,
Jackie

Guest Post Time

Since it's been way too long since I've posted (I promise there's been nothing in my life worth writing about... it'd be a long and drawn out blog post that had no point. Which is typical, but I still thought I'd spare you guys), my lovely sister has written something she wanted me to put up. Thank the Lord I have people in my life to pick up my slack. ;)

But for real, my sister is one of my heroes. Not only because she continually shows me what it looks like to serve and love Christ on a daily basis, but because even in the negative or hard times, she is continually looking to Christ and encouraging me through her struggles. I can only hope and pray I have an ounce of her faith. She is a Paul in my life, someone who is imitating Christ and in doing so gives me an example to imitate as well. I love my sister and I'm just so blessed to have her in my life. I wouldn't trade her for the world and one of the many reasons I know that God is real is because he knew exactly who I needed in my life and he gave her to me. So, without further ado, here are the wise words of my sister!

Consistency has always been a quality I value in people. My deepest friendships are with people who value it as well. I feel safe with someone who I know will consistently love and care about me. It brings out something in me, freedom maybe. It allows me to care about someone without the walls I so easily throw up. I thrive in relationships where words are spoken and actions consistently follow those words.

                  As in everything, God has a sense of humor in regards to this need consistency I need in my life. I think, in this case, God loves teaching me through inconsistency.  I have been a victim (as I’m sure everyone has many times) of inconsistency, especially when guys are involved. A. Lot. It goes like this: a guy tells me he has feelings for me, and that little seed of hope starts to grow.  Maybe this time he’ll follow through. But then I feel forgotten and ignored by a boy who has said he cares about me and thinks I’m special but then changes his mind. Every time it happens I ask myself:  why can’t they just be consistent?

                  I have learned a lot about myself through these inconsistencies. I’ve learned graciousness, trust in the Lord’s hand of conviction, where I should find my worth and identity, how to let go and forgive, etc. However, this time is different. THIS time I’m learning something about God’s character. I have finally connected the dots. Consistency is so important to me because it is an attribute of my creator. The Lord’s affection for me will never falter.  He will never come back to me and tell me to act like his words of love and care for me had never been spoken. I have been bought at a price, and will never be returned. So, while my hope in inconsistent people continually disappoints, my savior will always have consistent affection for me. That is worth putting my hope in.

James 1:17

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”