Taking Offense

I usually pride myself on having the ability to be "neutral" when it comes to other peoples fundamental belief systems.  After all, I have learned that there are people out there whose belief system is just as defined and as "set" as my own.  I have learned that no matter how strongly I feel about any one thing, there is some else out there whose feeling is just as strong as mine about the complete opposite.

In contrast, when I was younger I used to pride myself in my ability to argue with  those whose views were in complete contradiction to the things I believed.  Now, however, I realize that just like they cannot, and will not, change my beliefs, I cannot and will not change theirs.  In reality, what makes a person change their belief system?

I believe it is only GOD.

But what if you don't believe that? What if your belief system says, there is no God?  Am I therefore to sit there and argue with someone whose foundational belief goes against what I am trying to prove?

No, what's the point of that?

So I decided a long time ago that instead of doing the damage many people who share my faith have done and turned my back on others, I would embrace them instead.  I would not tell them of my belief system, I would show them.  I would be the person who they should expect  ridicule or judgment from and instead be fun, and loving and understanding.  Since adopting this method I have found more people become more open to hearing about my belief's than if I sat there, Bible in hand, and preached a bunch of words to them.  Although, truth be told, it always ends that way....but now, that they have experienced love from me they are open to listening...so it works out :)

I have made it a point to try my best and be honest when I am asked about my beliefs but to be gentle and speak in truth and love when I disagree with the opposing beliefs of my friends.  I try very hard not to be the "typical media Christian". You know the one...the one who claims to have love and yet is full of hateful divisive words that hurt more people than bring people to Jesus.  I try to accept the differences in us all but never compromise what is in my heart.  I try and learn about what others believe and hold true.  I made it a point as I was getting older to not be someone who only believed what others told me...just because.  Or to base my whole life and faith on what my parents raised me to believe.  Because the truth is that when mommy and daddy are out of the picture you better know what you believe or it will crumble under the weight of temptation and desire.

So unlike many who share my faith, and perhaps against what many would advise me to do, I went outside my faith and studied many other belief systems.  I read many books and learned many things.  I reached out of my comfort zone and tested my faith and the things I believed.  I looked into other traditions and cultures and religions.  And although I can honestly say that there are some cultures and traditions that are so beautiful and symbolic and moving for their symbolism, the reality is that its a lot of fancy talk for religion.   Religion is not something I am comfortable with.  I have never had a religion.  Oh, I can see why many other people want to lump me into the religion that identifies with many of my beliefs about Jesus and the Bible....but Jesus has NEVER related to me as a religion.  So I truly identify my belief system as Christian only because I believe in Christ.

So then why would I go from having no religion and a relationship with a Living God, to a religion where I have to perform acts and jump through hoops and see myself as this slug under a celestial being???
And on the other hand, why would I go from believing that "I can do all things" because the Author and Perfector of all life has got my back, to depending on my own limited power and limited capabilities? Cause let's be real...no matter how much I BELIEVE that I can LITERALLY move a LITERAL mountain, it AIN"T gonna move because I am human...and I am finite....and I am limited.  I may move symbolic mountains with positive thinking, but that only works because it is based on a BIBLICAL TRUTH. But if God so desired to grant me the ability to say to Everest, "MOVE"...then guess what?  It will move. Not because of me, but because the God that put it there moved it.  After all the searching and reading and looking to prove that either my parents and their beliefs were wacked or stupid or wrong in some way, I had to come to the conclusion that, get ready folks, THEY WERE RIGHT.  And what's crazier is that instead of pulling me away from the God that I knew since I was a child...all those other belief systems made me run faster back to him and deeper cemented my faith.

Here I am, all this time later, with a much stronger belief because now I can say, I KNOW GOD IS REAL.  I KNOW what I believe is true.  I am fine with talking and even making friends with people who don't share my views because I can see that many of them have been hurt by religion and by people who speak the name Jesus with a knife in their hand.  And I feel that if I can just show them that, although we may not agree, I can love you through this situation and respect your beliefs and what you hold dear to your heart because I realize that it is just as important to you as my beliefs are to me.  

What I find most INFURIATING is when I am not extended the same courtesy.

It bothers me when I try to be sensitive to others and their opinions and not shove my Bible and my God down their throat but they are experts at shoving their "stuff" down mine, and I am considered close-minded and inept if I disagree with their quests for "truth".

It bothers me when I say "I will pray about that" or say anything having to do with my Bible and my God and I am met with eye rolling, sarcasm and defensive remarks. But I have listen to things about the "energies" and "the universe" and "the power of positive thinking".  God forbid I should say, "Well, my God has all power of the universe to positively affect my life".  OMG, if I said that I would be told I might as well believe in unicorns.

It sends me over the edge when I go out of my way not to say things like, "THAT IS THE STUPIDEST THING YOU COULD BELIEVE" or "Why are you wasting your time searching for answers in so many different places when there is really only one place to look you dummy!" but others have no problem with attacking my Bible and my God and calling me naive or a person with limited or lack of intelligence for my belief in God and the Bible.

What I want to do is fight.

But what I realize is that I would be a terrible fighter.

I cannot fight for God.

He can take care of himself.

I don't need to defend him.

He is my defender.

I don't need to protect his image.

He protects everything about me.

This kind of thing makes me sad in reality.  Have we as "believers" done such a crappy job at representing God that now people can blatantly mock him and ridicule us with indifference and no sense of remorse?  Has it become THAT unpopular to say, "Yes, I am a Christian"?  Who do we blame for this?

US

The so-called "Christians".

It is us who have bred an environment of hostility and apathy.  We have killed, to some extent, our own opportunity.  So basically, Jesus sat with "sinners" and LOVED EVERYONE and we took that message and destroyed the LOVE EVERYONE part just to keep the "sinners" part so we could feel good about ourselves that WE accepted the truth over the "sinners", who did not, who deserve to be treated poorly.

Thus bringing my current situation into fruition, where people I know can outwardly mock my God and call me a "judgmental religious freak" under the guise that they have the right to express their opposing view while I have just been brainwashed and since science killed the idea of God anyway, have to shut up and realize that my beliefs are fairytales.  And what's funny is that people like Gandhi are able to make fun of us too!

Is it fair that I can't talk about what or who I believe in but I have to be sympathetic and understanding and non-judgmental and supportive of things I don't agree with?  Is it fair that I can be called names and laughed at because I believe every letter, every word, every sentence and every paragraph of the Bible but I can't tell someone what I think about their stupid book?  Is it fair that I have been asked to sit and listen to messages, watch videos and have discussions that are all based on how there is no God and to believe in him is foolish but NOT ONCE am I given the opportunity to show those same people videos and messages and discussions that prove that he is real?

No it is not fair.

So what to do?

I don't know.

Pray I guess.

Stand on what I believe.

Be a better example than those of the past.

And maybe let things and people go who don't give me the respect and time I have always given them.

Hmmmmmm....

Now there's and idea...