Kelly: I just read on Yahoo! that the main front runner for Westboro Baptist church passed away today. If you are not familiar with WBC, please spare yourself the images and their viewpoints. To sum them up in the Kelly Korb fashion, Westboro Baptist Church are a family based in Kansas who's websites displays "God Hates Fags." They picket at soldier's funerals, thank God for the death of soldiers and other individuals and preach in my opinion messages of sheer hate and intolerance. But yes, the main church leader has passed on. Without a doubt he has met Jesus face to face and has gotten what God will give him. I will be completely honest, when I first read the news I had mixed feelings. Anger, relief, pity, the lot. I'm ashamed to say at first I thought to myself that perhaps this guy got what he deserved. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought of this; it doesn't matter what I think or feel about this guy and this "church" and their views of others and the world. This guy claimed to follow Christ, as I do. He read his Bible, prayed with his family and went to church every Sunday. I do the same thing. So really, we are the same, but perhaps not. I think it's our understanding of God that makes us different.
I have ZERO tolerance for hate or disrespect of any kind, because the God and Jesus I know and have read about does too. I also know that God is a vengeful and jealous God and He hates sin and sinners...have you read the Old Testament? But here's me; I will flat out say that picketing the funerals of soldiers and saying God hates "fags" is wrong. Flat out wrong. The Bible says Jesus loves all of us, each and every one, right down to the hairs on our heads. I will not picket this guy's funeral or parade around Berea holding signs that say "God hates Westboro Baptist Church," because frankly God loves them too. But I will continue to spread the love of Christ in what I say and do to others, no matter who I meet. I will continue to show the world of the God that I know and love. I will pray for WBC not that they would be changed, but that they too would learn or re-learn of the same love that God has extended to the "fags," the soldiers they protest and to them.
Holly: I'll admit, the first thing I thought when I read of Mr. Phelps passing was something like "I imagine he and Jesus had a pretty interesting conversation." Then again, I can't claim to speculate what our own encounters with Jesus at the end of our lives will be like.
Straight up, I do not agree with the views of Westboro Baptist Church. I think it's even a bit of a stretch to call Westboro Baptist Church a "church". I don't think Mr. Phelps was leading a church; I think he was leading a cult. But that's just my opinion. Some of the things he said were just downright frightening. It's frightening to go on their website and see "God Hates Fags" as plain as day, plastered all over it. That is NOT the love of Christ I've learned about. That is NOT the love of Christ which drew me into a relationship with Him.
He and his church were notorious for picketing and protesting funerals of soldiers, celebrities, and others. I've read numerous comments saying his own funeral be picketed. But how does that make us any different from them? We're "fueling the fire", so to speak, and you and I both know that that doesn't solve anything. The truth is that people, ALL people, are going to think, speak, believe, feel, differently than we are. Perhaps that message never quite got through to WBC. Maybe it did. I'm not really sure. On the flip side of all of this, my human, Christ-following, compassionate side comes out: Mr. Phelps was a father, a grandfather, a leader of a church, someone's friend. This father, grandfather, leader of a church, someone's friend, has passed away. Death is a sad thing, regardless of your immediate feelings.
Having said all of this, I will say that because of WBC, I will strive to further spread the love of God, the God who is a God of LOVE. I will show love to my neighbor: my gay neighbor, my Hindu neighbor, my male neighbor, my black neighbor. No exceptions. I will pray for WBC, that they would come to know the God of love that I love.
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. -1 Corinthians 13:13
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label forgiveness. Show all posts
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
H and K have church...but not in the way you'd think
Holly: Church was cancelled this morning...well, last night, actually. Anyway, we didn't go to church this morning. Instead, we slept in, had pancakes and coffee, put on some praise and worship music and just talked: about God, about how older Christian music is better, about work, about Doctor Who. And then this came up. The following is an excerpt from my journal writing on Saturday evening, shortly after watching the third season finale of Doctor Who (and random excerpts will continue cropping up):
I can't help but think of this particular exchange: Here's the Master, who's corrupted all of planet Earth, who's forced Martha's family to watch countless people suffer terrible demises, who's tortured the Doctor and transformed him into a pitiable state. But through the redemptive power of the human mind and spirit, and Martha's courage and love for the Doctor, the Doctor is regenerated back to his present form, where he is able to meet the one who understands him probably better than anyone. 2 Time Lords. Given all the Doctor knew the Master had done, he could have banished him to any one fate. Instead, he tells the Master "I only have one thing to say to you. I forgive you." God, Your forgiveness to us, your sin-filled children whom You love dearly, is NO different. Because, let's face it, the Master didn't deserve the Doctor's forgiveness. And we don't deserve Your forgiveness.
Guys, forgiveness and love changes lives. So often we choose to take the easy way out, which is to hold onto with ever-increasing strength whatever grudge we have, whatever bitterness we've been harboring, whatever pride we can't let go of, what have you. But I truly believe that that is not God's will for us. God sent his son into this broken world and broke the chains of all the junk we hold onto. We ought not to live in bondage to our mistakes and our sin; it doesn't have the last word! You do! And you speak love: love that surpasses understanding, breaks barriers, changes hearts and minds, brings people together, drives them apart, and it goes on and on...Forgiveness is scary, sure. The Master cowered in fear from the Doctor as he put his arms around him and said "I forgive you." The night before he died, Jesus pleaded for another way out.
And then there's love. There's a quote somewhere, and I'm butchering it, certainly, but it's something like how Jesus was on the cross in the way he was and that was him saying "I love you." The Bible says we love Him because He first loved us. The sad irony of the end of that Doctor Who episode is that the Master died in the Doctor's arms. There has to be an extraordinary amount of love in there somewhere to literally hold your enemy until his last moments. Pretty powerful. I'm thankful for those who lead by example: in this case, Jesus and the Doctor.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love." -Romans 12:9-10
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." -1 Peter 4:8
Kelly: While I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with all that has been said above, there is one more element I want to add that I think is equally important; trust. It too can make or change lives for the better or the worst. The quote as old as time goes "it takes years to build up trust and seconds to destroy it." But one thing I definitely admire about Martha as a companion to the Doctor is her unending trust in him. On a whim, she decides to put her trust in this man that she barely knows but something tells her to take a chance. As the series progresses, she gets to know him better. I think of the verse in Isaiah where it says "Here I am, send me!" It's the true heart's desire of a servant of Christ; to lead where He goes without really knowing what the plan is. It's how I felt when I first started following God; I didn't know Him all that well, and I didn't trust Him that much. But as I got to know Him and spend time with Him, that trust has continued to build. (Proverbs 3:5-6). In the 3rd series finale, which was a very powerful episode, there was one part that made me think about my relationship with God. It made me think that perhaps I was meant to find this show. In a scene, Martha is talking to a group of refugees as the world is about to end. She is telling of her experiences with the Doctor. Just read this below and see what I mean:
...But if Martha Jones became a legend, then that's wrong because my name isn't important. There's someone else. The man who sent me out there. The man who told me to walk the Earth. His name is The Doctor. He has saved your lives so many times, and you never knew he was there. He never stops. He never stays. He never asks to be thanked. But I've seen him. I know him. I love him. And I know what he can do.
I mean...WHAT? You read that and you Christians, tell me. Have you EVER felt that way about Jesus? I know I have! That night, before I went to bed, I thanked God and told him that even though I may not see Him with my eyes, I know Him with my heart. He has saved my life so many times, and sometimes I knew it, sometimes I didn't. It may sound silly, but I truly do believe God can speak to us in so many ways, even in Doctor Who. You may not want to trust God sometimes, but something tells you to take a chance, like Martha did with The Doctor. Listen when it does. Your life may never be the same.
I can't help but think of this particular exchange: Here's the Master, who's corrupted all of planet Earth, who's forced Martha's family to watch countless people suffer terrible demises, who's tortured the Doctor and transformed him into a pitiable state. But through the redemptive power of the human mind and spirit, and Martha's courage and love for the Doctor, the Doctor is regenerated back to his present form, where he is able to meet the one who understands him probably better than anyone. 2 Time Lords. Given all the Doctor knew the Master had done, he could have banished him to any one fate. Instead, he tells the Master "I only have one thing to say to you. I forgive you." God, Your forgiveness to us, your sin-filled children whom You love dearly, is NO different. Because, let's face it, the Master didn't deserve the Doctor's forgiveness. And we don't deserve Your forgiveness.
Guys, forgiveness and love changes lives. So often we choose to take the easy way out, which is to hold onto with ever-increasing strength whatever grudge we have, whatever bitterness we've been harboring, whatever pride we can't let go of, what have you. But I truly believe that that is not God's will for us. God sent his son into this broken world and broke the chains of all the junk we hold onto. We ought not to live in bondage to our mistakes and our sin; it doesn't have the last word! You do! And you speak love: love that surpasses understanding, breaks barriers, changes hearts and minds, brings people together, drives them apart, and it goes on and on...Forgiveness is scary, sure. The Master cowered in fear from the Doctor as he put his arms around him and said "I forgive you." The night before he died, Jesus pleaded for another way out.
And then there's love. There's a quote somewhere, and I'm butchering it, certainly, but it's something like how Jesus was on the cross in the way he was and that was him saying "I love you." The Bible says we love Him because He first loved us. The sad irony of the end of that Doctor Who episode is that the Master died in the Doctor's arms. There has to be an extraordinary amount of love in there somewhere to literally hold your enemy until his last moments. Pretty powerful. I'm thankful for those who lead by example: in this case, Jesus and the Doctor.
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love." -Romans 12:9-10
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." -1 Peter 4:8
Kelly: While I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with all that has been said above, there is one more element I want to add that I think is equally important; trust. It too can make or change lives for the better or the worst. The quote as old as time goes "it takes years to build up trust and seconds to destroy it." But one thing I definitely admire about Martha as a companion to the Doctor is her unending trust in him. On a whim, she decides to put her trust in this man that she barely knows but something tells her to take a chance. As the series progresses, she gets to know him better. I think of the verse in Isaiah where it says "Here I am, send me!" It's the true heart's desire of a servant of Christ; to lead where He goes without really knowing what the plan is. It's how I felt when I first started following God; I didn't know Him all that well, and I didn't trust Him that much. But as I got to know Him and spend time with Him, that trust has continued to build. (Proverbs 3:5-6). In the 3rd series finale, which was a very powerful episode, there was one part that made me think about my relationship with God. It made me think that perhaps I was meant to find this show. In a scene, Martha is talking to a group of refugees as the world is about to end. She is telling of her experiences with the Doctor. Just read this below and see what I mean:
...But if Martha Jones became a legend, then that's wrong because my name isn't important. There's someone else. The man who sent me out there. The man who told me to walk the Earth. His name is The Doctor. He has saved your lives so many times, and you never knew he was there. He never stops. He never stays. He never asks to be thanked. But I've seen him. I know him. I love him. And I know what he can do.
I mean...WHAT? You read that and you Christians, tell me. Have you EVER felt that way about Jesus? I know I have! That night, before I went to bed, I thanked God and told him that even though I may not see Him with my eyes, I know Him with my heart. He has saved my life so many times, and sometimes I knew it, sometimes I didn't. It may sound silly, but I truly do believe God can speak to us in so many ways, even in Doctor Who. You may not want to trust God sometimes, but something tells you to take a chance, like Martha did with The Doctor. Listen when it does. Your life may never be the same.
 |
| Take a chance. Your life may never be the same. |
 |
| Love. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)