I have really struggled with writing this post. I have wanted to write it for over a week but I am also not one to make waves or cause a stir. I finally decided this was my blog and I could write what I wanted ;)
I was really shaken up last week when the news reported the death of a freshmen college student, Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide after his roommate broadcast an encounter he had with another male. In doing some reading I was sad to find that in the last 3 months 13 other students had committed suicide after being bullied about their sexual orientation.
It breaks my heart that bullying exists.
Last week on facebook I "liked" a page in honor of Tyler.
I received a message on facebook soon after asking me why I would do that.
This person was very unhappy with me and shocked as a Christian I would align myself with that type of group. They proceeded to tell me how bad homosexuality is and we as Christians need to take a stand about how wrong it is and how I was not doing that.
I did not really know what to do. I answered the message the best I could and I personally felt attacked.
I have come to realize in the last week how much personal attacking goes on.
Not only in real life but online. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs. (Erin wrote a really great post about the negativity that exists in the blogging world)
What really bothers me about this is Christians attacking other Christians.
Two verses from John has been on my mind a lot in the last week.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
As a Christian I sometimes struggle aligning myself with others who say they are a Christian.
The church that protest military funerals and holds ups signs about God hating certain people.
When a Christian says horrible things about another Christian in a public forum.
I wonder where Jesus is in that.
If my goal as a Christ follower, a Christian, is to become more like Him...how is that becoming more like Him? It seems to be that is less like Him.
I keep coming back to what He tells us in verse 35. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Where is the love in the actions mentioned above?
Where is the love in showing hate to others, who are not Christians, and make choices we may not agree with?
Sometimes I wish we would stop being so vocal as Christians about what we disapprove of and how much of a sin it is and start being more vocal in LOVE.
God loves us just as we are. Mess and all. SIN and all.
If we are to love as He loves.
We must start loving the messes that are others. And the messes that are ourselves.
Maybe if we started loving each other... messes and all....they would know we are Christians... BY OUR LOVE.
