BFD #2

Matthew 6:17-18 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your father who sees in secret will reward you.

So I've met some pretty obnoxious Christians in my life. There are the ones who stand on the street corners holding signs saying things like "Fags go to hell" and yelling at me for being an educated woman. I guess they figure they're doing us a favor and all..."Just in case you weren't aware, you're going to burn in hell...have a nice day!" And you know those Bible verses about not judging others? They conveniently do not appear in any fire and brimstone literature.

Then there are the people who are more subdued but still very vocal about their opinions. "God says we should do this." and "I practice/do not practice ____ because the Bible says it is wrong." ....well, thank you for your unsolicited opinion.

Quite often I catch myself hating on the human race, but I quickly try to remind myself that I am not perfect, either. And even when my friends are doing something that I would consider wrong, I usually don't say anything. Instead I look at their mistakes, look at the reasons they did what they did, and apply it to my life to see if there is anything I'm doing wrong. Granted I LOVE to give my opinion, but I have been on the receiving end of "This is why you are wrong and I am perfect" speeches, and I know that it pays to be careful when confronting a friend. Crap where was I going with this?

Oh yeah...the point is, no person is perfect. No one has a perfect faith. No one has got it right. There are people who would LOVE to tell you exactly how you are wrong and why they are right. There are people who love for others to see them and say, "Wow, what a great example of a Christian life." And the sad thing is that is NOT because they want to lead a Christian life and be closer to God. It's because they want people to SEE that they are leading a good Christian life.

The bottom line of this BFD is that the people who are the closest to right, who are the nearest to understanding what it means to be a Christian, are the last people who would tell you they have it right. They're the ones who love with no strings attached, who help people because it's the right thing to do, and who LIVE Christianity. Because it's not a label, it's not a job, it's an ACTION. A path down which you walk, day by day.

You'll never get it quite right, but the point at which the way others see you becomes more important than the way GOD sees you, is the point at which you become a sell-out. And everyone reading this should read "You Are Special" by Max Lucado because it's a good metaphor for our society. It sounds like a cheesy kids book...but it is actually pretty profound.

I've had my fair share of desire for attention. Ask Andrea. I hate it when I'm with my friends and someone new comes around and steals my limelight. It's a fault I'm trying to deal with, but it helps keep me in check. Because usually when I think I'm doing really well, something happens to remind me that I'm not even close to where I need to be. And it is this constant interplay between who I think I am and who God has made me to be that keeps me on my toes and occasionally (shocking as this may sound to people who know me well) helps me to hold my tongue.

Crap...I think I've strayed a bit.

Summary: Don't do stuff because you want to look better than/holier than/closer to God than other people. That's stupid and it's a downright lie. In the end it's your heart that matters, and only God can judge your heart, so He's the one you ought to try and impress.

Disclaimer: I am not God, nor do I claim to be. I am but a human, and I make mistakes. Also, I definitely do NOT claim to be a holy person. I can be mean, spiteful, selfish, and rude and I don't want anyone to think that I think I am perfect.