If you could post one message to the world, what would it be?
I’m a Christian. I’m typically not vocal about my faith, unless asked. At times, I am even hesitant to mention I’m a Christian because of what that has come to mean to so many people. To be perfectly honest, I am often embarrassed and ashamed about how I and other Christians have presented ourselves to the world. It makes me shudder to think how many times we may have slammed the Kingdom doors in the faces of seekers.
Yesterday when I stepped out do a few errands, I happened to look up at a sign. My neighbour, a generally kind church-going lady, posted a message on her balcony. The message reads:
Homosexuality is a sin
And I support the rights of the Church
And parents to teach this truth.
If you’re a Christian, have you ever wondered what the rest of the world thinks of Christianity? The basic theme that I have heard and seen is: Christians hate abortion and homosexuality. Is it any wonder that Christianity is perceived in this way? I don’t think so. This is the message, however unintentional, that we send out and it’s heard loud and clear! Wait a minute Diana – I don’t do that! Maybe not, but that’s the perception out there and perception is reality.
I don’t mean to be flippant or simplistic but as I recall Jesus did not come to earth over 2000 years ago preaching this message. As a matter of fact, every example I can find where Jesus was correcting or rebuking people was aimed directly at the religious leaders of the day! He accused them of looking the part and not living it. He accused them of making rules that no one could obey – not even them. He accused them of oppressing the poor and making excuses about not helping them. I could go on and on…..
So why are we so hell-bent on voicing our opinion toward those who have a certain sexual orientation or those who have had abortions? Why that and not murder? Domestic violence? Greed? Hatred? Racism? Ignorance? Sexual Abuse? Discrimination? Who made us judge and jury? The way I see it we all fall short of perfection. And if we think we can justify ourselves by laws we can’t even keep ourselves, we’re fooling ourselves. There’s nothing about a wagging finger in my face or a personal attack that compels me to run into the arms of my attacker. Why would I? Who in their right mind would?
If I could post one message to the world from God it would be:
You are loved, just the way you are.
I have always loved you and I want you in my life.
And I support the rights of the Church
And parents to teach this truth.
I say all of this realizing that we all walk our own personal journey. And it is not my intention to suggest that we shouldn’t try to live our lives in a way that we can be proud of. We all have our own calling or mission in life regardless of our beliefs. We need to be true to ourselves. We need to be the same on the inside as the outside. We need to allow others to embark on their journey as well.
Let me ask you this (I really want to know): If you could post just one message to the world, what would it be?
talktodiana 
Come as you are. If you are damaged, broken, restless, tired, unhappy or unprepared, it does not matter. You do not come to Jesus when you are perfect, you come from wherever you are, whether your dressed in rags or adorned with jewels, and He will work in your heart and perfect you. You do not need tools or skills or to meet a check list, when you ask him into your heart he will equip you with all you need, because he already loves you. You don’t need to prove to him that you are worth it, he has already accepted your worth. He will make you whole, and shake up your life and all you have to do is ask him too.
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I love you Michaela!
Mom xoxoxoxoxo
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Diana, Really fabulous. Today’s post, and this one.
🙂
Lisa
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Thank you so much Lisa! I just checked out your blog and I love it – I will check in with you often.
Cheers,
Diana
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Thank you Diana! I am hardly ever on WordPress anymore, but I am trying to change that.
🙂
So nice to know you!!!
Lisa
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Great post! (I bounced back here from an older post on A Critical Eye where you sent me in the first place!)
As you may know, dad was a Lutheran pastor, so I was raised in the church. I’ve varied over the years from belief to atheism and currently reside in Decisive Agnosticism leaning towards believing in something. As my dad began to descend into Alzheimer’s, he got into a rabid anti-gay thing that was hugely disheartening to see. (Stupid phrase, but true: Some of my best friends, etc.)
To this day no one has been able to explain to me how homosexuality “threatens” marriage. The idea is stupid beyond belief. I wish more people were smarter about their own religion and what it means. (Sounds like you’re one of the smart ones! I’m not surprised, and it’s a shame you would feel embarrassed about faith… I can appreciate the why, though. I can say, after so many years in the church, that many, perhaps even most, give faith a good name. It’s a vocal minority that give it such a stink of hatred.)
You’re right on about wishing people would focus on real social problems. The energy spent in, for example, picketing a funeral with anti-gay hate signs could be so much better spent. And I wonder how many of those hate-mongers were wearing WWJD bracelets…. oh, the bitter irony.
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Thanks for weighing in on this Smitty and I did not know your dad was a pastor! Alzheimers is an awful disease and it actually alters a person’s personality sometimes. I’m sure your dad was a good man. It’s an old cliche, but I believe love the answer to almost everything. But then again, I’m an optomistic, head in the clouds, believe that humanity is basically good, kinda gal!
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Yeah, Alzheimer’s is devastating to loved ones. My mom gets the worst of it, seeing the man she’s been married to for 60 years slip away leaving just a living body behind. She thinks now that she noticed changes in him as long ago as 30 years back. Those changes really accelerated in recent years as the disease took hold. But my dad touched many lives for the better over the years.
I think that, absent many of the horrible influences we experience, people are basically decent and good. Bad experiences and greed and power corrupt that basic goodness.
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yeah when we don’t keep ourselves in check things can go awry!
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You just reminded me of one of my favorite poetry lines. From the famous Robert Burns’ poem, To a Mouse.
“The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often awry,”
(“The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley,”)
Gang aft agley! I want a tee-shirt that says that!!
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There are custom t-shirt places – go get one! That would be quite the ice-breaker. 🙂
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“If you could post just one message to the world, what would it be?”
We all have the power to create our own heaven and hell right here on Earth.
We can focus on becoming more kind, compassionate, generous, forgiving, and loving, and by doing so become surrounded by kind, compassionate, generous, forgiving, and loving people, or we can take the opposite approach and be surrounded by unkind, uncaring, greedy, unforgiving, and hateful people.
The choice is ours, every waking moment of every day of our lives.
Russ
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beautifully said. Thank you.
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Reblogged this on A Robin Hood's Musing and commented:
Amen to this. Worked with Dianna for years serving those in need, and growing hope, encouraged to see she is still speaking for the marginalized.
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Ty thank you for reblogging this and your kind words!
Blessings…
Diana
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Great post Diana.
I am a religious skeptic, but really IMHO this has little to do with religion and more about human nature.
People are judgmental, it is something that is primordial and a part of the human defence mechanism,
They are different; therefore something to fear or ostracize.. (Although maybe this theory doesn’t play out well in a creationists mind)
Unfortunately when toxic memes or thoughts are supported by a group, whether church or any other organized group it becomes viral, and like minded individuals feed off each others fears and hatred; using other peoples poorly researched information or biases to justify their fear or discomfort with difference.
Even worse is that generations of children are indoctrinated into this mind set at a young age, and the longer you are involved with anything, the more it becomes acceptable and is more easily accepted into your beliefs.
The growth of religion in Canada over the last 10 years is what has caused me to become more vocal about my religious skepticism, so it seems that if you are of any belief, seeing the “opposing side” become more visible or outspoken, encourages dissenting opinions to become more vocal.
And the Wars begin : (
If I had one thing to say to the world it would be:
Worry about yourself, If you don’t like it, don’t look, don’t go, don’t care. We all have the right to believe what we want.
Unless someone’s actions affect you, leave them be.
Live and let live, if you believe in a higher power, let them be the judge.
Peace & Love Diana
SK
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Hi SK, thank you so much for reading my post and your thoughtful response. I agree that when things or ideas don’t resonate with us or fit neatly into the life we have built for ourselves the response is often fear and then warring as you put it. Life is a journey of learning and I am a big fan of breaking down walls of division, encouraging understanding (once we understand, fear tends to dissipate) and then creating community. Thanks also for your message to the world!
Peace and love to you as well,
Diana
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