Learning about myself and my faith
I've learned so much since moving to the Indianapolis area, so many changes have come and so many things have stayed the same within me and around me.
I went from living in the Nora area, to living downtown. I've gone from the Booth Tarkington Civic Theater, to Footlite Musicals Theater. I have also learned that what I used to be as a person is not what God would have for my life. I believe He brought me here for a reason and there have been little hints all along the way that I am where I am meant to be.
Thanks to this place, I have found and made my faith truly my own; let me explain...
I used to be one of those "Christians" who went around and judged others for their life decisions. I would compare myself to them and think the "I'm-right-you're-wrong-and-you're-going-hell-for-it" theology. It wasn't a pleasant way to live and it truly made it hard to really love people. I told myself because I loved them I could tell them they were wrong. But I've come to realize that the best way to love people is to not try to change them; not to "sneak" tell them their sins or make them feel ashamed. I believe THAT is sinful. God has called us to love all, (that means even those we don't agree with.) Loving does not mean saying in a nice way: "you're wrong, and God doesn't want you to live in sin," that just makes a person feel like an outcast, hurt and ashamed. I can guarantee most "Christians" who do this don't have people hanging all over them telling them their sins.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1
Do we really think that God would want us to go around judging people all hours of the day. That just wastes our time and gives us an egotisitcal air. I very much doubt God created us just to judge others and keep His commandments, and then go to heaven when we die. I have been reading this book called Conversations with God by: Neale Donald Walsch, the book says that God created us to know Him and know ourselves; it's all about our relationship with God and how we "know" Him. This "knowing" is not making sure you read your Bible daily, memorize the scriptures, and pray 5 million times a day (though don't get me wrong, those are definitely ways of knowing God) but if we get too focused on those ideals; we lose sight of the other ways we can "know" God. He is in everything in all places, we just have to take the time to look and not just shoo it away because we don't understand it. The book talks about all this and more. Check it out.
Back to what I was saying earlier about judging; I DO think there is a time to talk about sins; if someone asks your opinion on their "sin" then by all means share it (if you are comfortable doing so.) Another thing I have learned on this journey so far is that I personally believe that sins are things that hurt you and others, i.e. obviously: murder, gossip, lying,..etc. I've had to walk on egg shells most of my life because of being a pastor's kid, and I don't think that is how God wants us to live our lives on earth. I think He wants us to live our lives to fullest, ask for forgiveness when we've wronged, and try our best to love in every situation. I also do NOT believe that love is a sin, in fact God calls us to live a LIFE OF LOVE. In the words of Rent the Musical, " Measure your life in love..."
This brings me to my final thought; I believe that the relationship of two loving, consenting adults is a wonderful thing and should not be looked down upon, love is love; no matter what the gender preference, skin color, age, or religious belief. Jesus lived His life in love and that's how I want to live mine. Until we all learn to truly love one another, we will not be able to be truly happy.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
I went from living in the Nora area, to living downtown. I've gone from the Booth Tarkington Civic Theater, to Footlite Musicals Theater. I have also learned that what I used to be as a person is not what God would have for my life. I believe He brought me here for a reason and there have been little hints all along the way that I am where I am meant to be.
Thanks to this place, I have found and made my faith truly my own; let me explain...
I used to be one of those "Christians" who went around and judged others for their life decisions. I would compare myself to them and think the "I'm-right-you're-wrong-and-you're-going-hell-for-it" theology. It wasn't a pleasant way to live and it truly made it hard to really love people. I told myself because I loved them I could tell them they were wrong. But I've come to realize that the best way to love people is to not try to change them; not to "sneak" tell them their sins or make them feel ashamed. I believe THAT is sinful. God has called us to love all, (that means even those we don't agree with.) Loving does not mean saying in a nice way: "you're wrong, and God doesn't want you to live in sin," that just makes a person feel like an outcast, hurt and ashamed. I can guarantee most "Christians" who do this don't have people hanging all over them telling them their sins.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1
Do we really think that God would want us to go around judging people all hours of the day. That just wastes our time and gives us an egotisitcal air. I very much doubt God created us just to judge others and keep His commandments, and then go to heaven when we die. I have been reading this book called Conversations with God by: Neale Donald Walsch, the book says that God created us to know Him and know ourselves; it's all about our relationship with God and how we "know" Him. This "knowing" is not making sure you read your Bible daily, memorize the scriptures, and pray 5 million times a day (though don't get me wrong, those are definitely ways of knowing God) but if we get too focused on those ideals; we lose sight of the other ways we can "know" God. He is in everything in all places, we just have to take the time to look and not just shoo it away because we don't understand it. The book talks about all this and more. Check it out.
Back to what I was saying earlier about judging; I DO think there is a time to talk about sins; if someone asks your opinion on their "sin" then by all means share it (if you are comfortable doing so.) Another thing I have learned on this journey so far is that I personally believe that sins are things that hurt you and others, i.e. obviously: murder, gossip, lying,..etc. I've had to walk on egg shells most of my life because of being a pastor's kid, and I don't think that is how God wants us to live our lives on earth. I think He wants us to live our lives to fullest, ask for forgiveness when we've wronged, and try our best to love in every situation. I also do NOT believe that love is a sin, in fact God calls us to live a LIFE OF LOVE. In the words of Rent the Musical, " Measure your life in love..."
This brings me to my final thought; I believe that the relationship of two loving, consenting adults is a wonderful thing and should not be looked down upon, love is love; no matter what the gender preference, skin color, age, or religious belief. Jesus lived His life in love and that's how I want to live mine. Until we all learn to truly love one another, we will not be able to be truly happy.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
~LIVE YOUR LIFE IN LOVE~
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