to hell in a handbasket

Because I am fascinated with Jesus and because my faith is of such importance to me, most of the blogs I peruse daily tend to be those of other believers. Many of these folks have great insight to share; they encourage me with their wisdom (click on some of their links to the right).

Unfortunately I’ve also come across a number of believers who, apparently, know exactly how everyone else should be living in accordance with God. I can see why unbelievers would be turned off by Christians who claim to love, yet sit in a judgment seat (that is not rightly theirs, I might add) pointing out everyone else’s “faults”.

According to blogs and sites I’ve skimmed, below are a few reasons (this is the short list) why I am in danger of the fires of hell. My soul is in peril because I…

- have used any kind of birth control at all (this includes the pill, abstinence, etc.)
- have worshipped God with instruments
- am comfortable with sending my child to public schools
- pursue personal interests outside of raising my child
- don’t attend church every time the doors are open
- think it’s fine for women to lead worship, teach classes, etc.
- believe it’s okay to drink alcohol in moderation

To any Christian who believes it is “wrong” to send your child to a public school or ingest any alcohol ever or use birth control, that’s fine. For YOU, that’s fine. But just because it works for you doesn’t mean it works for everyone. I welcome you to share your opinion as well. Just do so in a gentle and loving and kind-hearted spirit, as God commands us to.

For those believers who think they’ve got all the “right” answers for the rest of the world: Please. Climb down off your high horse and give other believers the benefit of the doubt. We’re all doing the best we know how. Praise God that His grace covers us all.

I’m starting to realize that, with people, you can’t ever win. Fortunately, God doesn’t require that we “win”. All He asks is that we love others.