The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.
2 Timothy 2:24(KJV)
In this post, I want to share something with you that is dear to my heart because it is about people, faith and love. I want to tell you why I unapologetically have friends in other denominations.
John 13:35 (KJV)
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.Why I Have Friends in Other Denominations
My Christian Identity
I am a Christian. This means that I accept the teachings of the Holy Bible that Jesus Christ is my Saviour. I think that it was the Christian lifestyle that chose me. As a child, there was always a part of me that believed there was a higher power than my own father who loved me but was also a disciplinarian. I went to different churches with friends in all the places I have ever lived and places I stayed for summer vacation. I can't remember the sermons but I enjoyed Sunday School! I liked the stories and the songs and all the activities. But, then again, I love school so...! (Some people like shoes and handbags but I like school and books. HAHAHAHAHA!)The Catalyst
My mother started attending a church crusade that taught her to observe the Saturday Sabbath. Of course, I was annoyed because all the best cartoons were on television on Saturdays! The birthday parties, going to the market, visiting the library: these were best suited for Saturday. As a little girl, I struggled with this because this was what I was taught indirectly by society and my parents. Now, Mommy introduced this new, dreadful idea of missing all that fun! Daddy and I were upset about this 'foolishness' she had accepted. Until...I was baptized in a Saturday Sabbath church when I was 14 years old. Yep! I gave up the cartoons (well, I was older by that time so cartoons didn't really hold my interest anymore); no more library visits on Saturday (that hurt the most but I could go on other days); and other social activities I could walk away from because I had new friends- at church- and I enjoyed Sabbath School. I think though that it was a leap of faith for me. I was young and I didn't know much about God except that He was a BIG Being that lived in the sky and that Judgement Day was coming and I didn't want to go to hell.
Perception and Faith
My perception of other faiths was not good. I believed that they were all wrong... Why? Our doctrines were different.I'll leave that there. For now.
Fast forward to today: I've been in the Christian faith for nearly 20 years. In that time I have had to unlearn a lot of things and to learn many more. I want the world to know some things about this Musing Mom and what God has taught me about people, about faith and about love.
I have many friends and people I admire in other denominations and faiths despite differences in doctrines. Here's why:
Almighty God taught me to love them.
Perception and Love
Three years ago, the Lord saw it fit to teach me about love in a way I never thought existed. I was having a discussion with a senior Christian sister when she was alive about which of her children she loved more. I was like... Seriously??? How do you love any child more than the other/s when they all came from your body? I certainly don't. But my defense was I love this one because she could do this for me and the other because she could do that for me and of course, what's not to love about my precious newborn son? I explained why I loved each of my children as this was the tone that was set for our conversation (comparison and what they could do for us). As I listed the reason for loving each of my children, I had a sinking feeling. I felt as if I ... wrong. I had that feeling that nagged me for a full day.
The next day, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me outside into my yard. I live in the innercity and this is where, according to society, many social misfits reside. But Almighty God has a completely different perspective on this. He showed me that my neighbours were all surviving because of His will. He made the same sun that shines on my roof shine on theirs and the same rain that beats on on my roof, beats on theirs as well. Matthew 5:45
Then He showed me that this 'love' that we were talking about was not what true love is. Love means that we have a profound respect for others despite them doing or being anything for us. Love is not about what others can do or have done for us. Love is not condemning someone because they look or believe in what things that are foreign to you. Love is a deep respect and appreciation for humanity. Why?
Because one God made all of us. From that moment, my life changed. I started seeing everyone in my community differently. Sure, they were scantily clad females, marijuana-loving, heavily tattooed, stay-at-homers, hustlers, who have very colourful vocabularies but all of that does NOT matter in regards to loving/respecting their humanity! I may not agree with my neighbours' lifestyle choices and they may not agree with mine, but I am NOT better than them. So I greet them all saying, "Good morning/afternoon/evening/night ladies/gentlemen." I look at their children as if they could be my own. I can't NOT be respectful to all persons because that is what I am called to do as a Christian. I don't need to force anything on anyone just as I expect to not have anyone's ideas forced on me. Regardless of this expectation, a lot of persons do it... and it makes me uncomfortable. Uncomfortable because forcing someone to accept your ideas as facts is not love.
And Christians do that.
Please don't.
Do all things in the spirit of love (1 Corinthians 13).
In other words, express your ideas with patience, with gentleness and humilty. 2 Timothy 2:24-25
We are Family
Since the Lord showed me these things, I look at my brothers and sisters in other faiths and denominations differently as well. For example, I work in a Catholic school and the Lord has taught me a lot about extending mercy to all in ways I never though of before now. I have been ministered to by some sincere believers who are of the Catholic faith and of other faiths. Jehovah's Witnesses, Pentecostal and Apostolic believers, Brethren... and so many others have been a part of my walk of faith. God has used each of them to minister to me, teach, encourage and strengthen my faith, not in a church name, but in Him.When we meet, and we talk about the goodness of God in our lives, doctrines don't matter. The texture of our hair doesn't matter. Whether we go to Mass, whether we have the ability to speak in tongues, the 'correct' name for God: all of that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter when we're rejoicing over a breakthrough for which we were praying individualy or collectively. It doesn't matter when we're grieving over a loved one that we lost. It doesn't matter when sickness has taken over our bodies or our family members. It doesn't matter when we are hungry and we have no money to buy food, pay our bills or when our last pair of shoes just gave up on us. It does not matter when life shows up.
And life is always showing up!
What matters is that we have a relationship with our Father: we talk with Him, we read the Word and allow His Holy Spirit to show us Truth. That is when we will start to see each other as FAMILY. This is the will of God. A love relationship with God helps us to treat others with love, with respect that they don't have to earn because we cannot earn our own salvation.
I challenge you friends:
Let us not fight each other over Truth. Truth is Christ, the Word (John 1:14; John17:17).
Truth will defend Himself.
Malachi 3:16-17 (KJV)
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
No comments:
Post a Comment