Love

   I've been sick this week. Since last Thursday. I was going to wait to post until I felt better, but then I was scrolling through facebook and found This. It talks about our responsibility as Christians to do what's right, that we shouldn't discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation. The article quotes the Sermon on the Mount. I found myself nodding through the entire article. I loved it. So I wanted to share.
   The debate on gay rights has been going on for a long time. I am not going to say what side I'm on because that doesn't matter. What matters is that Christians are getting a bad name because many of us feel that because people are living lifestyles that we don't agree with, that we can deny them rights. The bigger issue is marriage, but now there are bills getting passed saying that businesses can deny the LGBT community service. Just based on their sexual orientation. How is it right to deny someone service because of their lifestyle? I often contemplated this, but the article linked about said it perfectly.

"In Jesus’ time, the nation of Israel was under Roman rule. The Israelites were allowed to live there and practice their faith for the most part, but they had to pay taxes to Caesar and obey the Roman laws.To the Israelites, the Romans were evil and ungodly. They had no place ruling over God’s chosen people in God’s chosen nation. That land had been promised to Moses and his descendants when God brought them out of Egypt. Their very presence in the land was blasphemous.
One of the Roman laws stated that any man could be required to drop what he was doing and carry a Roman soldier’s equipment for him for up to a mile. In the sermon on the mount, with his followers gathered around him, Jesus referenced that law and told his followers what they should do in that case:
“If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” ~Matthew 5:41"

   I didn't know a lot about the background to this scripture. That had to be hard for Christ's followers back then to understand. To actually do nice things for someone so ungodly and evil! Yet today, we proclaim to be followers of Christ and yet we feel it is our right to discriminate and we use our religion to back that up. The things Christ spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount still applies to us today. If Christ required his followers to carry a Roman soldier's equipment for more than the law required (hence the term "going the extra mile"), then shouldn't we go the extra mile to be kind to EVERYONE? Even those whose lifestyles we don't agree with?

"Christians, when we dig our heels in and insist on our right to discriminate, we are hurting people — we are hurting so many people, so deeply. Behind the ACLU and the liberal media are real people, who have been hurt again and again in the name of Christ. Christians, you and I have hurt them. I know most of us have really good intentions, but we are making Jesus the last thing they want to hear about."

I loved this:

" Christians, our Jesus said to not only follow the law, but to rise to a higher standard of love. Christians should be the FIRST people baking cakes — for everyone who asks us. We should be known for our cake baking. People should be saying, “There go those crazy Christians again, baking cakes for everyone. They just won’t quit!” Then, when we share the reason for our wild, all-inclusive love, people will want to hear it. “Let your light shine before others,” said Jesus, “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

We need to be kind. To everyone. It hurts me to see many of my more liberal friends bashing on Christians. Talking about how hateful Christians are. We are followers of Christ! His gospel is love and peace! So how on earth are we suddenly being known for hate and judgement? We need to change. We need to love our neighbors. Be kind to everyone we meet. Be a good example. As Alma said in the Book of Mormon "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass" A little bit of love and acceptance goes a long way.