So, this could totally be just me, but does anyone else ever feel like the people in your lives who really understand and enjoy you are not christian people?
I’ve recently joined two “book groups.” I mean, we do read books but one of the groups is more closely related to a gab session and the other doubles as a knitting group. All of the women are older and most of them are not christian, some to the point of being atheistic. But, you know what, they are nice. Really nice, kind people who listen to me and seem to understand a lot of what goes on in my life. They offer insight without being weird and they do not seem to be afraid to say things that are hard to hear. But they also don’t seem to be frought with condemnation for me for holding the “wrong” beliefs or having strong emotions about what goes on in my life.
now, don’t respond to this with “unbelievers can’t be trusted” or ” the advice they give is always wrong” or anything to convince me that this experience is wrong and unwise. I am a big girl (in more ways than one, Ha Ha) and I canmake some decisions on my own. I can sift good advice from worldly advice with the help of the word. and the advice is often contrary to what the word says. That’s ok. I can know that and takei t for what it is. But really the thing I love is that they can say those things, I can hear them and it doesn’t become a “holier-than-thou, white canvas shoe, just bear up under the pressure convention.”
Believe it or not, sometimes things get bad, despite (or perhaps because of ) Christ. The badness of things does not have to negate my belief in Christ or my hope for a relationship with Him. It really doesn’t. and I like that these ladies agree with me on that. Sometimes I think life is more complicated than we give it credit for. And simply too, in that, my history with christianity has not allowed for feeling yucky, but sometimes, people do.
What do you think?
4 responses to “Do not be yolked. . .”
I feel like that a lot. I think that many Christians (me included) get caught up in what’s right and wrong, black and white, and it prohibits us from just really listening. We’re too busy making judgments about what others should and shouldn’t do. But when you look at the big picture (perhaps through God’s eyes) you see that what is more important is connecting with people and building relationships. It sounds cliche but isn’t it true? I have been a Christian for awhile now and my understanding of Jesus moves more and more towards someone who just wants to drink coffee with me and listen to what I have to say. Not point fingers and tell me what I did wrong. Maybe that sounds like taking advantage of God’s grace, but I figure that Jesus went through way too much pain and suffering for us to turn around and make life into one big guilt trip.
And Christians feel yucky sometimes. Sometimes all the time. That’s life. Becoming a Christian doesn’t make us more special. We are still human. And once we figure that out we can burn the white canvas shoes and start being ourselves (besides, everyone else already knows).
That’s what I think. Sorry for the long rant.
I appreciate the long rant.
I’m not sure I totally get the white canvas shoe analogy, but Jesus wore sandals… Probably ones that got your feet really dirty.
I get it your last post was bacon and eggs and now your worried about yolk!
Can you explain the canvas shoe thing to me sometime? I guess I’m pretty dull when it comes to shoes.