Tuesday, April 16, 2013

So Much Controversy

Just over a year ago, we made a huge lifestyle change, and became vegetarians. Well, technically we are "pescetarians" because we do eat fish. (I also might add that this was not such a huge lifestyle change for me, but for my strictly-carnivorous-up-to-this-point husband.)

We have adjusted to our new diet remarkably well, it is truly quite satisfying. And Hubby is much healthier since we made the change, which makes his doctor and I happy. The funny thing is, our choice to omit meat and poultry from our diet has proven to be very controversial within our Christian community. I have actually been to pot lucks and BBQ's where I was aggressively encouraged to "just eat some chicken" or "try a bite of my rib, it won't kill you" to the point that it was downright awkward and uncomfortable. (Imagine if they knew I don't consider myself "right wing" or even "conservative" for that matter. YIKES!!!) 

We found out that to many, the word "vegetarian" is interchangeable with "left-wing hippy." OK. How crazy is that??? But you know, I can remember being in the "group" with that mindset. I find it bizarre now, looking back at the things I picked up over the years within Christian culture...so many judgments. Christianity is the most inclusive of all religions, yet we have set up our own "ins and outs" and classifications according to our cultural and political "norms."

I think it's sad that so many of the conversations that take place within Christian circles involve  judgments. We love to opine about who is or isn't going to hell (please tell me how anyone knows this), who is or isn't truly a Christian, politics (a favorite), how "certain people" dress, or (horrors) if they have tattoos, the list goes on and on. Reminds me of the unwritten code in middle school, "We must all dress alike, act alike, and be alike, or we will suffer for being different."

It is odd to find that I no longer "fit in" with those whom I thought were my peers. Sometimes I want to keep my vegetarianism hidden for fear of judgment and scorn. But there is freedom in breaking out of the need for cultural acceptance and realizing the only acceptance we truly need is God's...and He already provided for that in Jesus!!

Therefore, today I will stand up amidst so much controversy, and say without shame: "My name is Holly...I don't eat meat, but I love God." Whew, that felt good!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Tribes

Today I would like to share my thoughts on what has become the new and trendy Christian way to refer to our different church communities. I am referring to the label "tribe" and I will try not to make this a diatribe against it. But it kind of is. In a nice way, though. Well, maybe not so nice because I cringe every time I hear that word in reference to we believers!

I think we wanted to re-name ourselves because we have been walking out of religiosity, especially we fundagelicals, and so we wanted to call ourselves something different, something besides "church members" or whatever it was we used to be called. But the thing for me is, every time I hear the word "tribe" I think of tribal wars, and divisions. I mean, even the definition of the word is "social division." I think it feeds into our natural tendencies toward the "us vs. them" mentality.

But don't we serve a Savior whose whole life and death and message was the most "inclusive" message ever thought of? He hung on that cross, said "It is finished" and now you're all "in"!! Then we took it, and ran with it, and because of our human need to feel "better than" or "elite" or maybe just because we like cliques, we divided ourselves up into different "denominations" which we now call "tribes". I feel like we have somehow, with the use of this label for ourselves, brought the whole dividing line back in where we were hoping to obliterate it.

I think I like "family" better. "What church family are you a part of?" Yes, that seems to settle better in my spirit. God created family. It must be a good thing.  And ultimately, we are all just one big happy family. Right?

Tears

This morning I read in Revelation 7:17 "And God will wipe from their eyes every last tear."  We all know that scripture. And I'...