11-05-2008
Freedom to Love
Freedom to Love
I was once told that if I wanted to keep peace in my relationships I should never talk about religion or politics- so with that said: WARNING: “This message might contain radical, controversial material with dangerous concepts such as peace, unity and love.” Continue reading at your own discretion…
Is peace really possible if we don’t allow ourselves to even discuss the topics that seem to ignite such passion in us? By allowing for the conversation we are immediately invited into a deeper understanding of another person’s ideology, what they value, what is contained in their belief system. We don’t necessarily have to agree with it (it’s not all about me, darn-it), or disagree, (I’m right though), but we can listen without judgment, or condemnation, or without the distractive voices in our head plotting our rebuttal to their idiotic, misguided, wrong thoughts. Rather, it is through listening, we open ourselves up to an unending opportunity of possibilities; new ideas, a broader perspective, enhanced understanding, deeper compassion, and perhaps, if we are truly open- enlightenment. When we listen in this way we are better able to honor another person’s unique spiritual journey. How tragic would it be if I discounted another person’s experience of God (perhaps trying to get them to think like me); I would miss out on a sacred exchange of soul sharing.
In case you haven’t heard, there is some sort of political election on the horizon. Sadly, many of us have witnessed (and have long since grown tired of) the demonizing attacks, hurtful commentaries, slanderous literature, venomous remarks, and unhealthy, hurtful comments being slung (and that’s just me in my own head). As I was driving my son to school the other day, an advertisement came on the radio for one of the political candidates. The commercial, instead of highlighting the candidate’s attributes, criticized his opponent’s defects. My young child looked at me quizzically; his forehead wrinkled in a perplexed expression and innocently asked, “Mom, why are they so mean to each other?”
It saddens me even moreso that both candidates profess openly their Christian faith, and yet, most often, it seems their own are drawing lines, choosing sides and casting stones (unlike Jesus example- “he who is without sin cast the first stone”). Have we as Christians interchanged casting a stone with casting a ballot? Or, are we simultaneously casting a stone with our vote? Instead, God invites all of us into a relational journey of LOVE. He calls us to, “Love our neighbor”. That means that both John McCain, and Barack Obama, are our neighbor, and even more so, they are our brothers in Christ. We are called to love them, not with a pitying love, or a condescending love, or an “I’ll pray for (at) you” kind of love; not a love that is used as a weapon, but a love that is first reflected to us by our Father, the way He loves us, perfectly, without condition.
As a people of God, (One Nation Under GOD) we have the opportunity to unite (The UNITED States, not the Divided States) together in a union based on love and peace. Our nation has given us the FREEdom to worship the God of our understanding. Our God has given us the FREE Will to love Him, and by doing so, we love our neighbor. This kind of love, this kind of FREEdom, is not an obligatory mandate; rather it is an open invitation whereby we are FREE to LOVE.
As believers our ultimate leader is… ‘In God we trust’. He who has the power to move mountains, to change hearts, to make the blind see and the deaf hear; He, who calls, not the greatest, but the least. Jesus did not call Caesar to spread the good news, instead he called a fisherman. God did not call an articulate prophetic speaker to free his people from bondage; instead he called a stuttering orphan. Jesus did not call the most peaceful prophet to spread His name; rather he called the biggest persecutor of His people. God did not call the epitome of morality to build an ark; No, He called an incestuous drunk. God chose His only begotten son to come into the world, not by way of cloud, but through an unwed pregnant teenager. Tuesday is not a football game that will leave us with a winner or a loser, the good guys or the bad guys (or girl); rather it can challenge us to go out into the world with more fervor and zeal than before. We are called as apostolic witnesses not to sit back and watch others make changes, or become frustrated with changes we wish they would make. Rather, we are called to be the change we want to see. So, with each person we encounter, each mouth we feed, each neighbor we clothe, each hand we extend in peace, each smile we offer, each opportunity we have for Christ daily – may we be that much more faithfully committed. It is our responsibility, our call, to work for justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Our God is an awesome God, who gives hope, is full of goodness and provides light to the Nations, (One Nation Under God); He gives peace to His people whom he offers daily the everlasting, open-ended invitation to unite together with the FREEDOM to LOVE!
My name is Tammy Amosson and I approve this message!
Posted by admin in Freedom To Love | RSS 2.0