FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023 CONFESSIONS OF AN EGOTISTICAL, MISOGNIC, WHITE, JUDGMENTAL PROFESSOR (WHO BECAME A WOMAN)- PART V - SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS

 FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023  CONFESSIONS OF AN EGOTISTICAL, MISOGNIC, WHITE, JUDGMENTAL PROFESSOR (WHO BECAME A WOMAN)- PART V - SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS

On Friday, I write about spiritual things.  There have been so many spiritual things involved in my changing genders, and becoming a woman.

Two main topics jump into my mind, (1) LOVE WINS, (2) INFINITY

Although I have written too much on both topics, let me go on.

LOVE WINS

My spiritual horizon changed with my stopping judging.  I am no longer “sending” people to hell because they are not Christians because they are different from me.  I am a Christian - yes, but that no longer means I know everything.  Although the Biblical story of creation may not be an accurate account of creation, there are lessons there for me (us?).  

From being a person who looked at and judged others to one who tries not to judge hasn’t been easy.  I like putting labels on people.  I used to use labels like white/black, liberal/conservative, and worthy or not worthy (maybe one of the most hurtful combinations).  Who am I to judge?  

Yes, I am to use “good judgment” and I still have to judge situations (should I turn left or right?) But, that isn’t judging people.  As a complex person, I don’t like people putting labels on me.  [Oh my, she is one of those terrible transgender women.  She wants to make every person gay. She wants to deny Jesus Christ and make us all pagans.]  I am reminded I need to walk a mile in other people's shoes - and understand that none of us is perfect.  The man who beat and abused his wife is not perfect - but do I know his background?  Was he abused by his father?  Has alcohol or drugs fried his brain?  I am to try to understand and always love everybody!!

“God said, ‘Let there be light (or whatever), and there was light (or whatever)”.  The infinite God (oops that’s the next topic) can say “Wipe out Karen’s brain and make her a lover, not a judge”. 

From John chapter 1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made. In Him was life, and this life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

THE WORD.  The Word was from the beginning.  - the Word was WITH GOD, and the Word WAS GOD, and the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.

God says “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH”. (John 3:16).  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH that I will take ALL (100%) of the sins of the word, and wipe them away - ERASED.  We use the verse, “My Grace is sufficient for you”, but say “My LOVE is sufficient for you”.  GOD IS LOVE (1 John 4).  

In math, we use an equal sign for an equation:  2 + 4 = 6 - equivalent.  GOD = LOVE.  

The Bible has directions for living - “You must be born again” (John 3:3), “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved” (Romans 10:17).  BUT a million miles above that is the statement that GOD IS LOVE.  1 Peter 4:8 “ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 

ABOVE ALL THINGS - LOVE

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) 

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE!!!

LOVE WINS, LOVE is the ace of trump, LOVE is the highest card in the deck, and LOVE is patient and kind.  

LOVE WINS

Hey Karen - are you loving enough?  Well God, on a scale of 1 to infinity, I’m probably about 1.001.  

I’ve quoted Dorothy Day, “I can only LOVE GOD as much as the person I love the least”.  

Okay?  Get the point?  LOVE WINS

*****

So, why me?  And why now? 

In my gender conversion (Monday’s blog), I was ‘smacked’ (by an imaginary) two by four.  I had been judgemental, and I had not loved everybody.  You had to have a special label to receive my love - (maybe that label is something like this - ‘conservative, evangelical, white, privileged Republican’.  

And, the love I gave was more of the “Philo” love - a “brotherly love” (like Philadelphia is the “City of Brotherly Love”).  

If I go Biblically, Saul was a fervent opponent of Christianity and got permission to chase Christians to Damascus and kill them if necessary.  But, on the road to Damascus, he is knocked off his horse and blind.  Jesus talks to him and Saul (now Paul) became the most ardent evangelist (and scripture writer) of the New Testament.  

I was judgmental, I was wrong, and I am learning humility.  I believe I have been “called” to be a promoter of the LOVE WINS concept.  

I’m not quite sure what this means.  I have thought of a TEDx talk.  I write these daily blogs.  I want to share my story.

BUT - UTMOST - IS THAT I MUST LOVE!!  I can’t pretend to love.  I have to really love it.  I have to live love (and I do fail frequently).  

I have Micah 6:8 on my wall before me:  What does God expect of me but to love justice, show mercy, and walk humbly with God.  For a person who wasn’t so humble, I’m learning!!!

On the wall behind me as I write, I have “Be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind” (Romans 12:2).  At the far end of the room, I have a third poster “Love Wins”.

Jesus summarized the Jewish law this way:: Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.  And, then he adds, “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

Now abide these three - Faith, Hope, and Love and the Greatest of these is Love!!! (1 Corinthians 13:13)

(And, infinity will have to wait until next week!!!)

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, APRIL 28, 2023