FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 - SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS

I’ve talked about “Christian Nationalism” in the past.   (opinion).  It seems as if some Americans believe that the United States is a Christian country.  Thus, our laws need to be Christian; our politics need to be Christian, and to maintain our country, there needs to be an active effort to elect Christians and clean out non-Christian aspects. 

For example, abortion is murder and should be stopped. 

And marriages between people of the same gender must be stopped.

Romans 1: 26-27: “ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way, the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”

But, six verses later, Paul wrote: “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things.

I have heard arguments on both sides.  One side says, “Men with men is all wrong” (and also, “Women with women is all wrong.”) The other side picks up on the word “lust” - men were INFLAMED with lust for one another.  (I’m thinking “orgies”). 

In the last few years, the political powers have clashed over people who believe they are men in women’s bodies or women in men’s bodies. (Also known as Transgender). 

(And, of course, I’m one of the latter - a person who was ‘assigned male at birth’ (AMAB) who is convinced that God smacked me, and I am now a woman.  This was powerful.  I believe it is a God Thing - many others don’t agree with me.  I believe that I am an ambassador of “LOVE WINS.”

But, (opinion) the conservatives have lost one crucial theological value - LOVE.  Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, And Love your neighbor as yourself.  

1 Corinthians 13 -the “Love Chapter” - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

That chapter is frequently read at weddings) ends with this: “And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

The following comes from another Love Chapter - Romans 12:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never lack zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

*****

LOVE - LOVE!!!

Live in harmony with one another. Practice hospitality. Love MUST be sincere!!!   And, even LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!!!

Can’t we live in peace?  Can’t we find a connection in LOVE?

LOVE DOES WINS

LOVE DOES TRANSFORM

LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS (1 Peter 4:8)

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © SEPTEMBER 8, 2023