Filed under: Uncategorized
So i’ve been sitting on this basically since i wrote the somewhat awful and horribly judgmental post about christians and obesity. i do maintain that about 1% of the time the argument i set forth is applicable. but it is hardly the only issue, a weighty issue, or an important one. I got to thinking about it after church this weekend and Skinny people just get away with more. whether they’re bulimic, anorexic, have major control issues (played out by a crazy over control of food), have addict behavior (like going to the gym too much) or how ever else it manifests itself, it gets hidden. heck, skinny people could have issues that have nothing to do with their weight. it just is able to be hidden because some how indirectly it is condoned by our society.
with that said. about probably a week or two after i posted the initial argument, my pastor got to part 3 or 4 of his sermon series and he spoke about judgment. all the biblical passages referenced here and everything are from him. just want to give credit. Some are just here for aesthetics and others i’ll probably comment on and go into…
Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.”
John 5:26″For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. ”
these both kick my ass and say, “yo em – stop with the judging. they’re humans like you and it sure isn’t your place by ANY means.”
John 3:16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
(bold and italics added) He didn’t come here with lightening bolts blazing. he didn’t come here to strike shame to the very core of your being and create the turmoil of hypervigilent second guessing and co-dependent behaviors… he came to love the world, to save the world through love. to show how love can save the world. That’s what i’m getting into, figuring out and really starting to see how i can put this into my world. it’s about loving everything around us, humans, situations, houses, environment etc. caring for the world when the world couldn’t care less… that sounds like a slogan. hmmm.. *thinks some more*
1 Corinthians 4“5”Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. ”
This is similar to the ecclesisasties verse earlier. For me, it’s difficult to being kept reminded that when i judge stuff, anything, i’m judging the external and there’s sooo much internal and history that brought whatever to the place it is that i have no place to judge. how am i supposed to know the motivation, the alternatives, the history etc?? it’s good to be reminded of it though.
Luke 6:37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (goes on to talk about the log verses the speck in the eye thing.)
this piggy backs the previous verse. take care of your own shit and you will be okay. and what goes around comes around. I feel as though all of my profoundness has slipped away…. boo.
Philippians 2:3″Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (bold added) that is HUGE!! and soo difficult to grasp and do. Pastor Don was talking about how it’s easy to pick the people you truly think are better than yourself and agree, “yes, they’re better than me” but when you think of someone else (i’ll use his example) of a drug addict, alcoholic gay man with aids laying in the corner of some building. how in the world do you put yourself below them? it’s very easy and “apparent” that you’re better than them by a long shot. but if you really honestly wiggle down to the core of your being… for me (and my pastor cause he said the story) there’s no way, i’m better than them. If i went through life as they did, i would be dead now. I don’t know what got them to where they are, what abuse happened, who abandoned them when, etc. I would have given up. And after i go through all those thoughts, all i can say is God bless them and extend much grace. it’s not my place to judge. I was thinking about this today. and i tend to judge people that are better than me also. and when that’s the case, it’s difficult to say “oh yea, if i was in their shoes, i’d buy $200 outfits.” I just keep my distance and ask God again, to bless them because i sure as heck can’t. *sigh* it’s tough stuff.
(the message) Romans 2: 14-16″When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.”
I believe he had a translation i can’t find. it’s a great translation of this verse. all to say i think after this verse he went on to talk about how people can embrace the christian values but discard the religion… i don’t know, i think he actually was talking about another verse. enjoy this for kicks i guess.
Romans 14:13“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food[a] is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.”
and this one is HUGE too… I have found this to be true. an example. chic flicks actually make me stumble hard core. and my sister loves them. but the kindness she has extended to me, she’s actually my watch guard when it comes to these movies. she lets me know which ones i shouldn’t watch and which ones are good. it’s a huge bless.
but the kicker, that my pastor didn’t know this verse existed was this one…
John 12:47“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” (bold added, these are the words of Jesus) i will repeat… “as for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him.” judgment will happen at the end of time, but Jesus is here to save the world, not to judge it. Wow. i didn’t know the bible had those words. *world rocks*
matthew 7:1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” this one is difficult to fully grasp, but very very ponient.”
thanks for wading through my thoughts and the bible with me. i hope to keep this near to my heart. who knows if that’s possible though. Grace and mercy. i think those are right next to love. it’s the only way to survive.
Filed under: Uncategorized
So yea… the last two posts. poor form hard core. i’ve got lots of stuff to address anything…. it will happen. promise.
Filed under: Uncategorized
i just wanted to apoligize if i offended anyone about the fat christian thing posted below this. Weight is a very sensitive issue, weight is a very very complicated issue, and when it comes to psychology weight is a very rooted/core issue. i believe i heard it is one of the first things affected back when we’re like months old.
by this i’m not saying everyone’s crazy. I know i have issues surrounding the topic of weight, and they probably bled all over the last post. I don’t judge any of you, and all my friends and connections that are heavier than Twigy are expections to every rule because they rock my world. So. there’s that.
Filed under: Christianity
Christianity is a way super convoluted, complicated thing with so much past mucking up the future, individuals and groups of people, and many many different sectors.
It’s interesting.
I was on a job recently and the client was an overweight person. *disclaimer* I am in no way shape or form trying to be disrespectful or rude. This is strictly an opinion that is barely formed, and I’d almost feel relieved if you think less of me for it. touchy topics, lots of triggers… i’m rambling. Anyways…. It was interesting seeing this overweight person, knowing they were a christian and then watching my mind snap. There are many many reasons people are overweight, and there are many easy and complicated ways people can loose this weight. Some are bigger boned, others have medication, or a medical condition making things all mucky.
But as christians, isn’t it an oxymoron, a situation where actions speak louder than words… I mean think of the classic 7 deadly sins. Those aren’t even mentioned anymore. Which is good on one hand because sin is everywhere, and the hard ones are individually torturous. But there is something about it. Gluttony. that is highly not an “I’m third” attitude (i went to a summer camp where the motto was God first, others second, I’m third) it’s not a sacrifical mind set, something that is caring for your sisters. I mean yea, especially in america where food is everywhere and fully accessible. The hobos just want booze (thanks to suburbia i rarely have to see one *sarcasm*) But its a community thing, but also an individual thing. obseity is one addiction/sin/whatever you want to call it that is fully visible in the church. gambling, sex, alcohol, drugs, shopping, work, etc. are all covered. they can be hidden.
But we’re supposed to care for the earth, we’re supposed to care for each other… *going grandiose here, one sec.* people in africa, south america, san Fransisco and wherever. they’re starving. we’ve got huge ecological side effects and ramifications happening because of the mass corporate farming, there are economic damages happening because of our farming practices and all the little farmers taht are basically hooked on pesticides etc. How is this caring for the earth and our sisters? How?? i don’t see it. I mean there’s something to be said about using what God has blessed you with, and if that’s lots of food than yay!! but it’s a hard line to figure out. And most of the time, I was talking today with some fun co-op people, and most of the time it’s just a diet change. very simple. cut out snacking, drop the salty/refined sugar crap we consume, lower the meat intake to like once a week, and up the veggies and fruits. And half the time our breakfast food, like cereal is the worst thing to start our days with. but that’s a whole ‘nother topic on something i don’t really know about. This other guy was talking about it. I dont’ know… i don’t know.
But there seems to be an element of this that i’m missing, forgetting to think about or haven’t even thought to consider.
Hello world. Apparently, the last friday of every month rochester ‘celebrates’ this thing called Critical mass. Some of you may be familiar. I was not. It’s basically a thing that celebrates cycling and asserts cyclists’ rights to the road. (http://www.rocwiki.org/Critical_Mass) I went last friday for the first time. It was really neat seeing our city through the petals of my bike. Well that sounds wrong. But it was great.
my little adventure started down in the PLEX neighborhood area and then we(the ant hill crew) went up to meet up with the bunch at the liberty pole (6pm) And then it was cool, we took east out to alexander, went down to monroe, which we took back into the city, crossed a bridge… i think near blue cross, headed north to high falls, crossed that pedestrian bridge, came east on st. paul to some north south street which we then took back to the east side intersection of the bridge that is near the blue cross. From there i seperated and went back to the Plex. This all took maybe an hour, i think. yea. Less than that.
It was amazing to me how small our city felt on a bicycle. But small in an accessible way. I felt like i was able to get to places easily. I mean it’s an easy enough city to navigate, and i know it well from tooling around it all the way back to when i sat behind the bus driver for years. But there’s places to bike to. Yay for critical mass. it actually was a small triumph for me. It was my first experience as a motorist-acting-cyclist on the road, with a helmet, in the lane, at stop lights. *sigh* how cool is that. My dream is to live in the city, and bike to work.
The rambling soapbox of a discontented suburbia 