Stop the World!! I want to get off!

At least until after Election Day….

But alas, that would probably not be long enough as Rush Limbaugh would still be doing things like blasting “Sir” Paul McCartney for not serving meat to his band (I’d put a link here, but you can Google it and see for yourself).  I’d say eating lots of beef has worked out nicely for Rush, but I’m trying not to be sarcastic in this post  (and it will be so hard J)

I am tired of whether we eat at Chick-Fil-A or not because they’re against gay marriage (and several other things).  I would never rush out to do what Mike Huckabee tells me to.  In fact, I don’t eat at Chick-Fil-A and hardly ever have.  Previously it was nothing to do with their politics – I just try not to eat any fast food, because I think it lacks nourishment and is overpriced in general.  That’s a luxury I have because I’m not employed full-time and don’t have hungry mouths to feed at home (well, except for a dog!).

But I digress.  I am just so tired of all these people who are so sure of what is a sin and what is not and how God will judge us or not.  For the record, I did a search at BibleGateway.com on some “sins” and here's how many times each is mentioned in the New International Version (NIV):

Homosexual(ity)                                    1 time

Glutton(y)                                                7 times

Gossip                                                        8 times

Drunkenness                                           9 times

Sexual Immorality (in general)        23 times

Lust                                                           31 times

Divorce                                                    33 times

Murder                                                    80 times

And so on…

Now, I’m not saying God dislikes our behavior based on how many times it occurs in the Bible (however the murder mentioned 80 times gives that thought some credence). I think He pretty much doesn’t like anything we do that doesn’t glorify Him and His Son and/or help others.

I am guilty of many sins each day.  However, I try not to get brought down by that, but instead be thankful for  the ability to ask for forgiveness!  I also try to focus on these particular Bible verses:

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  Matthew 22:36-38 (NIV)

Of course, I still fail, as I don’t always love God with all my heart, soul and mind and probably don’t often love any of you as much as I do myself!  But, I keep trying and keep being thankful for the wonderful gift of grace (mentioned a whopping 125 times in the Bible!!).  Here’s my favorite:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

This strikes me as interesting – the gift of grace is nothing about which I can boast. This also tells me that none of the sins I don’t do are anything I can boast about.  I probably don’t commit them because I’m not tempted in that way or don’t have that opportunity.  I believe that to be true for most people.  So if I judge another for something I don't do, but keep mum about the sins I do, does that make me holier than them?  I'm thinking not.

This all ties back to what I was first thinking about - all the hate and lack of love in the world.  It makes me sad, even though I am guilty of it too.  It’s so easy to vilify those different from us, whether it's by lifestyle, birth, social class, religion, political party, etc.  I keep remembering the craze of a few years ago about “What Would Jesus Do?”  (WWJD).  I don’t see that mentioned anywhere these days, whether it’s over the presidential race, homosexuality, abortion, etc.  I’m thinking we should concentrate on what Jesus wants instead of  “What is Chick-Fil-A/Starbucks/Boston/President Obama (insert appropriate name here) doing?"

Just what I’m thinking about on this hot August day….