In the case of RFRA, many people are calling those who oppose the law hypocrites, claiming they are picking and choosing what Bible passages fit their need or further their cause. That disturbed me. I gave very careful thought to that – wondering, could I be hypocritical in my position? I prayed about it and I sought my own answers from the Bible. I didn’t rely on other men and their interpretation of the holy law – I asked God to reveal to me, what position I should take. My answer came from James 2: 2-12
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2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
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It is my belief that the absolute laws of the Bible are detailed in the commandments – as for the remainder of the Bible, I believe it is a guide for us to follow when “working out our own salvation.”
I remember when I was very young, my family was asked to leave a Baptist church because my great grandmother was Pentecostal and my dad would not commit to the Baptist church that she was wrong. I don’t remember all the details because I was only nine years old, but I do remember thinking at that time, how can one church say another church is wrong, if God is in them both.
To this day, that is my BIG problem with many churches.
Who is right?
Who is wrong?
Who cares? Really? If people are ultimately good, try to live their lives right and follow the basic principles detailed in the commandments, who am I do say who is right and who is wrong?
The majority of wars have started because of differing religious beliefs.
Why?
Because religions seek to control.
If you don’t like the way I live, or the way I choose to worship – then by all means, you are entitled to your opinion – I welcome friendly, healthy discussion, but if your intention is to CHANGE me, do me a favor and keep that opinion to yourself. It won’t make me love YOU any less – it’s just that your opinion really doesn’t matter to me. All that matters is what God places in my heart and the opinion I have of myself. If you really feel I need changing, the pray for me and pray that God will put it in my heart to do so – otherwise, it AIN’T HAPPENIN’
The Bible CLEARLY commands us to work out our own salvation and to me, that means if I drink a beer and God has not placed it in my heart to feel that is wrong, then it’s not wrong for me. For someone else, it may be.
If you have your own convictions that tell you that homosexuality is wrong – then it is wrong FOR YOU! That is your right! Your belief! I respect that and I will not try to force you to believe otherwise. I still all believers are commanded to love everyone – hate the sin, love the sinner. You know? Don’t force your “change” on anyone – pray for them and be an example, but don’t EVER bully anyone into being something they are not.
Yet, when it comes to our government and our world, it is not my place, nor is it yours to say who is right and who is wrong – outside of the commandments that is. Our government should not have the right to say how any of us live our lives – so long as it’s within the boundaries of the law. A sensible law that is!
Obviously if someone is an adulterer or a murderer, they are wrong and should be judged in a court of law. Further, it is my right to avoid them like the plague because my heart and my God tell me that is wrong.
I don’t agree with homosexuality – I do feel it it would be very wrong for me to practice a life as such – but that doesn’t mean it’s my place to try to change the world around me. It IS ONLY my place to BE THE CHANGE I WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD. It’s my place to love the people around me and respect their right to be who they choose to be.
I KNOW I have a close, loving relationship with MY GOD.
For me, I feel I would be wrong and going against God to attend a church and pay tithes to a “temple” when there are plenty of Gods creatures, both human and otherwise that are living poorly, hungry and cold. My tithe to MY GOD consists of donating my time and money to support animals. That’s what God has put in my heart and until he leads me another direction, that’s who I will be.
That doesn’t mean everyone else is wrong – it’s just not my thing and it would be wrong for ME.
I believe with all that I am, that God loves us all and it is not my place to try to change people – but to love and support them as they live their lives and work out their own salvation – whatever that may be.
That is FREEDOM OF RELIGION! Anything else is just plain BULLYING.
