Feed Me!

Whenever anyone in my house walks around with food, our little puppy (note: the image on this post is NOT my puppy... my puppy refuses to sit still for photos) is right there. She'll go up on her hind legs, hopping around following us. She'll give us that pleading puppy-dog look. She'll beg. For anything. It doesn't matter what food we have - she wants some. She wants a bite, a morsel, a crumb.

Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever found yourself following someone around begging for just another crumb of God's Word? Of the one food that can sustain us? It is not enough to read the Bible (although, I do highly recommend this be done as well). But, as I was taught a year ago - we need more than just to read the words. We also need guidance. We need a strong spiritual leader. And now, since being shown this, I find myself often feeling like the begging little puppy, pleading for one more morsel...

Up until a year ago, I considered pastors to be something to be avoided, other than the polite greetings before and/or after Sunday service, when I even bothered going to service. But now, I've come to realize something... I want someone to help guide me spiritually. I want someone I can turn to when I'm spiritually drained. I need all of this.I need someone who will feed me - through his sermons, through his prayers, through offering me communion and blessings. I need someone who will feed me with something substantial. I want a pastor - an active one... not just one I half listen to on Sunday mornings.

Am I wrong to want this stuff? Am I expecting too much? Am I placing too much emphasis on a desire for a spiritual leader? I used to go about my spirituality on my own... but now, I am not sure if it's enough any more... am I wrong in this thinking?

Mindless Automatons

It truly amazes me how many so-called Christians are so filled with hate. Certain churches are all about teaching hate. Their mindless automatons spew hatred. Their "educated" twist God's Word, incorporating a hate-filled interpretation to justify their abuse of others.

God is Grace. God is Love. Why would we not be the same way? Just on principle alone (i.e. God is love, therefore we should be also) we should want to be this way. But, if this isn't enough, Jesus Himself commanded  it.

John 13:34 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

There are many verses showing the importance of showing love. These are only a few... 

Romans 13:8 -  ⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Matthew 22:36-40 -  ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”   ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment.³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

James 2:8 -  ⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

  No where does Jesus say "Condemn the homosexuals!" or "Bomb the abortion clinics!" On the less extreme side... no where does Jesus tell us we should gossip about the poor family on the corner with 5 children they can't afford to feed. No where does He tells us we should speak ill of the teenage, unwed mother. No where does He permit us to turn our back on the father who stumbles home drunk. Additionally, He doesn't give us permission to hate the neighbor who rapes our wife or kills our child.

I'm not saying any of this is easy for us. I, for one, am really bad at not condemning those who hurt children. There are times I hear these stories on the news and think to myself "I hope he rots in hell." Does this person's actions make it right for me to think this way? No. I am going against Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us murder includes being angry at someone.

But what amazes me is all the people - often headed by the church - who will grab Scripture text, out of context, and use it to justify and promote hate. This is not Christian. This is not following Jesus' commandment. This is these people and the church saying "to hell with what Jesus says!"

Now, you may try using the argument, well if we don't hate homosexuals or murderers, we're saying "to hell with what God says!" But, this is not true. Why? Because of verses like Romans 13:8 and James 2:8 above. Jesus' command to love one another - neighbors and enemies alike - surpasses all other laws.

Stop being a lemming to the churches and leaders who are telling you to go against Jesus. Stop being mindless automatons, following the orders of those who would dare to say "to hell with what Jesus says!"