I have been so involved in my other blog that I almost forgot about this one. Nee-Nee said that it was time to work on this one. I picked a day that I unfortunately have a lot of work that needs to be done, like clipping my toe nails, catching up on my Spongebob that I TiVoed, try out the other side of the couch for a change, etc. So if I rush through this and it is not written well, then just realize that I am rushed on time.
I saw this sign on the news this morning: God sent the shooter. It was held during a protest outside the funeral for Bill Gwatney, because he was a democrat of all things. These people were from a Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas. They usually protest during military funerals. This time another group was there to make sure that peace was kept. Another sign said: Don’t worship your dead.
A few things really made me think. I tried not to get mad about something that I did not fully understand. I was hurt for how they tried to speak for God. One thing that I felt was how this makes the religious community look. It echoes back to the shootings and bombings of the abortion clinics. Killing in the name of God to stop more killing in an area that is not fully understood. I do not condone abortion for abortion sake, but there are circumstances that merit it, I guess, but that is between the woman, Doctor and God. Not for me to decide who is doing it for the wrong reason and the right. I do know from my personal experiences that I have known two very different people that have had an abortion. One that would get knocked up and go have an abortion willy nilly. I had a hard time with that. I also knew a woman that had an abortion because of a genetic issue. She had a hard time with that. She was kicked out of a clinic for voicing her opinion on someone that was bragging on how many different abortions she had. It was a very difficult time for her, and I am sure that it still is. I used to wear CK One, the duel gender cologne, she used to wear the same. When she smelled it on me, she would become withdrawn and sad. Scent is one of our strongest senses for memories, and this brought back tough ones for her.
I also thought about the Baptist churches around the country, and what they must feel about this. Some I am sure condone it, not just in the Baptist community, but other organized religions also. But I have to believe, and this is just an assumption on my part, that most of them do not agree with this. Some people that are having a hard time with spirituality in the first place will definitely use this as fodder to fuel the fight against religion and the senseless calloused attitude that it brings in their eyes.
Forget for a minute the religious connection in this horrendous act that they performed, and leave God to judge them. Look at this in a social setting, with it being in a societal aspect then you are dragged into it also. I see this as a big in your face statement that this is how we are as a society. We do not carry the signs with us in a visual sense, not in a solid state that people can see as they walk by you. But it is seen none the less hanging around your neck. Hatred boiling over in your belief of what makes up the character of an individual. If they don’t act as a person should, or speak in an appropriate way that is deemed worthy in our social norm, then we as a part of that society are quick to jump and speak words that cut deep and are hard to take back. The tongue is as sharp as a two edged sword.
As an addict I find this to be especially true. In a world that holds a strict sin rating system it seems that addicts rate at least a nine out of ten on that ranking system. Murderers depending on the reasoning, like a robber that gets shot for breaking and entering, the shooter is then justified in taking a life, as long as it is not excessive. So if a person kills the other with no more then two shots then they are justified. If more, then the killing was more personal as opposed to not. In our society the killer that has a good shot might be ranked below an addict, as the person that is not that great of a shot will be labeled a cold blooded killer, probably a ten in our ranking system. Easier for the first person to be forgiven and the second one will have a harder road to go if he ever wanted forgiveness.
Jesus checked our hearts, not the signs that we wave in the air for ‘justice’ sake. A harlot that was about to be stoned whom apparently ranked a ten plus on their scale was approached and ultimately saved by Jesus. In their social view the men that slept with the harlot ranked way lower, if it found a ranking at all.
I wrote a post on my other blog similar to this entitled: Approach and Remove Your Robe. Before you get up in arms about the people that were protesting and the blasphemous signs that they sported. Look at your own sign and see what blasphemous words it has on it that the world is reading. The mentality of; ‘acting like I say, not as I do’ is a funny phrase sometimes that we use on our children. But it does have a deeper meaning to the secular part of this society. We as a society make up the social views, and we all have our take on what that entails. We as Christians are set up by God, for Christ as referees of sort. There are more then two groups, but let’s narrow it down to two. The religious fanatics that are caught up in what they refer to as moral issues, using the almighty God in their battle and hiding behind His stiff upper hand. Not allowing the secular world, who is caught up in their own moral issues, to see the loving hand of God. This is actually God’s strongest hand, in fact love is God, God is love. It is up to us as followers of Christ to speak as Christ would speak.
To put the playbook in perspective we need to put our signs down, and lead by example. Forgiving, we are not to back stab someone for not having the views we hold them to and then not holding ourselves to the same views. The big argument that I hear the most is this; ‘I am not talking about me here. We are talking about what you did wrong. Don’t turn this back on me, I am talking about you. I will take care of that later.’ We have the uncanny talent of being able to talk in detail of what is wrong with the other person, yet our tongues do not want to speak of what is wrong with us. Our minds cannot grasp that we are anything but perfection personified.
We do not know how God works or the way that He does. In my mind He did not send the shooter for Mr. Gwatney, but will He use it for good? He has that ability to use all things for good. The family and friends that are effected by this horrible injustice might not see the good yet, and it might be a growth that takes days, weeks, or even years to see. But if they do not focus on the signs, not just the signs of the protesters, then I believe God will guide them out of this too.
When you are tempted in opening your mouth to chastise because someone did not act the way you believed they should have, or did something that you know you would have done different. Instead of spewing hateful words out that cannot be taken back, as the shooter could not take back the shots he fired. Know that God can. He is more then able to judge, and He is more then able to forgive. It is our duty out of love that is shown to us daily by Christ our Lord and Saviour to lay our weapon down, and offer a hand. Think before you pull back the hammer of your tongue to fire, for you might be questioned: Did God send you to do this? What will your answer be then?
D.
