Keep Loving!
If the version of Christianity we are proclaiming does not prioritize liberation for the marginalized then it is not of Jesus Christ. Two thousand times in scripture references are made to caring for the poor, marginalized, immigrants, and disregarded by society. If we love him then we will love these. If your self proclaimed judgement of any group of people does not shine with the fruits of the spirit it is not of Jesus. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The notion that our interpretation of scripture is always the correct one is an illusion. Each of our interpretations of the bible is colored by tradition and character. We look at scripture thru a lens of time and place. To think that we read the bible as the early christians did is dangerous. It produces a confusion with the word of God. Jesus was asked 183 questions of which he only answered three. Why? He wanted us to rely on the spirit. Even John said Jesus was the word and word was God. He didn’t want us to get so caught up in the words on the page that we disregard the holy spirit. We get in trouble when we make all our interpretive decisions in isolation or only with the people who look, think and believe exactly as we do. So many times I read commentary from different religions, different authors, and different theologians. Only then can I make an informed decision about scripture. So keep praying, keep searching and above all Keep Loving!
I Love You! – Perry