I had a wonderful talk with my friend Mary the other day and she made a comment about how she (as a Christian girl) didn't want to tell people she's dating a non-Christian guy because of how judgmental Christian people are. At first I was like "no way! We would totally love you no matter what!" And then I stopped for a second, and thought of MY initial response. Yeah, I definitely came off as a strong, judgmental person. My motives were in the right place--I just didn't want to see her get hurt by dating a guy she can't marry--but I have a hard time imagining how to love well...even through things that I disagree with.
Where's the balance between compromising on what you believe so that you don't seem "judgmental" and speaking the truth no matter what the cost?
I think that a lot of the Christian stereotype of being judgmental comes from the extra rules religious people add to the Bible. Don't pierce your nose. Tattoos are for rebels. Only sinful girls wear spaghetti straps. Dating unless you're planning on marriage is wrong. At least for me, though, I wish all of my non-Christian friends could know my heart. I LOVE Jesus. I can't imagine life without Jesus and the hope that I wake up with every morning. Things that I disagree with you on....I disagree because in my experience they just cause pain in the long-term. I'm not trying to be holy or better than you, I just really want you to live with as much joy every day as I do.
I am piercing my nose, I sometimes wear spaghetti straps, and I dated a boy I didn't marry. I am a TERRIBLE Christian.
ReplyDeleteJust kidding, I promise I didn't miss your point that badly.