Zoe Hatcher's Blog

Being a Christian, I've been around people a lot more than I probably would be if I were not a Christian. Probably because I'm commanded to be... If I had the choice, I would just hole up with a good book. LOL This wonderful art of fellowship can bring awesome times of encouragement that leave you buzzing all day. And sometimes it can leave you feeling burned. I wonder why it is when you try to get more than three Christians together (especially when they're from three different churches) for more than three hours, a coup is sure to follow. We have more "personal convictions" than hairs on our heads and they all happen to stick out like quills. And as long as your quills look like mine, we're good. But give me a minute, you're sure to step on my toes and the quills will start flying. It makes me sick to my stomach. We might as well have a sign around our neck that says, "Beware of Christian. Offends easily." And that can mean be offended and offend others... Being raised in a non-Christian family, I've seen nastiness. But I never saw it with a smile until I started hanging around church. Don't get me wrong, I love Christians, church people, and especially my beautiful Christian friends. But sometimes I do feel like I'm back in middle school. We have the cliques and the immaturity. It's like we're a part of this big Christian Yearbook that has each one of our pictures in it and under our picture is our specific "brand" of Christianity. Complete with our preferences that are always hanging out and we yell at people when they trip over them. Here's Joe: a conservative, republican, fox-news watching Christian. Don't be liberal around him. Here's Jack: a cool, contemporary, tolerant Christian. Don't be old and set in your ways around him. Here's Jean: a stay at home, homeschooling mom Christian. Don't be a public school teacher career mom around her. There's Paula: a vegan, social activist Christian. Don't be like Joe around her. What's even crazier is when Joe and Jean get together and say that Paula can't be a Christian because she doesn't eat meat. Or when John the catholic can't be a Christian because he's not baptist like me. Or when Pat the secular music listener, long hair wearer, occasional drinker can't possibly be saved. Or how Jill couldn't possibly know the Lord like I do, because she wears skirts and head coverings and doesn't cut her hair. Who died and made it Great White Throne Judgment time? Convictions are convictions for a reason; I'm not knocking them. If they come from time spent with the Lord, and the Holy Spirit allowing or not allowing something into your life for your edification. But if they come from habit, tradition passed down, or something that someone (or yourself) has forced upon you in guilt, then they're just bunk. And they are certainly not something to cram down someone else's throat because you think you've become their personal Holy Spirit. I've heard people defend themselves, saying they're "standing by their convictions", but I've seen many of them (including me, I'm a work in progress) end up standing on their island... alone. Because no one can live up to something the Lord hasn't even asked of them. There are things that are indisputable. I won't get into them; read the Word, and you'll find out. And I'm not talking about sin. I am talking about preference. The word calls these things "disputable matters".

Romans 14:1 -

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

This is preference that becomes law in many of our hearts. I've always struggled with the "law". When I realize that what I'm struggling with is self-imposed, because Jesus set us free from that, I have to come to Him again and be cleaned out. I have to stop acting like a Christian and just BE one. It says to "Accept him whose faith is weak, WITHOUT PASSING JUDGMENT..." (And why is it usually the one whose faith is weak is passing the judgment... hmmm...) And in my opinion (because that's what these wonderful blogs are about, right? ;), if it comes down to holding onto your rules or holding your brothers and sisters close, I think I know what Jesus would choose.