Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
Romans 14:1
We all want to be Accepted. We all want to belong to something greater than ourselves. When you are different though, you don't always feel accepted. No matter what, you don't see your piece of the puzzle fitting in place with everyone else.
When you are gay, you get the old line "We accept you, it's just the sin we hate." as they shun you at the same time. And who is to say it is a sin? If you are paying attention to my series on The Bible and Homosexuality then you will see, none of the scriptures actually say a loving, committed, monogamous relationship that is homosexual is a sin!
Acceptance is something I guess I will talk about often. Why? Glad you asked! Maybe because it is something I have always fought with. I remember being a kid and not feeling like I was like everyone else and that none of the other kids liked me. I remember that I was made fun of through out all of my schooling. I was never popular or well accepted.
Now days, I don't care if I fit in. And I take on as friends those others that did not fit in and make them accepted by me. No one should ever feel as an outcast, and since I know what that feels like, I will never make someone else feel that way.
Outcast though, strong word! Isn't that what we do to someone that we don't understand or feel their action is not right some how? Don't we outcast those that we judge? Don't speak to that person they are a sinner! Yet we are all sinners!
God was the best at accepting a person just as they are and changing them into someone that He could use for the betterment of the whole. The Bible is full of Christ accepting into the flock those that others turned their back on.
I believe if He were here today, He would be saying the same message, "Come as you are!" He would be saying "I will accept you and love you" He would say "Hey you there, yes you, just cause you like women and are a woman, is not what is important, what is important is that you follow me and I accept you!"
I remember a long time ago, I sat in front of a mirror and the counselor sat with me and had me say over and over again "I accept you" to myself in the mirror. That was one of the most powerful things to do. I cried and still tear up when I think about it.
Acceptance is a powerful thing, but we have to do more then just say we accept someone, we have to put action behind it!
So how do you show acceptance? Be friendly. Be kind. Don't walk away when approached. Don't give a look of disgust when you look at a person. Be a Christian who is not afraid to talk to others and have conversations that are more then "You are wrong and I am right" and get to know a person, not just what you hear about them.
But most importantly, show love and a welcoming spirit! Everyone, even you, needs to feel accepted and wanted, but it is up to us to show that to others. Who will you accept today?
When you are gay, you get the old line "We accept you, it's just the sin we hate." as they shun you at the same time. And who is to say it is a sin? If you are paying attention to my series on The Bible and Homosexuality then you will see, none of the scriptures actually say a loving, committed, monogamous relationship that is homosexual is a sin!
Acceptance is something I guess I will talk about often. Why? Glad you asked! Maybe because it is something I have always fought with. I remember being a kid and not feeling like I was like everyone else and that none of the other kids liked me. I remember that I was made fun of through out all of my schooling. I was never popular or well accepted.
Now days, I don't care if I fit in. And I take on as friends those others that did not fit in and make them accepted by me. No one should ever feel as an outcast, and since I know what that feels like, I will never make someone else feel that way.
Outcast though, strong word! Isn't that what we do to someone that we don't understand or feel their action is not right some how? Don't we outcast those that we judge? Don't speak to that person they are a sinner! Yet we are all sinners!
God was the best at accepting a person just as they are and changing them into someone that He could use for the betterment of the whole. The Bible is full of Christ accepting into the flock those that others turned their back on.
I believe if He were here today, He would be saying the same message, "Come as you are!" He would be saying "I will accept you and love you" He would say "Hey you there, yes you, just cause you like women and are a woman, is not what is important, what is important is that you follow me and I accept you!"
I remember a long time ago, I sat in front of a mirror and the counselor sat with me and had me say over and over again "I accept you" to myself in the mirror. That was one of the most powerful things to do. I cried and still tear up when I think about it.
Acceptance is a powerful thing, but we have to do more then just say we accept someone, we have to put action behind it!
So how do you show acceptance? Be friendly. Be kind. Don't walk away when approached. Don't give a look of disgust when you look at a person. Be a Christian who is not afraid to talk to others and have conversations that are more then "You are wrong and I am right" and get to know a person, not just what you hear about them.
But most importantly, show love and a welcoming spirit! Everyone, even you, needs to feel accepted and wanted, but it is up to us to show that to others. Who will you accept today?
