So far, for me, 2024 has me pondering the pitfalls and the slimy ingredients which make up the astonishingly toxic gloopy stew called “Christian Nationalism”
I am a follower of Christ. Folks may have their opinions as to how accomplished a follower I am, but—funny thing about Christianity—I’m not charged with worrying about those opinions, as “The fear of man may prove a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe”(Pro 29:25). Now, it’s another thing entirely when you’re talking about someone with whom I am in relationship with, sharing an edifying word, encouraging one another, or correcting each other because we care for one another, and it gives us joy to see growth in faith. We’re stakeholders in building each other up in wisdom and manifestation of gifts—making good choices, as opposed to a pissing contest as to who appears more outwardly righteous by the world’s standards.
I read the Bible and pray daily, and attend church on Sunday. In my biblical study, I have come to reject most popular conservative doctrine. The church I attend is LGBTQIA open and affirming, and I will not attend a church that is not. I understand the Bible teaches us to judge a “tree” by its fruit, and the fruit of the Spirit of God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, so that’s what is important to me. I hear Christian Nationalists talk about how “In the beginning, God made ‘Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve’”. Yes, perhaps. “In the beginning.” And yet, these are people going so hard at getting to “the end times”—they cannot “drill baby drill” and decimate the earth fast enough, apparently to force Jesus’ hand in returning as quickly as they can recklessly mis-steward the planet. So, wouldn’t that make us closer to “the end” than “the beginning”? So, yeah. Someone’s orientation is not a walking-with-Jesus disqualifier to me. Also, I am led to wonder what kind of a person despises their children and grandchildren so much that they want to ruin the planet they’re born on. Honestly, if my hands could smack a rift into the space/time continuum, I would like to slap these people straight into The Tribulation. In love though. Give the folks what they want.
And speaking of time, I will also share with you that, although I am not a young earth creationist, I am also not sold on the whole primordial soup thing. I believe in micro evolution, but don’t believe billions and billions of years solves all the issues, for me anyway, when it comes to straight up Darwinism. I am not confident that carbon dating is accurate over a couple hundred thousand years for a planet that has been through some things. So, yeah, I am a weirdo to the progressive folks too. Also not worried about those opinions either. There are some references to dinosaur-esque creatures in the Bible which my imagination finds so fascinating. What if the Loch Ness Monster is really a dinosaur, or if there really is a Champy giant ancient reptile in Lake Champlain? And what explains dragon lore? Raise your hand if you hope heaven has a vast historical video archive! That said, I hope the video of our time here on earth in 2024 is the best part of your story so far, in spite of the challenges.
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