I wear jewelry.
As a Lutheran living in a Seventh-Day Adventist world, I learn something new about this 'culture' everyday. I was blessed to meet two new people from Loma Linda this weekend. One of them immediately stood out to me due to her nose ring and earrings. My initial reaction was 'I wonder if she's my type?'
I don't want to point fingers and say that one belief is better than the other. Never do I mean to intend that in any form in this blog. But I do want to address the concept of reality. Before becoming more serious about my faith and actually exploring Seventh-Day Adventism as an option, I never would have picked out the girl with the earrings and asked her if she was like me. In fact, in most cases (and this still remains), I am the girl with the 5 piercings and bracelets that could almost serve as a sleeve on a cold day. But when did this happen? When did I start to judge people based on their appearance? This is reality. I've started putting people in categories and groups based on what I see on the outside... Not cool.
I suppose I do this more often than not without even realizing it. For example, when someone walks by wearing a designer clothing item, Burberry sunglasses, Chanel handbag, I assume they are "one of the rich ones." How do I break this mold of seeing the outside before the inside? How did Jesus do it?
In the book I am reading, a certain line spoke to me. It was as if I was standing in a white blank room and all of a sudden black writing appeared on the wall in front of me. It's right there Brittany. It's obvious.
"Christians have fallen in love with their religion rather than with the object of their faith."
That's it. I've turned into someone who focuses more heavily on the rules that I don't see the faith burning bright right in front of my eyes.
I'm still trying to decide how I feel about Adventism. I never used to look at any other person from another religion and judge them based on how much makeup they wore, the jewelry they accessorized with, the nail polish they chose for that day. And now here I am, well aware of the 'rules' or 'guidelines,' judging anyone who isn't the same... I hate it.
God knows no religion. Religion separates. I'm not sure if I'll ever in this life proclaim to be one specific thing. I proclaim to have a faith in a God who moves mountains everyday in my life. I proclaim that the Sabbath is a day of rest. I proclaim that "perfect love casts out all fear," (1 John 4:18). I proclaim that God's love is perfect.
Until I feel the need (if ever) to finally proclaim the 'mold' of religion that I fit into, I must simply say I love God. That is all. I love His Word, the Holy Spirit, his loyalty. I love my faith.
I don't want to point fingers and say that one belief is better than the other. Never do I mean to intend that in any form in this blog. But I do want to address the concept of reality. Before becoming more serious about my faith and actually exploring Seventh-Day Adventism as an option, I never would have picked out the girl with the earrings and asked her if she was like me. In fact, in most cases (and this still remains), I am the girl with the 5 piercings and bracelets that could almost serve as a sleeve on a cold day. But when did this happen? When did I start to judge people based on their appearance? This is reality. I've started putting people in categories and groups based on what I see on the outside... Not cool.
I suppose I do this more often than not without even realizing it. For example, when someone walks by wearing a designer clothing item, Burberry sunglasses, Chanel handbag, I assume they are "one of the rich ones." How do I break this mold of seeing the outside before the inside? How did Jesus do it?
In the book I am reading, a certain line spoke to me. It was as if I was standing in a white blank room and all of a sudden black writing appeared on the wall in front of me. It's right there Brittany. It's obvious.
"Christians have fallen in love with their religion rather than with the object of their faith."
That's it. I've turned into someone who focuses more heavily on the rules that I don't see the faith burning bright right in front of my eyes.
I'm still trying to decide how I feel about Adventism. I never used to look at any other person from another religion and judge them based on how much makeup they wore, the jewelry they accessorized with, the nail polish they chose for that day. And now here I am, well aware of the 'rules' or 'guidelines,' judging anyone who isn't the same... I hate it.
God knows no religion. Religion separates. I'm not sure if I'll ever in this life proclaim to be one specific thing. I proclaim to have a faith in a God who moves mountains everyday in my life. I proclaim that the Sabbath is a day of rest. I proclaim that "perfect love casts out all fear," (1 John 4:18). I proclaim that God's love is perfect.
Until I feel the need (if ever) to finally proclaim the 'mold' of religion that I fit into, I must simply say I love God. That is all. I love His Word, the Holy Spirit, his loyalty. I love my faith.
i love that you love God. i love that that matters most to you. you're pretty cool. =)
ReplyDeletei like your blog. this one is real good. have you read It's Really All About God? you might like that book.
ReplyDeletebrittany! i loved our time together this weekened! and i love this blog. YES, read "it's really all about God" it changed my life! do it!!! come visit me!
ReplyDeleteI kind of think that's what we all have to say as we're sorting it all out.
ReplyDeleteBrittany, I found thine blog and am greatly impressed by this particular one. Thanx for the wake up call and reality check. Take care and enjoy the summer.
ReplyDelete