I don't know how to tell you this...but you're wrong.

Actually, I know exactly how to tell you; you're wrong. It doesn't matter if your facts are all correct, you have all the evidence in the world, and you've been able to shoot down every argument they have. You're still wrong. Why, you ask? Because you're missing the point. The point of life, and even less so the point of following Christ, is not to be able to prove that you're right.

You don't have to be scared of demons

I've been reading "Demon" by Tosca Lee. I'm not very far in, but Dad has been telling me some things that I've not considered before. I don't know how much impact on other people's lives this may have, but there are two things that I want to look at, briefly.

God Loves Fags

First, I want to apologize for the use of "fags" in the title. I wanted to grab attention, and it was the best way I could think of. I know that a fag is a cigarette butt, and not a person.

Second, I want to repeat it. God loves people who are lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender. The operative word, there, is "people". They are still human beings, created in His image, and He still loves them. I know what the people over at Westboro and the like will say. "What about Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13? I won't get into an argument about whether people should still be stoned. I think Jesus covered that in John 8:7, don't you?

So, let's look at "detestable," or the King James' "abomination," according to Webster.

detestable, adj: arousing or meriting intense dislike

abomination, n: 1: something abominable 2: extreme disgust and hatred

For the sake of completeness, let's define abominable as well.

abominable, adj: worthy of or causing disgust or hatred

See? It says it right there, "hatred". Twice, even! But wait! Let's look at some pronouns...


In 18:22, it says "they have done what is detestable". It does say "they," which is a personal pronoun, referring to more than one person. But, "what" is an impersonal pronoun. It refers to a thing, not a person.  It does not say that the people who have done it are detestable, but the act of homosexual intercourse is detestable, or an abomination. It's what they have done that God hates, not the people themselves.

In fact, nowhere in the Bible, that I have found (correct me if I'm wrong), does it say that God hates a person or people. But, over and over, it says that He hates what they have DONE. In fact, a quick search of "lord hates" (with quotes) shows 4 results in the NIV, and NONE in the King James, to which many of these Pharisaical zealots hold. Of the four in the NIV, one is the people of Israel being rebellious, talking about how the Lord hates them and brought them into the wilderness to die in Deuteronomy 1:27, then Psalm 97:10 says "those who love the Lord hate evil." The other two, Deuteronomy 12:31 and Proverbs 6:16 talk about things that the Lord hates, not people. A similar search of "God hates" (again, with quotes) finds one in the NIV, and NONE again in the King James. Deuteronomy 16:22, says that the Lord hates "sacred stones," which are, again, things. I could go on with "lord despises" and "lord detests" and all the synonyms for "hate", but you get the picture. God doesn't hate people. He hates the things people do.

In closing, I want to toss something your direction that has struck me recently; it seems that the reason so many people don't like the church, and use that as an excuse not to get to know God, is not just that we're a bunch of hypocrites, for the most part (though that is a large reason). From spending time on the internet, it looks like the world's problem with us is that we're constantly trying to prove ourselves right. To defend our position. To "stand up for Jesus." Well, let me tell you something. First, Jesus doesn't need anyone to stand up for Him. He can take care of Himself. Second, get over yourself! Who cares if what an atheist or a gay person or a professor or another denomination or anybody says that offends you!? Life isn't all about you! Everything comes down to love, which puts others above yourself, and doesn't seek its own ends. Try it sometime?

P.S. I know that someone will point out that I've done exactly what I've said you shouldn't, proving myself right. In my defense, I submit this: I'm advocating love, not trying to prove myself right.

I may not have it all figured out, but I do say what I think. If you have any questions about faith in Jesus, don't hesitate to email me. It's my job to help you out. Have an idea for me? Let me know in the comments! If you see any spelling/grammatical errors, PLEASE let me know in a comment. I expect others to use correct English, so I should too. Twitter:@GetItReallyReal Please subscribe and/or share.

It's All About the Heart

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

We quote this often (Luke 6:37-38), praying for a great return on what we give so that we can get back more than we gave. And often, we give an absolute minimum (to the church, missions, church family members, etc) and expect many times the return on our "investment." I bet you can already tell where I'm going here: we're selfish.

Disenchanted in this land of a thousand chances

I have friends who have become disenchanted with God, because He didn't fulfill their expectations for their lives, or because the circumstances they prayed about didn't get better, or because they couldn't get over how He could let the horrible things that happened to them, happen.

The problem is, what they're seeking is a feeling of happiness. God isn't there to make them happy, He's there to love them beyond all reason.

Is God still big enough to save the world?

For a long time, I thought that the apostles had it easier than we do. They could preach and teach in their world, because the world was smaller, there were fewer distractions, and because most people already believed in something(s) supernatural. Today, we have to deal with atheists, agnostics, cell phones, round-the-clock news, genocide, and so many other things that make people doubt that anything exists beyond the life they're living now. My question is, has the God who made the world changed such that he can't save that same world today?

Happiness isn't good enough for you

That's right. You were made for better than being happy. Happiness is temporary, and it's based on things going on in your life, things which are usually out of your control, and aren't fulfilling anyway. If happiness isn't good enough for us as children of the One who is Love, then what is?