July 17, 2006
-
If ONLY I Could/Would Really Say What I Think…
As Americans we live in the “land of the free and the home of the brave”, or so I was taught in elementary school.
Its patently obvious today that the bravery is needed more and more to remain free. Our words aren’t “free” if they aren’t politically expedient or if they ruffle feathers. It is getting so that not only are we going to be held accountable for the words we say (which is only right) but that we can be jailed, sued and labeled as pariahs. A recent example that come to mind are the firing of a member of the Maryland Governor’s cabinet. The man in question is a staunch Catholic and his belief system is such that homosexuality is not just wrong but it is a sin, and he stated as much. Because of his position in the governor’s cabinet, he was fired from his post.
I guess the freedom to speak one’s opinion is limited to what your boss feels is acceptable. Even in a place where one holds public office.
I neither agree nor disagree that this gentleman should have spoken his opinion out loud, but I firmly believe that he has the right to speak it whether or not I or anyone else agrees. I also feel it was wrong that he was sacrificed on the alter of our present governor’s political ambitions. He was fired simply because it wasn’t conducive to the political atmosphere our present governor wishes to cull. Interesting, considering this governor’s campaign was geared towards the conservatives in our state and he spoke our repeatedly about his personal faith and walk with God. What Mr. Ehrlich fails to realize is that he is cutting off his nose to spite his face. Once in office, he turned his back on the very public stands that he had taken while a Congressman in our county. He is seeking re-election in the next gubernatorial race. Who does he think is going to re-elect him? He has turned his back on the things he promised the very people who put him into office, and those who would never vote for him sneer at him not only for his stand but his LACK OF standing firm to his once-spoken-so-strongly-of ideals.
Riding the fence will get you splinters in THE MOST uncomfortable of places.
Not only that but to remove them you are going to ask help.
Yeah…plant THAT image firmly in your mind. I’ll wait……
…
…
…
OK…moving on…
Recently in my area there has been a growing controversy at a church where I am very close to many people involved there. The pastor now in charge has gone mad bull, destroying ministries, tearing down good, godly people and the man just_doesn’t_see the damage he is causing. People are not being fed, the Gospel is not being shared effectively and the Great Commission is definitely not being fulfilled. My heart is breaking but I see God moving and making plans for a better future in our area. Meanwhile, people are fleeing the assembly like rats fleeing a sinking ship. I hope something happens and SOON to redeem this situation. God needs to be able to get back to His business. Right now, while God may be allowing all this to happen so that His purposes will ultimately be fulfilled, there is a lot of floundering and confusion being caused, people being hurt and there is no ministering going on. In spite of that I see the hand of God at work in individual lives. That is a wonderful thing to witness!
In my own life I recently was on the receiving end of a pretty major conflict/accusation.
Two weeks ago I received a call that someone needed to speak to my husband and myself, but was not told what it was about even when I asked. What it came down to in the meeting is that there is a differing of opinions and this person doesn’t and can’t see it any other way. No meeting in the middle, no discussing, its black and white and that is it. To them it is a sin issue when clearly it is cultural and a meat offered before idols situation. Ok, I am being cryptic but I want to remain above reproach in this whole situation and I don’t want to cause a taking-sides he-said-she-said environment. I love this person greatly and have nothing but respect for them, but we cannot and won’t agree on this situation and because of it, it has caused a change for our family. I know that I am in God’s will for my and my family’s lives and cannot and will not change simply because of one man’s opinion. I am not a man-pleaser and never have been, and I am not about to start now. Again, I have the utmost respect for the person with whom the disagreement occurred but I cannot agree with him and that is where it lies.
Sooo…what is freedom? We have freedom in Christ but also a responsibility to do things with that freedom that won’t hurt others. Does that mean we will always please and agree with others? No, it doesn’t unfortunately. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree on things that are not eternal truths. To often our own freedom is bound up by others’ views and opinions. I am not talking Biblical truths that are inescapable, but about how cultural and “grey area” issues are interpreted and decided upon. Legalism, rules and other man-made do’s and don’t often keep us from from doing and having all the Christ has for us, just like the political climate in our country stifles our freedoms as Americans to speak out in freedom and liberty. We often have to be in the “land of the brave” and step out even when another would hold us back.
I have been working over the last month or so to get my photography business off the ground and flying. Way-back-when *G*, I attended the University of Maryland for Visual Arts and Photography.Before I had Brenna 11 years ago I worked in customslabs and managed labs, have worked for 1/2 dozen or more photographers, shot weddings and portraits, etc. God has provided for me the ways and means to be able to open a studio so I can do portraits, weddings, etc. and I am extremely psyched about it. I have been doing some portrait sessions and have asked a few friends/acquaintances to let me photograph them to build up my portfolio. I need lots of samples to put out there and I have been having fun doing sessions doing so. I am going to continue to seek God’s will for myself and my family and eagerly await to see what He has in store for us. THAT my friends…is the ultimate freedom!
Take a peek at my photography and let me know what you think: http://www.ArtBeatPhotography.photosite.com.
Til next time…
Kathie
Comments (16)
You already know I’m right there with you, but I’ll say it anyway. I so get what you are saying, and I think it is nothing short of a tragedy that the Church is destroying itself from within. People like us will never let the True Church be destroyed, for we ARE the Church. I guess all we can do is stay in the Word, stay in prayer, and continue to live our lives according to Scripture and not just on someone else’s interpretation of it. God *will* build His Kingdom, and He will use those who will allow themselves to be used. I count you and me blessed for being among those who truly want His will to be done.
Some of what you post.. has become reasons why I avoid going to church. Homeschooling my kids.. dealing with their learning delays and their lil quirks.. they stick out among the public school kids and people ask ?’s of why this or that. You can be yourself at church.. its a very rare thing. Once you attend .. its assumed you fall into place… or you must get attached to people and your private life is not your own. Too many bruises out there… and they have been hit over and over again. Now I have a family having to deal with people treating them different and asking questions. I cannot understand why we all just can’t belong and JUST BE STILLLLLLLL. People screwed up the church… its not what God intended I am sure. I am really struggling going back.. I want to.. very much so…
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Your pictures are really lovely. I so wish I had done portraits when I was pregnant with my children. I only have a couple of pictures of me pregnant with Sarah and that’s really it. I hated the way I looked, so I wouldn’t let anyone photograph me, and now I’m sorry about it.
It seems that so many people forget the *freedom in Christ* concept. They want to make the rest of the world live by their own personal convictions and it drives people away. There’s nothing wrong with recognizing sin and naming it, but people need to step back and let God convict who He will. If someone isn’t convicted the same way I am, that is not for me to fix or to lobby against. It is between that person and God.
In a lot of places, church has become too heavy on the man-made religion aspect, and that’s not what it is supposed to be about.
Wow – I’m looking over your photo site, and there’s some really beautiful stuff there. Thanks for sharing the link.
I wish I could help with the freedom problem, but I just can’t. It’s so subjective… and so many people use it to justify behavior that I don’t even touch that with a 10-foot pole.
I think we’ve been treating people like they need milk far too long. It’s time to wean to meat, now.
Great blog! Beautiful photos!
I’m lucky enough to be one of your “in-person” friends, so you KNOW how I feel! Love you!
Interesting to see Anna write what I just blogged a few minutes ago. GMTA?
)
I appreciate your encouragement more than you know, my friend. Thanks for always being there.
We’ve survived a lot of church problems… mostly by not going anymore.
Ditto what Lance said. ^^^
hello. we are going to be up in md from friday to sunday afternoon. saturday we are all going to the zoo so i will have to get in touch with you the next time we are up there… ok??
Hi! Though I’m not going to church anywhere right now (and maybe won’t again!), I KNOW all about the hurts and bruises one gets in a church setting and bad situation like you’re describing. Been there, a few times, done that, and have no desire whatsoever to do it again. When I left the church this past time for personal reasons, I was immediately given the cold shoulder and ignored by people that I had thought were my close friends! Some of those people I had known for many years. I’d worked around them for a number of years and helped most of them out in one way or another. Some of them I helped in a lot of different ways. But the moment that you step foot outside what they think, what they feel, is the “right thing to do” (even if it’s not the right thing to do for you), you are immediately dropped as a friend and even an acquaintance. To me, being involved in a church setting is not worth the hurt and bruises that come when you make a decision that doesn’t agree with theirs!!
I love you Kath, and I miss you lots. You were the one friend that I could still talk to even when I left. But I know that the decisions that I’ve made and the life that I’m living now makes it impossible for us to be the kind of friends that we used to be. But I will never forget all the times you were there for me and all the love, friendship, and acceptance that you showed me – even in the dark times. Laurie
Hi Kathie,
Just wanted to say hi. Hope everything is ok with you and your family.
God bless,
Ray
Yeah, we all kind of said “screw myspace”!!! HAHA We all like Xanga better now.. I mean, I have a myspace again, but it’s only to keep in touch with the few people i don’t talk to that much who don’t have a xanga. Aight, well I’ll be up in Maryland starting September 14 and I dont’ know how long I’ll be up there, but I will get in touch with you..
Well I’ll talk to you laters!
in my life i have found that part of not being a man pleaser goes hand-in-hand with not expecting non-christians, or those in pseudo-christianities to make decisions that reveal the glorification of Jesus Christ. the depth of the comparison between saul and David is that the leadership of this world which is founded on witchcraft (masonry) is the proverbial saul, soon to be replaced by Jesus Christ.
…
…
…
you mentioned your pastor tearing down ministries…if he is a pastor and following God’s lead, God knows what He is doing…and it often looks a lot different than what the people whose idea of faithfulness is sitting on a pew think.
in Jeremiah it is prophecied that many shepherd’s will ruin the vineyard. why? because they arent shepherds..they are wolves…the church of rome impersonating christianity for the sake of dominion and all its benefits.
Christians are called to expose false teachings and destroy them with the Word of God, but that would mean persecution wouldnt it? that would mean the loss of many of our idols, including our families for some…some like me, who put Him before all these things.
isnt that what He mentioned as the requirements for being a disicple? we want to praise Him, but we dont really want to follow Him. we want all the lingo, and plastic evidences we are christian including our best behavior, but for some reason real obedience seems to be missing from so many professing.
part of making Disciples…is protecting people from what isnt christianity, like catholicism, mormonism…all the houses of cards built on masonry.
Micah 5:10-15 is interesting, especially for all those who thinks those prophecies are fulfilled, and additionally you might want to consider Romans 8:6.
I am blessed,
Charles
All I can say is that we have been through so much in coming out of legalism, and coming out of a cult, even, so I can understand about embracing the freedom in Christ! Through many hard times, and also great times, we can look back now and see how He has been guiding us. So hang in there! Love your photos. Christy