I just read this on Ann Voskamp's blog www.aholyexperience.com
"Cynicism isn’t strength and ranting doesn’t rejuvenate andfrustration can never accomplish what Faith can.
Does my life testify to my belief in the power of complaint — or the power of Christ?
The Joy of the Lord is our strength — and anger leaves everyone weak."
Anger and passion are different. Passion leads you to a place of trust and looking at Christ. Anger leaves you, well, angry if you do not look to Christ.
Posted on 10/8/12
My friend Buddy challenged me to write something that I
would never post and I said, “Okay!” and then he followed it with saying, “And
then I want you to post it.” My response
to Buddy and his wife Kathie cannot be put into print.
I am angry. It’s the
kind of angry that is not easily shaken.
The kind that has been brewing and simmering down to the very marrow of
my being for a few years, but has escalated over the past year.
o
Last year i saw clients 20 hours a week and
they were the lost that i needed to get face to face with in order for me to
know Jesus in a deeper way. How had I gotten
so disconnected from the world? You add
my dear clients with a class called social and cultural led by an amazing African
American man to a class of all white Anglo protestants and i am rattled. Did
you know that white people are ethnic too? American history became hard to stomach at
times when looking at what this country did to the Native Americans. Then you realize many of the Puritan’s that
my culture elevates, also had a hand in some nasty history (I admit that I love
the Puritan writings and have some of their books). Warning – this video will be highly offensive
to my white brothers and sisters, but to my black brothers and sisters, I think
you will stand and cheer. It’s amazing what acknowledgement can do.
o
o i am angry.
o i'm angry at the
arrogance of reformed theology and how anyone who might have an emotion or speak in tongue’s is seen as one who doesn’t
have as strong of a theology.
o i am angry at the
actions of brothers that will get up and
leave a session if a woman is speaking and then use SCRIPTURE as an excuse to “act
a donkey” and not a brother to their dear sister.
o i'm angry that my
African American clients have a much bigger hole to try and climb out of then
anyone I've ever met in order to JUST GET NOTICED by people who might be able
to help. oh my word. it's like this
silent scream that doesn't end.
o
o I’m so sad that
many friends feel they can’t take their gay friends to some churches
because they are still using the phrase from the pulpit that, “God didn't make
Adam and Steve, he made Adam and Eve” as if that statement will really draw seeking friends to Christ. What on
earth? Thankfully the church I attend
now is one who loves people where they are and believes in process, but they
don’t water down the Gospel. Gospel – Good News. Thank you, Jesus.
o
o In the Casting
Crown’s version of Jesus, Friend of Sinners there’s a line that says, “nobody knows
what we’re for only what we’re against when we judge the wounded. What if we put down our signs, crossed over
the lines and love like You did?” Can
you imagine what this election would look like?
Can you imagine the conversations that would happen? Do you see Him there? He’s the one writing in the sand while others
begin to put down their stones and walk away from the one they are judging. Jesus so graciously, yet truthfully interacts
with this woman. Oh my word, I need to put down my signs, even if they have
been internal.
o
o i' I'm scared to
be offensive. the angry white woman. yet, some things are worth being being angry about.
b
b
o
o How do i have
vision for actions or lack of actions that make me angry? To love well and yet be honest about
things that I have remained silent about? I don’t know, but I want to go there
with the Father, just like I hope if I or my actions make you angry then you will go there too
on my behalf - that we would have God-given vision for one another and what
Christ being formed in our lives could look like.
Will you take a minute to listen to
the link below? I’d love to hear where
you are in the process of laying down your signs.
Posts
2 comments:
xoxoxo
I am so late on this. but beth, we need you to be offensive! Thanks for putting up the Propaganda video (I am so impressed you know him!) and sharing your heart that Jesus is clearly molding. I love that you are WHITE and saying these things. Whew.
Post a Comment