You don't even know...

     I have been through a lot in my life. More than I think anyone, aside from my parents, knows.

    Now, I know that we ALL have stories. Everyone has been through things. Amazing and horrible things. But if we're doing anything right, we should be learning from every experience we have in life. Sometimes big lessons, sometimes small. But something.

   Here is a story about one of those lessons for me.


    A few years ago, I was feeling a pull to leave my old church. There was a change in season and a knowing in my heart that it was not the right place for me to be.  So after a long time of praying, some experiences, and confirmation through my family (who had been feeling the same way), we left.  (In a future blog, I will talk about why and about the AMAZING God journey we've been on since.)

   There has been a LOT of talk, rumors spread and assumptions made as to why my family and I ended up leaving - almost all of them are wrong.

    We went through all of the proper channels and talked to all of the right people about leaving and always wanted to make sure we had a heart that honored the church and the Pastors. We thought we had done it right - they seemed to think otherwise. I have never experienced such a "shunning" in my entire life.  Silly things happened - even like people deleting us off of Facebook, talking about us behind our backs, and making up lies. It has actually gotten to the point now where if I try to talk to some of the people that I used to be close with from the church, they delete my comment or just ignore me completely.

    Does that sound like Christianity? Since when did church become a "club" where you're only accepted if you're there but if you leave, you're out. Where is the love or loyalty? Compassion and grace?!

     One of the things that really frustrated me, was when my mom wrote to the person she was supposed to write to, with complete respect and honor, and they wrote her back with a message of basically "make sure you don't steal the 'sheep' or touch the anointed. It will be bad if you do."

    Really?

   Now despite my frustrations and hurt, I have no bad feelings towards the church or anyone there. Honest to goodness. Neither does my family. We never did. EVER.

However, all of this really made me think about something.

    "Don't touch God's anointed" - people use this in reference to pastors. Any pastors. They are the anointed ones. But I have a little surprise - YOU have a calling too. One that you have been created and anointed for as well.  It may not fit the church mold. THAT'S OK. Maybe you're called to be an artist, a singer, an attorney, a doctor, a cheerleader, a scientist, an engineer, a sailor, a mom... you were created to thrive in that - to reach people that may never step foot in a church - to love your life and live with passion.

   I know my calling. I know it's not God's timing to walk out that calling yet, but I still have it. Therefore, I will be anointed to carry it out. So then, why is it ok to attack, spread rumors about or "touch" me? It's not. It's also not ok to punish people or make people feel bad for doing what they were taught to do - follow God's leading.


  My calling is not your calling. Your calling is not my calling. I am not called to church ministry and I am not called to be a Pastor - AND THAT'S OK.  Jesus said to go out into all the world - that includes outside of the church walls - going to places that could be "unacceptable" or "not holy".  The church should be there to support their brothers and sisters - not shunning them and cutting them out instead.

   I know a lot of people that have had similar experiences in church or gotten bitten by the sting of religion. That's not ok. Church isn't a club. It shouldn't be about who's popular, how much money you have, or whether you're serving every weekend in kids ministry.  But sadly, that is what it has become for a lot of people. It seems like it's become so much more about the "heart of the church", the "heart of the pastors" or "serving", that JESUS gets lost in the crowd.

   Christians are hiding their judgement behind the label of "clicking" - if they don't like a person - whether it be the way they look, their clothes, their income, their sexual orientation, or anything else, they blame it on the fact that they just don't "click" with that person.  We're supposed to be the most loving, compassionate, accepting, understanding people ever. "Christian" means Christ follower - right? Why are the church and it's members not reflecting Him better?

 

     That quote is a perfect example of how we should NOT be making people feel.

     When Jesus was on the earth, people RAN to Him. They wanted to be around Him. Mary sat at His feet, John laid his head on Jesus' chest and other people just wanted to get a chance to see Him. He never condemned a sinner - He only got angry with the religious, holier than thou, pharisees.  So if we are supposed to be Christ followers and reflect Christ, why aren't people running to us now? Because it's become more about the religion than the relationship - as cliché as that sounds, it's true.

Religion stinks guys. Anything that stinks is something that people will run away from.


    I want to apologize to any christian, atheist or non believer that has been burned by the church, their pastors or members - that is not Christ. That is not Jesus. That is religion and I am so sorry for the stench.



Until next time...

<3 Brooke

Is there a double standard?

double standard

 noun

: a situation in which two people, groups, etc., are treated very differently from each other in a way that is unfair to one of them

2

:  a set of principles that applies differently and usually more rigorously to one group of people or circumstances than to another - (Merriam-Webster.com)

Double standards. 

This is something that I have always known about. Something I've always seen. Something I've never agreed with but didn't think too much about.

Lately, however, I've been seeing it too often and it really got me thinking - why do we all, if we're honest with ourselves, have double standards? 

Before I go forward, I want to make sure that I am being perfectly clear when I say this is NOT a post to "call people out" or make anyone feel bad. It's not supposed to be depressing or condemning. This is just something that I've observed and my thoughts on the issue!

______________________

I've heard so many times "You shouldn't do ..." or "I can't believe they did..." - "I could never do..." or "How could you ever support..."

Here are a few examples: 

*Someone judges someone who decides to drink a beer while they watch a game, because it's "not Holy", but THAT person has serious road rage and anger issues.

*A performer on an award show (who is a Christian) can have a dark, demonic performance, but because people like that person, they still support and encourage that person no matter what. While at the same time, another artist (who is also a Christian), can do something stupid and land themselves in jail, and the SAME people who supported the first artist, bash the second artist up and down, left and right - just because they don't like them. 

*Phil Robertson vs. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. - They BOTH stood up for what they believe in. But only one of them did it with grace. Both of them have influence, but only ONE of them is classified as "intolerant" to others' beliefs. They both stated their PERSONAL beliefs - only one of them was torn down for having them.

- I'm sorry, but that is just wrong. All of it.

We need to stop having these double standards    - and Christians, we have to   

STOP. RANKING. SIN.

A friend of mine asked me one time "what sin is the biggest?" 

My answer was this: None of them. God doesn't rank sin. Sin is sin. If you rob a bank or tell a little white lie, it's all a sin. But sins DO have a ranking of consequences. There will be a much bigger consequence if you rob a bank, versus telling your friend you didn't take her last piece of gum.

____________________

Mark 6:!4a

34 As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them...

Mark 2:17

17 And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Compassion. Love. Forgiveness.

THAT is what Jesus is. When Jesus was on the earth, people RAN to Him. Tax collectors and prostitutes sat at His feet just to be around Him. He ate dinner with them. He LOVED them. They wanted what HE had. He didn't pick and choose who to love or support. He didn't judge the prostitute and condone the drunk. 

These double standards are doing the one thing that I know we don't want - making Christians look like hypocrites. 

You can't judge someone for one thing and not judge someone else just because you think what that person did was "worse" - we all have things that we struggle with. Where is the love? Judging is exhausting, if you ask me. :)

I am NOT perfect by any means, and I have been and am a guilty party in this whole thing as well. It's human nature. But here's the thing that God has been really showing me lately:

It is not our job to change people. That's His job. If we stopped pointing fingers at what other people are doing wrong and kept our eyes on Jesus - letting Him transform us into His image and allowing Him to teach us how to love others with HIS love, then HE'LL take care of everyone else. It's not our job. 

If we keep our eyes on Jesus, HE'LL change us. He'll change them. Those double standards will vanish and this world will be a better place.

Until next time...

<3 Brooke

Outcast

Have you ever felt like a loser? Like no one cares if you are around or not? Have you ever thought you have no purpose in life? Do you find yourself being the "outcast"? The awkward one that hasn't found a group that they click with and the one who feels like they stick out? Well, I've got news for you.

You Matter.

That's right, I said it. YOU have a purpose and you are loved. God didn't make a mistake when He made you, and He knew before the beginning of time how YOU would change the world. You have a purpose. You have a calling. YOU are loved.

I spent a lot of my childhood and teen years dealing with insecurities and lacking confidence. From what I hear, people would've never guessed that! When I was younger, I used to keep a wall up and I looked serious a lot. To the point where some people said they were scared of me or that they thought I was constantly mad about something.

I worked on that and found a way to loosen up, relax, and just have fun. I remember talking to one of my guy friends about how I used to be shy, and he almost spit out his drink. He said he couldn't picture that because of how outgoing I was now, and how I'm always so happy.

That was a huge compliment to me. It was great to hear something like that, especially since I was standing there having that conversation, feeling like a was sticking out like a sore thumb.

I have never been the "glamour girl" or the girl that guys are automatically drawn to or find instantly "pretty". I've always been the "good friend" and the girl that everyone could come to for advice and talk to about their problems, but I've never been the "IT" girl.

That was hard for a long time. I wanted to be accepted, I wanted to feel like I mattered. I wanted to feel beautiful.

Over the years, I felt like I had no one. Sure, I have an AMAZING family and the most amazing, supportive parents a girl could ask for, who always told me they loved me and that I was beautiful. I've also had some amazing friends in my life. But inside, I was hurting. I had no one to turn to, except for THE one to turn to. Jesus.

I started running to Jesus with everything. And I do mean EVERYTHING. He became to me, what He longs to be for everyone - My best friend.  Over time, He started showing me how I mattered. He showed me my calling in life, and He showed me that Jeremiah 29:11 is true. He DOES know the plans He has for me, and they are SO amazing. I finally felt accepted and I believe I've learned (and am continuing to learn) what TRUE love and acceptance is. There's nothing like it. It's something that NO human can fulfill for you. I  became an "It" girl. :)

Guess what? He is no respecter of persons. He wants YOU to know true love. He wants you to realize that you matter. You have a purpose. You NEED to be here to fulfill the AMAZING plans He has for you. Trust me, they're amazing!

You are beautiful. Let me say that again. You. Yes, You. You are beautiful. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Never forget that. Please. If all you get out of this is that you matter, then I've done my job.

Stay strong. I believe in you, but more importantly, Jesus believes in you. He is always there for you. ALWAYS. There is nothing that can separate you from His love. And I do mean NOTHING. You are worthy. He finds no flaw in you. He will always be by your side. Even when you make mistakes, or feel like no one is there for you, He is.

Believe in that.

Song of Solomon 4:7 (Amp)

"[He exclaimed] O my love, how beautiful you are! There is no flaw in you!"




Till next time...