I came across a couple of blogs recently that really caught my interest. The first was a sermon written for the Passion Week that basically combined "It Gets Better" and the "Passion of Christ". It is well worth the time to read. From that entry, I was directed to another blog. This second blog really made me stop and think. In this blog entry, a columnist (and an atheist at that) called out to Christians. Here is the quote:
Sex columnist (and atheist) Dan Savage writes about what he calls NALTs, which stands for Not All Like That. NALTs are Christians who insist that they’re moderate, that they don’t hate, that they are for social justice and human rights, and that they follow a loving, joyous, peaceful Christ. Dan Savage is annoyed because, he says, NALTs apparently exist in large numbers, since they email him in droves every time he calls out the Church for a new example of extreme bigotry, but despite their large numbers, they’re disturbingly silent on the big issues. NALTs are not visible in the current political, theological, and cultural arenas, and Dan Savage wonders why.
The blog goes on to detail a church, full of NALTs. It urges Christians who are NALT to stand up for what they believe in. To fight for their beliefs. To let the world know - we are here.
There's a lot going on in the news lately. A lot of hate. Protests at soldiers' funerals. Resolutions to impeach judges who were only doing their jobs. Bills to ban same-sex marriages in multiple states. And a number of teen suicides brought on by bullying. And this is not okay.
I have decided that for this blog, I'm going to sit down and really think about what I believe in. And then I'm going to make it known. I'm going to shout my beliefs for all to hear. I'm going to fight for those beliefs. Because if you don't fight and stand up for what you truly believe, what do you have? So, here it goes...
I believe in God. I am a Lutheran of the ELCA. I believe that Jesus came to this earth and then died for our sins. I believe He did this so that we could some day have eternal life with Him. I believe Jesus died so that all of our sins are forgiven. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe in miracles. I believe in faith. I believe that it's okay not to have all the answers because I have faith. I believe that Jesus preached love. I believe that is not our job as Christians to judge others. I believe that only God can cast judgment on us and He will do so when it is our time. I believe that love is the most important thing of all and that, as Christians, we should promote that love, forgiveness and acceptance.
I believe that family and friends - the people you love - are the most important things in life. I believe that God has a plan for each of us and that while we don't always understand it, He knows what He's doing. I believe that there are messages from God everywhere. I believe that life is not always suppose to be easy and that the pain and hardships we endure make us better people. I believe in the power of music and that it can move the spirit inside people. I believe in happiness. I believe in peace. I believe that being different is okay and you should never hide who you are. I believe in love. I believe in soul mates. I believe in marriage. I believe that marriage is something you have to work at every day.
I believe that being gay is okay. I believe that is not a sin in God's eyes. I believe that God loves everyone for who they are, no matter what - because He made them that way. I believe in my God but I understand that not everyone does. I believe in not pushing my religion onto anyone else. I believe in respecting everyone and their own individual beliefs - religious or not. I believe in being able to have an open mind and open and rational discuss about tough topics. I believe in debates.
I believe in the democracy of America. I believe that every person has a voice and that voice counts. I believe that voting is important and everyone should do it. I believe that the people out fighting for our country (or have) are brave and good people. I believe that anyone should be able to do this if they want and shouldn't have to hide the fact they're gay. I believe in equal rights for everyone. I believe in same-sex marriages. I believe that while some people may personally be against same-sex marriages because of their religion, that does not mean, in any way, they should be denied the same rights that are provided to us by the state (not the church). I believe that while abortion would never be a personal choice for me, every woman should have the right to choose. I believe in helping others that need help. I believe that guns should be harder to obtain and always stay locked up when not in use.
I believe that there is still the American dream and that we shouldn't deny that dream to others just because they weren't born here. But that being said, I believe that those people should come to this country the right and legal way. I believe that the economy will turn around and continue to get better. I believe in public education and that it is sadly under-funded and not supported properly. I believe that health care should be an affordable option for everyone. I believe that as the richest nation in the country, poverty is not okay.
I believe that there are good people out in the world. And while they might not have all the same beliefs I do, I have to believe that there are a large number of people that believe in love. Love, not hate. These are the people who need to speak up. These are the people that need to show the world we are not hateful people. I believe these are the people who can make the world a better place.
Those are my beliefs.
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