So, the World Vision thing.
If you haven’t followed it, you can read about it all over the place, but to start, here’s Christianity Today’s recap.
Basic gist is this: World Vision initially decided to start employing people in same-sex marriages. People got mad and started pulling their sponsorships. Then World Vision reversed its decision. And other people got mad and started pulling their sponsorships.
I was chewing on this whole thing earlier this week, thinking about my own beliefs and especially my questions. (Can I admit that I have so many more questions about some of this stuff than actual opinions? Which begs the question—does a person have to have an opinion on everything? I know, another post for another day. Although I will say hastily dropping a child sponsorship in anger, to me, is sad.)
But anyway, I spent an hour or so earlier this week reading various blogs and opinions and I found myself getting more and more discouraged.
Not necessarily because of World Vision’s varying decisions.
Not only because of people’s varying reactions to World Vision’s varying decisions.
But because of, oh, just the inevitability of it all. I mean, seriously, does it really surprise us that humans are arguing? Really?
And that’s not to minimize the fact that real lives are being affected by policy decisions and reactions to policy decisions. I realize these are not just issues…and that I shouldn’t brush them or the fallout off as simply unavoidable realities of a society made up of fallible human beings. Nor do I want to slip into a jaded state of “Well, this is how it is and it sucks and no matter how much we try to get along, unity is a lost cause and in the mess, the amazingness of Jesus and redemption is being missed.”
But frankly, that’s where my emotions were headed as I read articles and blogs and vitriolic comment after vitriolic comment on both sides of the issue (probably not a good idea in the first place). Until, in one of those cool, has-to-be-God-inspired moments, I had this random thought:
And yet…God still loves us.
He does.
He loves us when we spout off at each other.
He loves us when we speak what we consider the truth but miss the whole “in love” part.
He loves people on both sides of this and every issue.
He loves all the people in leadership at World Vision who probably wish they could hide out for a few days or months.
He loves us in an active, unconditional and incredible way…on our worst days.
He does.
And that is amazing to me.
And I don’t want it to stop being amazing to me.
Because the more I can hold onto the awe of his love, the more I can avoid:
a) slipping into a brawl*
or
b) listlessly standing on the sidelines watching the brawl and getting depressed…or, probably even worse, prideful that at least I’m not like [insert so-and-so loudmouth].
He loves us. And no matter how messy our individual lives or our society as a whole gets, he’s going to keep loving us.
It’s the one thing that never changes…but that has more power than anything else to change us.
And I don’t think it’s pie-in-the-sky, rose-colored-glasses, pipedream-type living to believe that the more we focus on and attempt to grasp his love, the more we’re going to want to reflect it. It’s going to come out in our words and actions and reactions to the changing culture around us. It’s going to keep our spirits alive and passionate in the midst of humanity’s inevitable brokenness. It’s going to hold us together when we’re confused and unsure what stance, if any, to take.
And it’s the amazing, amazing upside of this mess…and past messes…and messes to come.
*****
*With regard to “slipping into a brawl,” I should add that I totally think there’s a time and place and appropriate way to express opinions. And I don’t equate someone respectfully expressing their opinion, even if I disagree, to brawling.
Comments 14
I’m always encouraged by your faith-filled blog, Melissa. And I’m thankful we have a God bigger than our tantrums.
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Tantrums…that’s a pretty good description of a lot of what went on with the World Vision thing last week, Jill. And yes, yay for God being bigger.
Love your thoughts, Melissa. As I was reading this, I kept thinking about Jesus and wondering how he would have dealt with this particular disagreement. But isn’t that what has gotten so many people in an uproar? This side says this is how Jesus would handle it, and that side says, no, he’d do it this way. Maybe it is okay not to have an opinion and just let the love of God flow through us and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to people’s heart and make the changes (in us and them) that need to be made.
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You’re right, Gabe, about part of the problem being that various sides are convinced Christ would react different ways. But, man, we’re humans…we don’t always get it right…and sometimes I think there’s “rightness” in both sides of a lot of these issues. Which is why, yeah, maybe sometimes it’s better not to have a staunch, detailed opinion and instead focus on what we DO know: that we’re called to love like God loves as much as we can. And if we’re depending on his Holy Spirit to do it, he’ll show us how…
If you can believe it, I totally missed all this was happening. So now I’ve got a “hmmm…” thing going on as I ponder:) Which makes your blog so beautiful because it gives me even more “hmmm…” to chew on as I look at this through the lens of how much God is utterly in love with us. Probably shaking his head at us, like a lot, but oh so in love!
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I kind of wish I had missed it, Susan. 🙂
“It’s the one thing that never changes…but that has more power than anything else to change us.”
Yes. Amen.
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It’s so true, isn’t it!
Melissa, such beautiful, God-inspired thoughts! I’m with you, sister!
And simply loving people doesn’t mean we’re turncoats for loving them. God loves all of us–even Christians with planks in our eyes.
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And I’m crazily grateful for that love…
Love this post, Melissa! Thank you for sharing this great reminder. I love what you said about wanting God’s incredible love to never stop being amazing.
Beautiful words. Thanks!
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Thank you for stopping by, Liz!
Such a wonderful way to the start the day, Melissa. Thanks for words of wisdom, truth and humor! 🙂
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Glad it was a good start to your Saturday, Katherine. 🙂