Get real. Please.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our world is full of things we don't like. It is also full things God doesn't like. I'm afraid we often confuse the two. You know that guy at work that really bugs you? God loves him so much that He sent His only son to die for him. Remember that girl you knew in school that claimed to be a witch? She was fearfully and wonderfully made, stitched together by the hand of God in her mother's womb. God loves her and knows the pain that she holds so deeply in her heart. That dude with all the tattoos that also has the gauges in his ears? The Muslim lady that dresses strange that you see on the bus? The politicians that are running the country into the ground? All children of God, all loved by God, all wanted by God.

When we build walls between "us" and "them" are we doing the work that God set apart for us? And how do we build those walls? We use bricks of judgement, condemnation, and our own secret codes. Secret codes? Yes. Those of us that have dedicated our lives to the worship and service of the being that imagined the beauty and complexity of our universe and then spoke it into existence have somehow traded in creativity for conformity. In His name, of course.

I wonder who "we" think is listening.

Even as someone that is "on the inside" I frequently read Christian books and articles or listen to Christian radio and come away thinking, "was there any substance in that?" It's hard to find the meat. So many things I see seem to be faded carbon copies of things other people wrote or said. It doesn't seem real. And if it doesn't seem real, it just doesn't ring true. 

Instead of painting a picture of an idyllic life full of inspiration and intimacy with God, how about we just do life together--honestly. Open up to the world and show them the truth. We are still human. We are flawed. The only way we're different from that annoying coworker or that practicing witch is the knowledge and relationship we have with our savior. God sustains us. That doesn't make us perfect, so let's stop acting like it does. Pretending everything in our life is perfect drives outsiders away.

Instead of building walls, can we build bridges instead?