To everyone who follows me on ANY form of social media.

Warning, this blog contains my personal beliefs which I am more than happy to sit down and discuss with ANYONE at any given time.

Amendment One. Now Let me say one thing right now. This post is NOT me stating my opinion of Amendment One. I am simply commenting on what hurt my heart as I logged onto twitter and facebook today. I have never in my life been more ashamed to identify my self with the mass collection of “Church-Goers” as I have been today. I realize that statement is a bit harsh but the purpose of this blog post is to explain.

Let me start off by saying to those of you who are reading this blog, I am a Christian. My ENTIRE belief system is upheld by this next statement. Jesus Christ, the son of Yaweh, the Living God, selflessly and without second thought gave his life so that I could choose to accept him or deny him. Loving me the same regardless of my choice. It is through my acceptance of his love and grace that I live my everyday life.

Jesus (while on earth) lived a life of love. Eating and drinking with those the “Church-Goers” of that time would have declared as “Sinners” or “Un-holy.” It was by showing his love to others that people opened their hearts to his message. In the scriptures that everyone loves to point at, we see NUMEROUS examples of people caught in “sin” that Jesus shows nothing but kindness and mercy towards. For example, The woman caught in adultery from John 8 (the message):

3-6 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. 7-8 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. 9-10 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” 11 ”No one, Master.” ”Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”

The “Church-Goers” of that day were quick to point out that the woman had sinned, and were ready to prove how wrong she was. Jesus knew of this sin, but was more interested in the woman than the sin. He got on her level, looked her in the eyes, and told everyone else that if anyone of them were perfect, they could bring her to judgement. Romans 3:22b-24 (the message):

“For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.”

I have never seen Bible verses used in such forceful ways as I have today. I NEVER in my LIFE would have expected to see the underlying hate and judgmental attitudes come from the very people I worship with on Sunday mornings.

I want to address one quick thing that broke my spirit today. I have seen the verse 1 Corinthians 6:9 posted and referenced through a dozen or so statuses today. People, (myself included, although I try my hardest no to) sometimes try to bend, or capitalize parts of scripture to fit a point they are trying to make. 1 Corinthians 6:9 says (NIV translation):

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men.”

According to that verse, here are the groups of people who will not inherit the Kingdom of God: Sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, and “Wrongdoers.” The purpose of this blog, again is not to point a finger, its just to show a glimpse of what is currently on my heart. This verse not only points out homosexuality, but adultery, have we not forgotten Jesus’ view on adultery? Matthew 5:27-28 (the message):

“You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt.”

Idolaters also will not inherit God’s kingdom, Miriam Webster defines an idolater as:

1. One who worships idols.

2. One who blindly or excessively admires or adores another.

I think we can all say that we are guilty of that second definition. But then there is the first part of 1 Corinthians 6:9, the part that says “Wrongdoers” will nott inherit Gods kingdom. Romans 3:23 (previously quoted) in the King James Version says:

“For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

According to that verse, we are all “wrongdoers” each and everyone of us.

I would like to go back to 1 Corinthians and look at the ENTIRE passage. Its funny because the message lumps verses 9 through 11 together in a paragraph, as if to say, “be sure and read the whole thing….” 1 Corinthians 9-12 (the message):

“9-11Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom. A number of you know from experience what I’m talking about, for not so long ago you were on that list. Since then, you’ve been cleaned up and given a fresh start by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit.

12 Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.”

Don’t you see? This very verse people are using to condemn homosexuals is a blatant reminder to all of us who have experienced salvation! There was a time where none of us were fit for God’s kingdom, however, it is by HIS GRACE, HIS LOVE, and OUR CHOICE that we were forgiven and have been set free!

That being said, to everyone who follows you on facebook, who might be a homosexual, or who may be an atheist, or who might even be of a different religion. What picture of Jesus are they seeing in you? Think back to your personal salvation experience…. did the person who lead you to the Lord do it by pointing out every sin you had, and every sin this nation bears? Or did they tell you about the Love and Grace and Freedom that can be found in the arms of Jesus? If someone had simply pointed out the things you did wrong, condemning you to hell over them, would you have been as open to the message? The whole purpose of this post is not to debate rather gay marriage should be legal or not. It is to pose this question,

“What would Jesus think about your facebook status?”

I posted this on my facebook and you would be surprised how many people ignored my meaning behind the statement. Im not asking if Jesus thinks your theology is correct, I’m not asking if Jesus agrees with the bible verse you posted. I’m asking, would Jesus approve of the way your presenting Him and His love to ALL lost people who might see your status in their news feed.

It’s just something to think about. Let me be the first to admit, that I post things all the time and then realize later that they were wrong. (this post may very well be one of them) Sometimes I instantly realize it, sometimes it takes weeks… All I am trying to say is, we should be showing the side of Jesus that was worried about the woman, before he worried about the sin.

Let me end this (what has now become a short sermon) with the words of Jesus found in John 16:35. This verse has served as the “theme verse” for the year at my church (CFA) and is a verse I’m trying harder to live my life by. It is the backbone for the entire post:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I hope this explains why I have deleted most comments from my facebook status, and hope that this clears up anyone’s views or thoughts about said status.

Tyler Neal

P TO THE S: If you are reading this, and don’t know of this salvation, or love that I’m talking about, I would ABSOLUTELY love to tell you about the Jesus that I serve, and the way he loves you, just the way you are, and the freedom and grace that can be found in him.

Fellow Christ followers, what are your thoughts?

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