July 31, ‘20 post on FB

“…Under God…”

One of the more frequent thoughts/frustrations I deal with is the overall selfish and self-serving actions of those who profess Christianity. By proclaiming to be a follower of Christ, your faith should reflect his love, not the rules and laws of the land.

Many of you act like America is his promised land to you. That “under God“ is a banner that covers a land that he has blessed you with – to do as you choose with. To determine laws that make your life comfortable. To gather your like-minded people and create a culture which only benefits you and the things that you understand.

Then you pick one thing and fight for it like your faith depends on it. Abortion, for instance. You quickly quote versus such as the “one sheep,” or “voice of the voiceless,” but seem to miss that Christ talked about 99 other sheep that were being shepherded well. If we don’t take care of the whole flock, then leaving to chase after one is like more of a wild goose chase, in my mind. If you honestly follow Christ I think it would show in your genuine concern for ALL the sheep.

Instead of “fear not” I watch Christians so filled with fear that they create castles with walls to protect their precious, and fragile faith. Faith; it’s a sticky wicket. As Christians we are taught that our eternity rests solely in its maintenance. If we don’t have faith, we will spend eternity in hell. Well, that’s pretty scary since we don’t even know what that means. Lake of fire? Burning for infinity? If we question things – if we consider that we could have some element of misunderstanding or doubt… It could ruin us. Therefore, what I witness often – constantly actually – is a massive sector of the population who guards their faith to the detriment of those they are commanded to love.

I see a stubborn white-knuckled grasp on liberty as if those liberties are your reward for not questioning what you were being taught. I question, therefore, do you not think that man has leveraged that very determination throughout history? Do you not see how men and women have taught you “faith principles” that are really just lies that manipulate you? Lies that turn you into THEIR followers - an army of “loyal” believers who will fight for earthly gains that benefit the leaders themselves. They are counting on your blind, unshakable faith.

Christ stepped down from heaven and walked with dirty feet with the misfits and the outcasts, and opposed the rules and regulations of religious law in favor of SEEING the sheep and tending to their needs. To love his Father, and one another – all other commands hang from those. If it does not find its roots in love, it’s not of Him. Your faith is not fragile. It has off-road tires and four-wheel-drive. Your robes are not too precious to get dirty. Christ’s blood will wash them clean each and every time. He was a teacher who met questions with answers. He did not teach that questions are unforgivable.

Look up, Christians. This country does not honor God. Not because we took him out of schools or some spoken allegiance. Placing a banner of Christianity over the door doesn’t make the place blessed or anointed. Walking daily with those you are called to love is how you honor God. NOT seeking your comfort and security over the well-being of others is how you live like Christ. Understanding that money is of man and not of God is how you deny the world and carry God’s banner. Questioning man’s word by filtering it through Christ’s message of love is not only correct, but vital.

Many of you pursue “the American dream“ like it is your right as a Christian. Tell me where Christ taught that. Many of you act as though, if you worked hard for it, it is God’s reward to you. Those are not biblical teachings. That is an AMERICAN teaching. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a man-made construct. When we leverage that to the point of believing that MY life, liberty, and happiness must be defended against YOUR pursuit of the same, we find ourselves in a selfish bloodbath having nothing to do with God or the Son he sent to save you.

I’ve spent months grappling with this as I have watched a disgusting display of human nature take over a country that I was raised to believe God took pride in. I’ve been overwhelmed with the scene playing out before me. It’s brought me to a point where I can only beg believers to stop and consider this: if God is love, and our greatest command is to love him with all of our hearts, and love others as we would love ourselves, what are we doing to follow that command? What are we questioning? What are we standing for? What actions do we relentlessly deliver that bring others to the place we desire for ourselves?

I say, question ALL things. If God is who you believe he is, he will show himself to you. I say stand for the well-being of those who are not well, and the reward will be great for more than one. Ask for strength to act against selfish constructs, and refuse to push children of your King to the margins, in favor of your own stability in a society that caters to your comfort at the cost of others’.

If you found yourself standing eye to eye with Christ today, in the middle of your daily American life, would you find yourself defending your selfish choices in desperation? Or, would it be so obvious that your focus was emulating his love for others, that you would be suddenly filled with his peace? It is obvious we wage a war. The side you fight on is determined by your answer.

It is time to humbly understand that blind faith in a country or government is not the faith you’re called to carry. That America is not the solution to life on earth. That you were never promised a comfortable life that centers around you - a Christian life is described as the opposite of that, and God has honored people who look nothing like you since the beginning of time. Snap out of it, Christians. You’re really fucking up.

Today is a day you’ve been given to honor your God. While I choose to let loose with this rambling, rapid–fire string of thoughts, convictions, & run-on sentences, I am praying this one thing over it all… If this message was intended to unchain you from your selfish ways, I hope it makes its way into your brain like an obnoxious song you can’t quit humming. I hope it worms its way into all the little moments that you blissfully cruise through, and causes a disturbance in your stubbornness. Then I pray that it taps on your fortress wall and creates a crack in your defenses. That the crack will cause your fortress to crumble and that you are forced to take your faith out into the scary unknown, and walk beside the people that you shun. The children of God you have looked down at.

I hope you have none of the answers, for once. I hope you have nothing to offer so that you finally understand that you are not called to FIX; you are called to love. That you are not called to be better than them, but better than the YOU that you have become. And that you are not the gift, but the one who delivers it.

Then I pray you have enough faith in that, that you do JUST that. Deliver the love that you have been called to give, in all the ways that release you from your self-centered life, and frees you up to be a real follower of Christ. For that, my friends, is the definition of a Christian. That is what you were called to do. And that is the only thing that matters.

Your love of America – with all its weak promises – will not gain you favor in the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not made of that, but rather the believers who fill the entire earth.

It’s time that you act like it.

Regardless of your approach or the reason for it, I hope you start thinking about this as you interact with others, especially those who are significantly different than yourself. I hope you use it to strengthen your current relationships, and I hope you build new ones. I hope that one day you wake up and realize that your circle has more diversity and that you are a stronger, smarter, more confident person than you are today because of it.

The bottom line is, people want to feel seen, heard, and understood.

I believe YOU can do that.

Emily Gaiser