Noisy Gongs & Clanging Cymbals

You've seen this...right?

If you haven't, you need to watch it. Right now. In fact, even if you have watched it, you should watch it again.  Do it.




I love the message here. I hate it when people spout hate. I hate it even more when people use religion, a religion I claim as my own, as a reason to spout hate. Listen when I say that I believe the Bible is the Word of God. I believe in what it says. I believe that God created us ALL in His image. He created us to be in relationship with Him, with each other. To show His love to others as He's shown it to each of us. Race, religion, gender, age, life choices, or any other differences we have do not negate God's Word. I believe that we all are sinners. Each sin has different repercussions but are equal in that they separate us from Him. I believe that the wages of sin is death. And through Christ, and Christ alone, are we able to experience everlasting life. 

If you can read the following verses and still find reason to label others as "them" or "those" or to judge others for being different or making decisions different than your own, I ask you to question who it is you're following...because it certainly isn't Christ. You certainly don't have to love what other people do, but you are called to love them. 

Grace in this situation is also realizing that we are all sinful—no one person more sinful than the other—and in that, we should be coming from a place of love, rather than judgment or condescension. Read more on Relevantmagazine.com

Luke 6:31:
Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Mark 12:31
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

1 Corinthians 13:13:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 John 4:7:
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.