I Choose to be Different and Embrace those Different from Myself

I chose to post this on my personal blog, even though I mainly post on a joint blog since I've been married.  This is more personal to me as an individual.  I have struggled over the last few days.  Between black churches being set on fire, to the legalization of same sex marriage, to the debate of whether or not the Star Spangled Banner should be sung before sporting events!  It seems like no one is getting along, if people don't get their way they are going to the extremes to get their way through name-calling, accusations, rioting and destroying others' properties and many other ways to show their hate towards others, and Christians are in danger of losing their religious freedom to believe what they feel Christianity teaches.  We have forgotten to embrace our differences, and we have forgotten that all have the constitutional right to express our beliefs while learning to live with others different from ourselves...and it is inevitable that there will be differences...

I am a Christian.

I will continue to love others.

I will continue to believe in God and Jesus Christ.

That will not change.

I am told that I am a bigot, a racist, and many other expletives because

I believe in what I have been taught Christianity teaches.

There are many interpretations of Christianity, but if my interpretation is different from yours,

You assume that I hate you, but do I?

 

There are a small minority of Christians who may go to the extremes,

But is that not the case in every group fighting for their rights and beliefs?

I express my beliefs as you express yours…why is that wrong?

I do not force you to believe what I believe.  I might share my beliefs with you, as you share yours with me,

Yet if my beliefs are different from yours, I am a bigot, racist, and I hate those who do not agree with me.

In Christianity, you CHOOSE to believe or not to believe.  Just like you CHOOSE to agree or disagree.

Yet I am now on the verge of losing my rights to choose what to believe, and I am losing my rights to agree or disagree.  

Why is that ok?  Is there not a way to co-exist embracing and learning from our differences?

 

I’m not forcing anyone to change their lifestyle, yet I am on the verge of being forced to change mine.

People scream “it is my 1st amendment rights…"

Is it not mine too as a law abiding citizen of this country?

Yet the law is telling me, "by law, you can no longer believe..."

I love being different from others.  I love learning from my friends and family who have differing beliefs and opinions.

I love learning from my students from all different nationalities, races, religions, family circumstances, and values.  

It is possible to love one another…that is a choice we ALL have.

I am a Christian.

I will continue to love others.

I will continue to believe in God and Jesus Christ. 

That will not change.