Together In Faith

Do you ever get the feeling that you are discriminated against because of your beliefs, and if you try to say anything, then you get blamed for it because you are considered “majority” and therefore can’t be discriminated against?  If so, then you are not alone.  Any time a rule is applied in one way to one group, and differently or not at all to other groups, that is discrimination.  It has happened throughout history and it continues now.  How many Christians were killed for their belief?  Countless numbers, and it still happens. 

Christians are not blameless.  Christians have also discriminated, and have also done terrible things.  To name any one group as an oppressor and blame them would be to discriminate, and that is not what I want to do.  Just like intergenerational cycles of abuse, the patterns repeat throughout history.  One group is persecuted, but survives and eventually comes into power.  They learn by the way that they were treated that the way to survive and not lose power and be the victim is to keep others out of power.  And so hate develops in some (really only a small portion of the members of a group).  And the cycle repeats.  It is very sad.  And that some people do terrible things usually indicates that the people doing terrible things are using the name of the group to increase their own power.  It should not negate all the good that the group or set of beliefs has to offer.

What I am saying is that all of us, whether Christian or something else, need to consider whether rules really are being applied evenly and fairly.  Often they are not.  And these days Christians are as likely to be victims as anyone else, but it seems that Christians are less likely to receive sympathy.  But is that a discriminatory statement right there? I don’t know.

I was just told about a TV show about how Christians are being silenced and discriminated against.  There are many examples such as a mom who was told that she could not read from the Bible to her son’s class, but they told her to read a book about witches instead; all the way up to church shootings.  If you are interested, there is a website where you can watch trailers, sign up for episodes of the show, and find out where to watch it. 

Speechless: Silencing the Christians

can now be found on Tomi’s At Jesus’ Feet blog (see blogroll for link), on it’s own page.  The transcripts and information to join the chat are there.  Also watch for the announcement each week in General.  The page is long, with all of those transcripts, so be patient.  You will find the newest at the bottom.

 Here’s that link:

http://septembermorn.psychcentral.net/fruit-of-the-spirit-bible-study/

^{I am currently working on creating peace in my life through God…it is what I seek most in life currently. This scripture was pointed out to me by a prayer partner at church. I wanted to share it with you. As I was listening to a sermon today it was mentioned that we must stand on scripture as the seeds which will grow in our lives, so I am going to stand on, read, and speak the following to help grow peace in my life.  Do you have more scriptures about peace you could share with me?}

^{Philipians 4:4-4:9}

 ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

    ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I have been thinking of a poem I learned a long time ago.  For some reason, I learned it with “She” instead of “He.”  I just found it, and I think it would be appropriate to share here.

She drew a circle that shut me out
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout
But love and I had the wit to win;
We drew a circle that took her in.
Edwin Markham

As someone who always felt left out, this poem always resonated with me.  I thought, how clever, to be left out and to draw a new circle of inclusion like that.  But I always felt powerless to draw the circles.  I was nothing but an outcast.  I guess that this has motivated me though, and influenced me quite a bit.  I keep trying to draw circles of inclusion.  The trick is to get those I include to accept that circle I drew.  They don’t always, and I suppose it isn’t up to me.  But my circle still includes them anyway.

Some people simply call it love.  Charity is love.  It is the love that Christ both gives to us, and offers as an example for us to strive for.  Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians about charity is often quoted.  I thought it was very appropriate.  Here is that quote directly from the source:

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE
CORINTHIANS
CHAPTER 13
Paul extols the high status of charity—Charity, a pure love, excels and exceeds almost all else.
  1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
  2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
  3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
  4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
  5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
  6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
  7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
  8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
  9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
  10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
  11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
  12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
  13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

 

http://scriptures.lds.org

Good advice for all.

Also compare: here

It makes me sad when people let differences cause offense or divisions that make someone feel bad. 

I just read a post on another blog, and I want to reach out to all who hurt and feel excluded, and say that I accept you as you are.  I hope that others will do the same.  Let’s not let differences come between us.

See the entry below if you want to join this blog.  If you just want to ask a question, make a request, or leave a comment, these comments are available for your use. 

As mentioned in earlier entries / comments, this blog is not just for me.  If you want to be able to discuss our topics with us, you are welcome to join.  When I first tried to add people, I had some trouble because the way the blogs are set up, you have to get a blog account to be added to a blog, even as a subscriber.

 DocJohn answered my question about how to get a blog account, and I will repeat his answer here.  According to this, you don’t have to actually have your own blog if you don’t want one (and I assume that you would always be able to get your own blog later if you want to then).

 Here is DocJohn’s answer:

Yes, the simple way is to ask for the users you want to add to ensure they have an account over at the PC blog site:

http://psychcentral.net/signup/

One of the options during signup is to just register a new account, or get a blog. If your users don’t want their own blog, they should choose “Just a username, please.” Once they’re registered, you can add them to your blog to create a community blog.

*****

If you want to be added here, leave a comment, PM me, or email me, and tell me when you have signed up.  I need to know the email address you signed up with to add you. 

Correct me if I am mistaken.  This week’s Bible study continued the previous outline.  They discussed the question, “Why did Christ die for us?”

The 4 reasons were 1) to rescue us from evil; 2) it was the Fathers will; 3) to bring us to his Father; 4) because he loves us……

I am not sure why the transcript isn’t showing up after Tomi has attempted to post it.  I will place it in the comments for this entry.  We will attempt from here on to post an outline in advance of each chat, and the transcript in the comments for that entry for each chat.  Please read the comments for the full discussion, or to add your own comments or ask questions.

I have started to add other blogs to the blogroll in an attempt to make it easier to find others who like talking about faith, religion, etc.  If you spot one that I don’t have yet, or if you have one to add, please put it in the comments and I’ll add it to the blogroll too.  Or if you don’t want yours linked here, let me know if you would rather have it taken off of this list.  I’m just starting, and I’m sure there must be more.  Help me out, ok?  All faiths are welcome.