Poem I’ve been working on and wanted to share….some might find it offensive, so please beware…
We’ve been on a new series at church titled “Disciple” and it is about how to be a true Disciple of Christ. Did you know that Jesus loved being amongst the sinners? They were who He came for, after all. We have been learning about spiritually arrogant people who turn people away because they don’t follow the same dogma as they do. They will put others down and condemn them because they are essentially lepers. When a leper would come into town, people would yell, “Unclean, unclean”, and run from that leper. Spiritually arrogant people will do the same thing when they see someone who they consider to be sinning. I’ve always done the best I can, granted, I am not perfect and I make mistakes all the time. But I do the best I can to welcome anyone into my walk with Jesus regardless of their looks, their job, their station in life…whatever. I try to look at people the way that Jesus would have me look at them. I will not disassociate with someone because I find out that they do things that many religious dogma would say were sins. I have faced this adversity myself, and it angers me. Spiritually arrogant people will try and make you feel as if you are inferior to them, that they somehow have a grasp on Jesus that you could never hope to have. It drives me mad…I am torn on this subject because I am not sure how Jesus would have me react. Be quiet and not say anything that might offend or set the person off? Give em’ a big old hug as they condemn me and say innuendos that refer to my spiritual walk with God as being less than theirs?
Anyway, long story not quite so long…I thought I’d try and write a poem about it. Please don’t think it necessary to tell me you like it if you don’t. :oP
Spiritually arrogant
You see the bright colors in my hair and you judge me.
You see the tatoos on my skin and you judge me.
You see the fat under my skin and you judge me.
You have no idea what it is like to walk in my shoes and you judge me.
I don’t abide by the rules that your religion sets for you and you judge me.
You have no idea the relationship I have with the Lord and you judge me.
You say that because mine is different than yours that mine is no good.
Spiritually arrogant, you condemn my ways because they are not your ways.
Did no one ever tell you it’s not about religion and doctrine? It’s about a relationship?
Did you know smoking is not a sin? It won’t get you into hell, it’ll just make you smell like you’d been there.
Did you know that Jesus knows how many hairs I have on my head and doesn’t care if they’re brown, black, red, blue or green?
Did you know that when Jesus came to save us, he made all things new and the old law of the Pharisees was no more?
I know that in spite of your judgment and condemnation, he loves you anyway.
Just as he loves me, anyway.
Okay, I know that this has nothing to do with weight loss. But it has been weighing heavily on my mind and I feel purged of a great burden after writing this.
That is beautiful! There are times to judge…but not in matters of the heart.
Mercy triumphs over judgment! I remember when I found that scripture, how it blessed me.
I too have been judged and judged others. The fruit of it is really bad…it actually brings poverty to those who do it. I heard someone say, if you judge someone for being rich…then you never will have money…because you will fear the same judgment from others…and so you will prevent it. Something to think about in so many areas…have you ever judged a thin person? or a healthy person? hmmm…definitely something to think about!
I think for me personally I have changed my thinking on alot of things as I’ve gotten older. I don’t think I ever had horrible thoughts about certain people or certain situations or groups back in my 20’s. But now in my 30’s I think I have relaxed some. I’ve learned some things along the way that I think has made me rethink some things in a more positive way. And yes my thinking doesn’t always agree with the religion I was raised with so I have to find balance. I can’t recite bible phrases but I do read my bible and there are plenty of examples where Jesus went against the religious leaders of the time and questioned the things they did and how they treated people. So I do have my religion behind me and I’m not willing to give it all up because I don’t always agree with the way things are done in my religion.
I too don’t like it much when certain people act very spiritual and it’s their way or no way. I read recently in the bible that we should never try and take people off their own belief. I personally get tired of hearing how Catholics like myself don’t have relationships with God or Jesus and we just kneel and stand and kneel and stand and how confession is wrong. In the bible it said that if a person believes that they are doing right by God by the things they do then no one should discourage them from it. I won’t write the whole passage but I read Romans 14: 1-23 the other night and it made me feel good about my faith. We may have alot of rules or whatever but they are all meant to honor God and keep us on the right track. What works for some may not work for others and it should all be respected. I would never tell another faith that theirs is wrong either because I personally think God has put alot if not all of the different faiths out there as one big test for us on how we treat each other. There are just some things I can’t quit doing just because someone else says it’s wrong or a waste of time in my church. It would feel too disrespectful to God if I did. Just like there are certain things I would do to show respect to my earth dad, there are things that I have been taught to show respect to my Father. And how can that be wrong? And why should anyone else care? Geeze.
Sometimes I still catch myself judging but there is also a little voice inside me that says right away “whoa, what you just said or thought is wrong and God would not approve”. Hopefully I can still do my best and not get older and have a closed mind about things or people. I have a relationship with God. It is a Father and Daughter kind. No one can tell me different. Nope, not know one.
I know, too long but I just went for it.
I have been on both sides of the bench–as the judge and as the judged. I think it is only human to find some sort of repulsion for people and/or things which challenge our way of looking at life and the world around us. Although I have always prided myself on being open-minded, with age, I also have come to realize that there are values that should not be compromised. When it comes to religion and spirituality however, I believe to each their own. I agree with Wonderwoman about my Roman Catholic upbringing. I think for all the guilt we are taught, us Catholics seem to be very comfortable in pointing the mistakes our church has made. I don’t see other religious group following suit. For me, the bottom line is this—-God loves ALL his children, regardless of their religious affiliations. I believe in having a RELATIONSHIP with God, one based on open communication and an endless supply of gratitude. Your blog reminded me to be softer on people who don’t quite see the world the same way I do. Thanks for the reminder! I think we all needed to hear it!
I like it! I remember going into certain churches as i was growing up and feeling like i wasnt wanted there based on the way i looked. Now i am glad that i have found one that accepts me for who i am.
Perfect words, and very insightful.
very nice poem!
Wow! Have you been in my head? My heart? I completly feel your words. So beautifully written. Thank you for sharing
Sunday our pastor gave a sermon that asked us who we thought Jesus would have reached out to help if he were to appear on ‘Anystreet, America’ today. The man on the street corner proclaiming his faith in a loud voice, wearing his religion on his sleeve, or the homeless man sleeping in the ally, unclean and lost is despair? Our church doesn’t believe you pay your way to redemption, or perform good deeds or pay homage in a certain way to be saved. We believe Jesus died to save us all… we are already saved. The good we do is to show our gratitude. There are no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways to worship. Only ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways to live. I love this blog, it is so accepting of all views. Thank you, Catrina. You are a lovely example of a Christian.
Beautiful poem! ( I mean it too, I am not just saying it)! It makes me think. I try not judging others, but I know I sometimes do. I am going to work harder at not doing it anymore. I know I don’t like being judged for what others percieve as wrong about me!
Big HUGS!
I am glad you wrote it. We get too caught up in “rules” I think. God looks on the heart of a person, not the “outside”. I know I get guilty of judging people too quick. What a blessing if we could love each other the way God loves us. (((Catrina))))
yeah, i don’t like being judged — the Bible does say that as harshly as we judge others we will be judged — frightening…. better be VERY gentle in our actions and words so noone thinks we are judging and thus also be dealt with gently.
i am glad you shared.
Powerful! Thanks for sharing Catrina.
I use to think other people were judgmental, but as I get older I realize something has happened to me. Time to be a little more aware of my thoughts.
Have a great weekend! *hugs*