Part 241. Snippets.

If you need the Bible to love your neighbor, you'll never truly love them.

If you need the Bible to care for people, you'll never truly care for them.

If you need the Bible to be kind, gentle, and just, you'll never be truly kind, gentle, or just.

If you need the Bible to feed the hungry, stand in solidarity with the oppressed, and resist greed, you'll never truly feed, stand for, or resist anything.

If you need the Bible to do the right thing, to live generously, and to be humble and servant minded, you'll never truly do the right things and be the right person for the right reasons.

People who need the Bible often do so because the heart is missing. Living becomes a religious act, and being becomes a religious facade. Everything is to ultimately appease a rule, ritual, or religion. It bottom lines on self-righteousness, disguised as being spiritual.

Love is only love, right is only right, and goodness is only goodness, if it is compelled from the heart. 

Grace is brave. Be brave.  

Chris Kratzer

What the hell did you expect me to do?  

You told me to love my neighbors, to model the life of Jesus. To be kind and considerate, and to stand up for the bullied.

You told me to love people, consider others as more important than myself. "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight." We sang it together, pressing the volume pedal and leaning our hearts into the chorus.

You told me to love my enemies, to even do good to those who wish for bad things.

You told me to never "hate" anyone and to always find ways to encourage people. 

You told me it's better to give than receive, to be last instead of first. 

You told me that money doesn't bring happiness and can even lead to evil, but taking care of the needs of others brings great joy and life to the soul.

You told me that Jesus looks at what I do for the least-of-these as the true depth of my faith. 

You told me to focus on my own sin instead of trying to police it in others. You told me to be accepting and forgiving.

I payed attention.

I took every lesson.

And I did what you told me.

But now, you call me a libtard. A queer-love

You call me "woke." A backslider.

You call me a heretic. A child of the devil.

You call me a false prophet. A reprobate leading people to gates of hell.

You call me soft. A snowflake. A socialist.

What the hell did you expect me to do?

You passed out the "WWJD" bracelets.

I took it to heart. 

I thought you were serious, apparently not.

We were once friends. But now, the lines have been drawn. You hate nearly all the people I love. You stand against nearly all the things I stand for. I'm trying to see a way forward, but it's hard when I survey all the hurt, harm, and darkness that comes in the wake of your beliefs and presence.  

What the hell did you expect me to do? 

I believed it all the way. 

I'm still believing it all the way.

Which leaves me wondering, what happened to you?

Grace is brave. Be brave.

Chris Kratzer