This is a great post.
Wed night, a bunch of us were out to eat after I got off work. My parents, our childrens pastor and his wife, and 2 of my friends. The conversation started out, when my mother commented on how one of the women she works with (She is a teacher at a christian acadamy here in town), is worried that they are letting too many "non churched" kids into youth on tues nights. This concernt mother felt that tues night youth group should be a safe environment for her child to go, without outside influences.
So this eventually led us to a discussion about how musicians and music are influincing kids to commit suicide (Im not getting into that one, but anyways
) which led to another discussion.
They started talking about people and how they dress (comming from a pastor no less!) Anyways, they commented on "Goth" people... (Which I think is such a rude comment but anyways).... So this infuriated me and Mike. That night, I was wearing black dress pants and a black top... so I said to them, alright, Im dressed in all black tonight... you slap some heavy black eyeliner on me, and BAM, I would be labeled a goth on first appearances to someone... it just kinda shut them up... because they knew I was right. I was so angry by the end of that conversation, I wanted to scream.
You know, to other churches where I live, my church is known as the "rich, snobby church"... we ARE the biggest church in town, so of course we take alot of heat for that.... but sometimes, my church is exactly that... I often wonder how they would react if a well known prostitute, or homeless person were to one day show up in the front pew... would they be asked to leave? Or would our congragation simply sit tehre and stare... or would someone extend a hand of christian love to this person?
There was a young man who came to our church a few times.... He had blue hair... he sat up in the balconey (where most youth/college/carreer aged people sit) anyways... and he got the worse looks ever... I sat beside him one night aNd we had a great conversation... he was such a smart young man, who was really onfire for the Lord. It was refreshing to talk to someone who had such passion in Him for what he believed.
But after the service... everyone asked me what in the world Iwas thinking by sitting with him... I was like are you serious?
....... Sometimes christians can be so unlike Christ it makes my head spin.
Now in saying all this, I would be the first to put my hand up... I judge people... it sadly even happens here on CF like the original poster mentioned.
This is an area actually, I have really felt God working in lately.
And I am really sorry if I have EVER judged anyone on here without really realizing it.
Oh another thing I wanted to add... someone had mentioned how they get judged all the time... I know EXACTLY how it feels. I always have people tell me that... until I talked to you, I thought you were a huge snob. Or it wasnt until I actually got to know you that I realized you wernt stuck up.... Im just like my father, everyone things that hes snobby.. but really hes just shy until he gets to know someone. Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am far from shy... but it seems like I guess, just by the way I look, that I have this "better then everyone else" look... which breaks my heart, because that is soooooooooo far from how I think
But ya sorry for the rant... but now I am late for church hehehe
