#christian reflection

I was baptized protestant/evangelical (European version, not the ""extremists"" i hear US Americans talk about -- putting it in quotations because i don't know enough nor is this the space to make judgements) and have a complicated relationship with god. My family was never super duper hard-core religious anyways.

I didn't have a nice childhood and - since toddlerhood - would pray to god begging to make it better. I eventually in my teens reached the point of "what god would ignore a child begging for rescue every night?" and ever since then have been trying to figure out where I stand. And I am kind of considering getting a Bible translation i remember a teacher recommended. I'm considering figuring things out. I would never become completely centered around religion, but i want to patch up my rocky relationship with it.

I was talking about that in a conversation on discord and a friend reacted by dismissing religion/god. It felt a bit insensitive when I had. just said I'm trying to find my place there. But I'm not entirely sure if they were just attempting to "comfort" me from the religious trauma and completely missed the mark

This is anti religion, specifically Christian shaming.

This is really sad. I think every Christian has gone through a period of self doubt at some point - especially because Christianity is severely white-washed, has been twisted to be patriarchal, and is heavily colonized in many places.

This is simply a side effect of what's happened to it. Honestly my best advice is to deconstruct and study genuine Christianity. About how accepting of queer people women, and racial minorities it ACTUALLY is.

Paul states that we do this to finish strong, to win the race that Christ has set before us, to finish stronger than when we started in our walks with Christ.

Now this is all well and good, but I think that there’s more to this analogy.

Paul states that we must strive to win the race set before us, but he also explains that we must strive in win people over.

Just before the aforementioned analogy, Paul explains how he has become a servant to everyone around him in order to win them over (1 Cor. 9:20-22). He says that he has become all things to all people, so that by his efforts he might save some (verse 22).

“He’s talking about winning people over, so what?”

Call me crazy, but I think that the use of the word “win” here, just before the analogy of athletes is not a coincidence.

In a previous post (I’ll link it at the end), I explained how our freedom in Christ is a call to action; that we are free in Christ to become servants of those around us. By our servitude, we grow increasingly free in Christ Jesus. And by our servitude, we also win others over to the side of Christ.

By serving others, and living our discipleship to Jesus, we are actively participating in Christ’s victory over death and destruction, the winning side.

For athletes, their job is to make sure that only they win. For us, our job is to make sure that everyone within our influence joins the winning side. We don’t win by our own efforts, but it’s through them that Christ works to bring others closer to Himself.

We bask in the glory of Christ and in His victory over death, and we are now commanded to make sure everyone comes to victory celebration.

It’s through calling us to the wining side that Jesus works to call others. For athletes, there’s only one winner. For us, it’s our job to make sure that there are as many winners as possible and only one loser.

What do you guys think?

And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars: And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered. And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns: and on his heads seven diadems: And his tail drew the third part of…

Divine Adolescent Jesus

Rarely do we see depictions of Jesus as an adolescent. This is likely because we have few Biblical accounts of this stage of Jesus' life. But nevertheless, I think it is good to contemplate Christ at this tender age. Perhaps in doing so, we may find it easier to look upon the youth in our lives with love and understanding. Too often teenagers are judged and viewed negatively. Recognizing the Adolescent Christ in them can help transform our gaze.

Taken from the Sanctify app. God bless, Jesus loves you ✝️❤️