The Apostle Paul's message of unity through the life of Jesus Christ is one that rings true and ageless.
Yesterday, after summer school, one of the students asked me if she could talk with me about a personal situation. Of course I said yes, and so we sat and talked. She told me of being with her current boyfriend for just over a year and how in the relationship God is becoming a barrier. I didn't understand how God could become a barrier so I asked her what she meant.
"Well," she said, "my boyfriend says if I don't start understanding God the same way he and his family do he was going to have to break up with me." I continued to listen, hoping to understand how God, and not the boyfriend and his family, was the barrier in their relationship.
At the boyfriend's prompting she had started attending his church. She admits to not being comfortable at that church, so much so that she feels unwelcome. What bothers her more is how she feels the judgment the church, and especially its youth, have for her. So she's already made the decision not to go back to that church.
But she dearly loves her boyfriend so she's willing to attend "mini church" at his family's home. She's attended a few, and says the feelings she had at the "mega church" are the same as the mini one. Except this one feels worse because it's from her boyfriend's family. She wants things to work out between her and her boyfriend, though, so she's willing to give it more of a try.
She did have a few positive things to say. Since their relationship has begun shes stopped partying and feels more compassionate towards others. She sees how God can be a positive influence in her life and she likes the possibilities of being more positive about herself and others. The fact she attributes this change in her life to God shows that perhaps God has plans for her she doesn't yet understand but is willing to try and understand.
Today's reading is from 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 and talks about how Paul hopes unity can be found and shared with all people through the love of God shown to us in the life of Jesus. In verse 15 Paul says, "Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God."
The young woman I speak about has found a way to forge a path to Christ, even if that journey is a rough one for her. Maybe through her love, openness, and acceptance of herself and those who share the journey with her she will be able to show those who she feels judge her what Christianity is.
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