According to the omnipotent interwebz, there are approximately 7.4 billion people on Earth. Holy bipeds, Batman.
Of all them folks, 31% label themselves as Christians, aka, 69% ain’t got a ticket on the Jesus-Train. Now according to *some* of my spiritual siblings, anyone caught without a ticket gets to spend afterlife-detention with Vice Principal Lucifer. For realz? Let’s unpack that box of bullshit for a second.
Even if every single gosh-darn-dandy Christian ended up doing the hula to heaven, that leaves over 5 BILLION PEOPLE destined to swing dance with Satan. Um…nope. I refuse to buy into a belief system where even people who have never heard of the son of God are gonna be punished by his daddy.
Here’s some nifty scripture that suggests *how* people love and live is far more important than what book they use as an instruction manual:
- Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (1 John 3:7)
- You may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. (1 John 2:29)
- Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(Ephesians 5:1-2)
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
We’ve all known people who don’t drink the Jesus juice that are much better followers of Christ than some self-proclaimed Christians. So here’s where I stand: whether a person’s moral compass is guided by Jesus, Buddha, Beyoncé, a blade of grass, a baby’s belly laugh, or a jar of peanut butter? I don’t have to share someone’s light and truth to love them in their light and truth.
I love God and I love Jesus with my whole heart. But just because I see it as MY way, doesn’t mean that I consider it THE way. So many hurting people have had religion used as a weapon to judge or dismiss them. Besides, I can’t do my best job of loving others if I’m too busy judging them. Can you imagine the state of affairs in God’s house if He needed my perfectly imperfect self as His enforcer? Yikes.
I maintain that Jesus died for ALL; even when we’re being the messiest of hot messes. And because His gift is not merit-based, there is room at the Table of Grace for ALL. If not? It’s time to build a bigger table. One big enough to sit 7.4 BILLION butts.
If you’re not sure where to sit, just ask me; I’ll be happy to save you a seat.
