i heard something interesting last night that had a lasting impression on me. my problem with the church has always been that it’s so damned condemning. how can one believe in a loving god who would punish his child who loves, worships, does good things, and believes that jesus is the only because they were sinning based on something written in the bible? it did not seem fathomable.  but last night, a wise sage told me this advice:

“Jesus did not come into this world to condemn the world. He came in this world to show God’s glory through love and compassion. ” – Dr. Randy Smith, DPUMC

i have always known this and felt this to be the case but it was exciting to hear a church leader say this…and really believe it. members of the christian coalition and other right-wing, ultra-conservative religious groups need to understand this. stop protesting gay funerals, stop protesting iraq soldiers’ war funerals. show love and compassion. show love. be god’s glory if you’re going to take the megaphone and speak his word for him. in this day in age, we need to forget condemnation and embrace the love we have been given.