Today in class we were shown an advertisement in the Billings Gazette paid for by a local pastor.
I'm a Christian. I've been one since I was seven years old, have attended the foursquare church here in Billings since 2001 and have been active in that community for nearly as long.
Despite this, I do not stand for this ad. I do not stand for Trump's actions.
I've been incredibly frustrated with the ways Christians are portraying themselves in the media lately, as it's giving the entire Christian population a bad name and hurting people in the process.
Bloggers like Matt Walsh (spend five minutes scrolling through his posts, I dare you) spread hatred and division under the pretense of "preaching the truth", while ultimately causing more harm than good. As a side note, there is a verse about speaking truth in the Bible, and Walsh is missing the entire last portion of it.
As a Christian, I'm frustrated. I'm tired.
I'm frustrated with the Walshian blogs who urge their followers to spread hatred under the pretense of Christianity. I'm tired of people assuming that Christians hate everyone and everything different than themselves.
It may be true for Walsh, for the pastors of the Oasis Community Church, and for a slew of others, but I am disheartened to be placed in the same category as these individuals. Please know that these people do not speak on behalf of all Christians.
These people cannot and will not speak for me, and I apologize for them.
To those whose sexual orientations are different than my own: You are loved abundantly and accepted fully as you are. Who am I to tell you what you should and should not be doing with your body?
To those from all foreign countries, regardless of immigration, refugee, or another status: Welcome. I have extra snow shovels if you need one.
To those marginalized by society in any way, shape, or form: You are welcome here. You are important. You are heard.
As a Christian, I have my own internalized morals and values, that I am not going to shove down your throat just because I believe them. They're my morals and values, not yours. I live my life along the ideology that we should love people as they are, and if we aren't doing that, what's the point?
You are loved, you are valued, you are important. If I, as a Christian am missing that point, my faith is null.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry for those spreading hatred instead of unity. I'm sorry for the hurtful things that have been said to and about those different than what some think is okay. I am sorry that some Christians can't figure out this whole love thing.
Subsequently, I'm choosing the route of love and acceptance. I'm sorry that others have decided otherwise.
