I Love Your Blog, Katherine! And I Had A Question Myself. I Was Wondering, Do You Think God Has A Specific

Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus

I'm not attacking your beliefs, i'm just playing devils advocate. Why do you believe in Christianity? There's no proof of any reality to the bible.

Here :)

love.

If Jesus lived today, he would smell like smoke.

Whether it be from pot or from cigarettes or whatever else can be smoked, Jesus would smell like it. Not because he would partake in it himself, but because he would go out of his way to go to where the smokers were. He would go to them and be with them, get to know them and show them that they are worthy of love and that they can be saved from whatever they’re running from.

Jesus would know the sensation of stale beer drying on his shirt because somebody forgot to put their drink down before they hugged him. He’d never get drunk but he might have one beer, maybe two, socializing as he got to know the regulars at the bar. The ones who found their way there day after day, hearts too heavy to do anything but numb the pain. He’d go there and listen to their stories and help carry their burdens, lift them off their shoulders. He would be the person that everybody knew—knew was safe, knew was loving, knew would listen. The bartender would call him the ‘unofficial shrink’, and Jesus would smile and order another glass of water, ready to drive home whoever would need it that night.

He’d know the feel of gauze beneath his fingers as he wrapped it around a friend’s bleeding wrist. He wouldn’t ask, wouldn’t pry, just patiently clean and treat it with careful, calming touches. The story would eventually come tumbling out in the bathroom and Jesus would draw them close, hugging tightly, and do whatever he could to find the best help available when asked, when needed.

He would know the drained, yet relieved, morning after feel the day after (of?) a three a.m. phone call from a person who was desperate, because they didn’t know who else they could turn to. He would know the days when one cup of coffee isn’t enough to wake him up, where two cups of coffee almost doesn’t do it either, but the lethargy and the headache and the bags under his eyes are worth it because the person he was talking to is okay. He would do it again in a heartbeat, too.

He would always have somebody staying in his spare bedroom—if he wasn’t staying in somebody else’s spare bedroom himself. He knows what it is to be without a roof over his head, without a blanket to pull over his cold body, and he would do whatever he could to make sure others didn’t need to experience it—even just for a night. He’d keep an eye out for help wanted ads and help his friends on the street with their resumes and pay for their haircut and nice clothing for the interview, and he’d buy them dinner after whether they got the job or not.

He would know the need to go and grab another box of kleenex as the person at his kitchen table can’t help but cry at the feeling of not being enough, of needing to change themselves before people would love them, before they would be accepted. He would know the heave of their shoulders beneath his hand as he comforted them, reassured them that they are enough, that they are wonderful and beautiful and amazing and loved. So, so loved.

He would know the feeling of a tight bank account, not because he doesn’t know how to manage his finances, but because there are other people who need it more. Who need food for their families and clothing for their children and money for their rent. He would give of himself and build relationships with these people, connections with them, encouraging them to keep going. To keep striving. That life isn’t out to get them, and that they can succeed.

He would know the pain of a harsh word, thrown at him by a hurting soul, and he would stand tall and take it because sometimes a broken heart just needs to shout.

If Jesus lived today, he would smell like smoke. Not because he approves or because he doesn’t care, but because he knows that to love isn’t just being pleasant to other people and giving them a smile, it’s crawling into the trenches with them.

Wow, that last answer I wrote was MASSIVE. I'm sorry anon, I just got really passionate about your question! I'm hoping that you appreciate my enthusiasm in question-answering and read the whole entire thing because I must admit, I think it's one of my better works of answer art. If you're staggered by its absurd length, again I apologize and entreat you to read it all anyway, to really understand what I'm trying to say. If not, at least skim it to get the gist of it. :P  Love, me :)

I loved your response about Margery Kempe, but I take issue with the "too heavenly minded" quote. Borrowing from Randy Alcorn's book Heaven, being heavenly minded is something missed in the Church today. Paul was very heavenly minded, but that drove him to focus all the more on serving Christ on earth. I think the two go hand-in-hand for Christians. If our heavenly focus is neglected, we are more likely to become wrapped up in things of this world that do not last.

Aw hi! Thanks for that :) I'm really happy you took the time to tell me that you liked my response. And also, that is a very excellent point!  I agree that there is definitely a rampant and dangerous pandemic of people who are far too earthly minded to be of any heavenly good. And really, I'd rather be of heavenly good than of earthly good because forever is an awfully long time, and if what I do only has any significance in this world, then I've essentially accomplished nothing. I suppose that I used the quote rather flippantly because I agree with you that heavenly thinking should truly be our motivator for...everything. And that everything we do in this world should be done with the consciousness of the double consequences: natural and supernatural consequences. Again, thanks so much for stopping by to chat :) And thank you for pointing out that blind spot in my earlier response. :) 

You don't have to distance yourself from those who speak out on behalf of you and your people group. Whether it be girls who don't identify with feminism or Pharrell calling himself "new black". You are allowed to acknowledge injustice afflicted on you. You are allowed to be outspoken. You don't have to be progressive and conciliatory for the sake of avoiding conflict. Conflict always accompanies change, but it doesn't mean that the change isn't necessary. You don't have to dissociate yourself from that.

Has anything actually gotten better, for all the work you talk about doing? Or is it just treading water in misery forever?

Anon, ten years ago gay people couldn't get married in large parts of the US. AIDS was an almost certain death sentence when I was in high school. I was looking at job boards the other day and found a part time gas station job that had health insurance as a benefit, which NEVER would have happened 15 years ago. When I was a kid, hitting your child was extremely normalized in the US and my parents were the weird ones for not doing it. There is a vaccine for chicken pox. I didn't meet anyone who had transitioned until my 20s because it was so uncommon to transition in the aughts, and now there are some states that protect your right to have gender affirming care provided by your health insurance. It's not all states, but it's better than the number of states that had it in 2010, which was zero. THERE ARE TENANTS UNIONS NOW. WE HAVE A VACCINE AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER.

And all of that has been the work of a lot of individuals and organizations and research teams and activists.

like basically. if you’re not religious how do you deal with being alive. and if you are religious how do you not let the terror of that consume you. really makes u think

Today I want all Christians who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, trans men, trans women, nonbinary, genderfluid, and all sexualities and genders to realize that it is okay to be you and be Christian. Jesus loves us for who we are, and loved us enough to die on a cross for us.

Don’t worry about being non-straight or non-cisgender at your church. You can still worship, and bless the Lord, no matter how you are.

You are loved.

I really love your answers to the questions you get, because they're very well thought out and it's like you actually care and put the effort in to thoroughly answer them instead of a few nonchalant lines that aren't very bible based. Plus you don't get all self righteous and judgemental when someone disagrees with you which is what a lot of these other Christian bloggers do. God bless you and I will most probably be asking you something in the future! :)

Awwww!!! I am SO, SO glad that you took the time to tell me that. Thank you very much; I really appreciate it :) Your blog is gorgeous, btw! :)