R - E - S - P - E - C - T

Here's my pet peeve for the week: when people deny YOUR experience because their experience is something different.  Ie., there is no such thing as emotional abuse, prejudice, ADD, fibromylagia, depression, ghosts, Muslim extremists...you name it.  How can we possibly be the expert on something we know nothing about? 

But we do this and then we beat down the people who disagree with us.  I have to say, people who shut down a conversation because they know it all are clearly such a bane to Christianity, and yet, they appear everywhere in the church.  I was listening to a Christian radio show I used to appreciate, but a couple years ago, he started going over the edge, acting like he knew everything about the Bible, but I noticed something...he never took the spiritual side of things into account.

The Bible is not simply a bunch of rules -- and if we're to take ONE from it, it should be to love God and others above ourselves.  So when I hear this guy spewing hate to a fellow Christian, whose doctrine he disagrees with, I can't help but feel sorry for him and what He's become.  He's living out the verse that my new book is set upon:

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord."  Jeremiah 17:5

God reveals Himself in so many different ways.  We cannot possibly think we have all the answers and I fear how we've given the spiritual aspects of Jesus over to the New Age religion.  Spirituality, renewing energy from the Lord, miracles, being in Him is not wacky New Age, it is part of our relationship with the Living God. 

If you disagree with someone, fine, line it up with Scripture, but don't tear them down to think differently.  It says a lot more about you (and your faith) than you think. 

Kristin Billerbeck
www.KristinBillerbeck.com
Split Ends, Nelson Publishers
The Trophy Wives Club, Avon Inspire
Coming in September: Back to Life: A Trophy Wives Novel

Comments

[Angela Meuser]

I couldn't agree more. Judgemental people are definitely a trigger for me. I've written more abou it on my blog titled "Attack on Authors" if you want to read it. http://www.shoutlife.com/profile_view.cfm?uid=39589&blog_id=179371&view_mode=blog

[Katie Johnson]

This is such a sad, but true post. I had an awful experience with this exact sort of judgement within the past year. I happen to have a close loved one who is suffering from chronic depression who was placed on drugs (That, with a lot of love and attention, is helping enormously.) I sat at a table of women who ripped into depression and drugs so vehemntly that I was momentarily stunned. There was absolutely no room for arguing with these people. They knew it ALL.

Also at the table was a young woman who I know had tried to commit suicide twice before she finally went to a Dr. who put her on a drug that changed her life.

Just recently, a dear friend's brother committed suicide after failing at his first attempt. He too was severely depressed and felt like maybe he shouldn't be on meds. He was going on and off of them and Dr's were never able to help stabilze him the way he needed to be.

This is just a tiny example of, I think, what you're talking about. It's so tragically sad to know that the opinions that you hold, the words that you so loudly speak, without thought, can harm someone else beyond repair.

I agree so wholeheartedly. If there were ONE thing that the bible tries to teach us, it's to love God and to love each other. I wish people would remember that we are all one as a people.