Anyone who has followed KindlingTruth closely might have noticed a kind of struggle I’ve had in balancing the severity and mercy of God. At times I have written things that can be abrasive, especially when I don’t do a good job making clear who these things apply to.
In any case, I’m feeling a bit shook up this morning. This isn’t something I typically do, but I want to share something. Be forewarned, this is not going to be pleasant and is a little graphic.
Do you ever have a dream that is so vivid that you wake up crying? I just did, and it was awful. Basically, it was as if I were invisible and watching a scene take place in someone’s home. A Christian home. A teenage girl had a romantic girl friend, and her father was very demeaning of her. The father did not believe her and accused her of sleeping with the girl when she had not. She sobbed, begged him to believer her, and told her father that she was “trying to be a good Christian,” and wasn’t going to see the girl anymore. She was petrified.
The irate, “Christian” father decided that it was too late to “save” his daughter, but he would teach his son a valuable lesson about what being “gay” will get you. Fill in the blanks. You know what happened.
I saw all this. I heard every thing. I was powerless to do anything about it. I saw the daughter/older sister chase after the father as he sped away in his car (hopefully never to be seen again). I saw the older sister console her brother (around age 3) telling him that he did nothing wrong. I saw the teary-eyed, confused little face and heard him sing to himself.
I know this is so terrible and I’m sorry for even partially showing a glimpse of what I just witnessed, but there is a point I’m getting to. I have no idea whether this was a real event or not, or why God would show me this. All I know is that these are my people. These are God’s people.
I have some reflecting to do before I continue here with KindlingTruth, but I want anyone reading this to know something.
God is not the father, brother, teacher, or any other father figure who abused you. He is a loving father who brings even the most evil things in your life around for your good and the good of others. In Jesus Christ there is love, compassion, gentleness, and mercy. He feels for the abused, afflicted, poor, and broken-hearted. He knows your suffering, your struggles with sin, and your self-loathing. In Jesus Christ, there is peace and a way out of the dark depths you feel trapped by. In Jesus Christ, there is a freedom like you never thought possible. In Jesus Christ – there is hope.
KindlingTruth 