Spiritual Bullies..Meh..

We all remember Junior High school. For many of us, it was the absolute worst time of our lives. In many ways,we were at our most vulnerable in Junior High. The opposite sex became a reality for us..in ways they had never been before. What we were wearing and how it looked became of utmost importance..for the first time. Physically, we were all somewhat,"ugly ducklings', not in the egg anymore, but certainly not fully developed.And Mentally? forget it! I can look back to Junior High as the time when my insecurities about myself and how I was being portrayed flourished for the very first time. For many of us,this period in our lives was also the beginning of something that began and hasn't ended in our lives. Bullies.  At one time or another, we all have had to deal with a bully. Ugh.

I went to a very tough Junior High on the "wrong side of the tracks". Daily fights were not unheard of, and knives were something to be on alert for..and bullies were plentiful. The world has a way of dealing with bullies. You hit them in the mouth..and you don't stop till someone pulls you off. If you don't you will be bullied daily and very hungry at lunch time due to lack of lunch money. Bullies aren't just physical, they can be verbal and emotional as well. Either way, the scars from these impressionable years we still carry around and profoundly shape us. As we get older, we learn to deal with bullies in a different way,due to the fact, that assault is a felony, and prison is a definite deterrent. As adults, we deal with bullies at work and our social circles. And yes, the world has a way to deal with them too. Here's the thing..as a Christian I should be talking about the bullies in the world and how they need Jesus, blah, blah, blah..But what happens when the bully isn't trying to take your lunch money? What happens when the bully is in the very place that the wounded, scared, beat up people are seeking refuge? What happens when this bully is a self proclaiming Christian? No, they aren't trying to beat you up physically, but the spiritual bullying, experienced by many of the flock has far more devastating effects that any punch in the gut that they could ever receive.

Since Grace has gripped my heart and the Gospel has been opened up to me thru the performance of Jesus on my behalf..I've noticed..that some of the meanest, self-serving, un-loving bullies are within Christendom. Wow. That hurts to say. It hurts because it's true. I have seen Christians attack other Christians with,"chapter and verse', and doctrinal issues. For reasons of  "protecting the Bible", I have seen personal attacks on well meaning and sincere believers, that show and tell me that their reasons are anything but saving the church.Here's the thing. These bullies are some of the biggest cowards I have ever seen. Non-Christian bullies at least make no excuse why they are bullying, and understand that they very well might get hit in the mouth. But this..Spiritual Bullies they not only know this won't happen, they use it to propel their assaults..and what is so sickening is they use the name of my King and insinuate they have His blessing to "clean His Church of heretics." His Church. They hide behind the fact, that if the fellow Christian defends his or her views, they are being very Un-Christian. How convenient.

Now, this isn't Christians that are calling out the "Prosperity Gospel" or Christians that sincerely are calling out a false- Gospel. No, these are Christians, that believe that if any other Christians have any other doctrinal view than theirs..well..you know..heretic..they are "watering down the Word". And look out if this Christian is nice to another Christian who has fallen out of favor or is in controversy, this just proves that,"I am one of the few with the golden ticket." They bully other Christians, with Guerrilla warfare of social media and the like..and it isn't just the public figures of our faith..it is in the local churches..and it breaks my heart.

When you use the Bible as a weapon to produce performance from fellow believers, then shun them because they fail to perform to YOUR standards, and avoid them at all costs, when you finally break them and they leave..this is bullying.This is not Christ. This is not the Gospel..This is a club. This is spiritual Junior High. If you don't wear the right clothes, read the right Bible, do the right things, study-the right way, sing the right songs, baptize the right way, memorize enough, witness enough, parent a certain way, get involved enough, listen to the right spiritual celebrity preachers, hang out with the spiritual people..well..you may not be saved, because you obviously don't love God enough, you love your sin more, you just are not willing, you should be farther along by now, you should know better, you need to conquer your sin, you need to get stronger...so..we are going to shun you, just like we shunned you in between classes  at your locker-Junior High  Bullying!

This is not Christ. This is not the Gospel. This is not John 13:34-35...How do I know this? Because God's Grace freed me from it..and I still have the scars..Christian..I don't have time for bullies..We cannot hit them in the mouth..but we can love them..and as they hurl the assaults?...Walk away and find the fellow ragamuffin who isn't strong enough to walk yet..and give them the Good News.. That God loves them..because of HIS performance, not theirs..and watch the chains fall..I encourage my fellow Ragamuffins to press on...because not too long ago..I was the ragamuffin who wasn't strong enough to walk yet..and your love carried me..and I'm ready to carry now..thanks.."He has come to set the captives free.." Luke 4:18

FIERCE SISTERS

We are a fragile bunch. Misfits. Ragamuffins. A mess really. This band of insecure, scared, beat -up, bedraggled followers of a carpenter from Nazareth. But we stand. We slowly move forward..clinging to a blood stained cross that tells us the exact opposite of how we often feel about ourselves.

God's grace gripped me less than a year ago and I will NEVER be the same. It changed literally everything in my life. Jesus has a way of doing that..It changed how I viewed my marriage, my parenting, my business, relationships, the world and church. It also did something very unexpected in my hard, selfish, self preserving heart. Grace gave me a longing, a love, a kinship, for other gospel misfits. A desire to seek them out and share with them how God wasn't what I thought He was..that I have Good News..He has come to set the captives free,(Luke 4:18).

God allowed me to find these fellow sojourners, in a very unlikely place-Social Media. I really don't know how it started..a tweet post. A blog. But it spoke to my inner being. "Hey, I'm not alone." The words they spoke, the stories they told, revealed a God who was not mad at me. It spoke to me of a unashamed love for the King, and a willingness to admit,"Yes..I know..me too..It's okay..see my scars?..yes they look like yours..let me tell you of a man who knows everything about me.." They are my posse.My Gospel Posse. 

I am forever grateful for them. I have learned of God's love for me and have learned the meaning of John 13:34-35," A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another. By this, everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." They encourage one another. Support one another. Laugh and sometimes cry with each other. And I love them. Not in the Christian ease love them sort of way..no..they are my brothers and sisters..and I love them,,am protective of them.. and hurt when they hurt. Strange..this love..for people I have not even met in person..Jesus has a way of doing that..

I am a father of three children..wonderful kids, who I worry I am permeating with my insecurities. I worry that my fear of acceptance, of never measuring up, will be their fears. But there is grace for that.. I have 2 daughters age 15 and 10..and my "little oops" son of 7. Great kids..they really are. But I worry about my girls..I want them to know strong women in the Lord, who are unashamed of the gospel. I want them to know of God's unconditional love for them. That being a Godly woman consists of who they are in Christ..not what they wear, or what music they listen to..That Jesus loves them and made them for Him..Where?..Lord..Where? Where are these women of courage I can show my girls? And what about my wife? She has been through years of being taught information about what it means to be a godly wife, what the Bible teaches of "godly womanhood", that quite frankly looks like an amish boot camp, than anything the Bible teaches. Years of "Women Bible Studies", that left her frustrated, depressed, and flat out discouraged. Where? Where Lord? They yearn, desire for female fellowship that I can't give them..



This has been on my heart for awhile. God has led me to a group of ladies that are unrelenting for their love of the King and the gospel. I have commented on their posts and told them how helpful and encouraging their words have been to me and my family, but I feel they need to be recognized, not to "take a bow", but for a couple of reasons. 1. They are what, I believe, epitomizes godly women that I can refer to my wife and daughters. 2. I have grown to respect them in the Lord, as I see how they relentlessly press on for the sake of the gospel, many times in the face of adversity. They are not perfect. They have flaws and bad days, struggles, and doubts. And they, as Steve Brown would say, "Smell like Jesus". These are women I respect so much..I point and say to my girls,"See? See how God is using them and that you can be strong in the Lord in your weakness?" These wonderful examples of humility, vulnerability, passion, courage, talent..and LOVE. Women, that "hold fast to the gospel", many times in very difficult, abrasive, and sometimes just mean opposition to them and the message they preach. Women I am proud to call sisters. Women who point the way for other Christian girls and women..to the grace and love of Jesus..and if I am honest..point me there too..Thank you ladies..I would like to mention them to you, not just to give a shout out..but so that you can listen to them, and show other "beggars"and your daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts, that there are some incredible gospel filled women who "have been there, done that". You are safe here ladies..So..with that, here is by no means an exhausted list, as I am meeting new sisters everyday..so if anyone has been left out, know it was not because you have not touched my heart. It's because I may not know you as well..yet..thanks for your grace in advance.

I would like to mention a web site that I visit and also have referred Christian sisters to for great information, encouragement, and support. By the way, this is as much for guys as gals, but it IS a great womens' ministry: Dropping Keys at www.dropping-keys.com.  A great resource for women based gospel information.
Kimm Crandall-Kimm Crandall.com  and Dropping Keys
Kathleen Miles-kjoymiles.blogspot.com
Lauren Larkin-LaurenRELarkin.com
Callie Skokos-runningpretty.com/blog
Sarah Taras-Sarahtaras.com
Marci Preheim-marcipreheim.com
Jeanne Hulme-themysteriesofgrace.wordpress.com
Jessica Thompson-givethemgrace.com
Lori Harding-lorileighharding.blogspot.com
Christina Hernandez-christinamariehernandez.wordpress.com
Elyse Fitzpatrick-elysefitzpatrick.com

There are others who have influenced me with their posts and encouragement, that are not mentioned here simply because they don't blog or have a website, but I am also very thankful for-Susan Adams, DeAnn Bower, and Middle Casey come to mind..again thanks.

I hope you take some time and check out what these women have to offer. Especially those Christian ladies that may be feeling alone..frustrated..and a little scared..you are NOT alone. Come meet some of my fierce sisters and hang on tight! Their stories and words will give you wings..Jesus has a way of doing that..