So, our blog is getting slightly more views than expected.
To be honest, we didn't think that anyone would want to read things that we had to say. If you've taken the time to check out Beale2Beale, thank you!
And to all the people who are hitting up our little corner of the interwebs, hello!
So far things in Haus of Beale have been pretty quiet. I (Camella) am finishing up my 15 week internship (I'm on week 13 starting Monday) and Matt is working like a busy bee providing for us. I am thankful to him for working so hard to provide for our little family. Those cats have mouths to feed, you know!
Today, I wanted to talk about the issues with living in "The Bible Belt."
I think that every state has an area that is especially known for being quite Christian. Our area happens to be extremely Dutch-Reformed. While I don't have any issues with the Reformed Church, it hasn't been right for either Matt nor myself. It's funny, even in churches that profess to be "non-denominational," because of the prevalence of the Dutch-Reformed churches in our area, they all have that sort of flavor to them... and none of them will admit it!
When Matt and I first moved to this area, we had been indoctrinated with Baptist beliefs and I still have a place in my heart for our "home church" - it's the place that God called us to Him, the place where we were baptized, and the place where we were married. We have both changed so much since those years ago when we first decided to become loving and fearful followers of the Lord.
I feel like God has so many facets to His person and because the Church is so fractured that no one denomination, no one stand-alone church can possibly know the true nature of our God. In our initial attempts to find a new church, I was really discouraged. It is nearly impossible to find a church that fits in with what we want and feel church should be, especially now that we've been having new and revealing interactions with God. We settled on a church where we felt comfortable and it was a great fit for us until recently. We've just been struggling so much with our Christian identity and being loving and true followers of Jesus that sometimes going to a church that is focused on other things can be draining.
I do love Michigan. It's home and it always will be. And I love the people in Michigan for the most part. They are small-town people that for the most part are friendly and warm. There are things that I don't like about living here though. They mostly stem from the close-minded "Good 'ole boys" mentality. The people that go to church on Sunday and sing the loudest and pray the hardest. People that are lovers of God but who treat people (the homeless, the LGBT community, those on welfare) with a hatred I can assure you is not to be found in the Bible. These are the people that justify their bigotry by saying "... but the Bible says it's wrong, and I believe the Bible to be the infallible word of God."
"Do you now?" I ask myself. I am no Biblical scholar but it seems to me that Jesus ate with the tax collectors and the whores - the sinners that were on the fringes of society. Can't we extent the same love and comfort to our society's same "sinners"? It frustrates me that Bible Belt Christians forget they were saved by grace. That works alone was not sufficient for them to be with God after death. That no amount of prayer or singing or belivin' the Bible is the infallible word of God will get you an in with the Most High. Who are you to cast stones at the sinners?
I don't want you to think that I'm just bashing on Christians because I am so guilty of this myself and it makes me sick to think about. I used to be black and white with my faith but as the time goes by, I realize that there are grey areas. There is room for love, and there is room for grace. I think that because grace was extended to us, we should be willing and passionate about extending grace to others. I guess that's what it all comes down to in the end: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
God showed me a glorious and beautiful grace when I was covered in sin.
Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."
It is because of Jesus that we are saved. It is because of His blood we are free. Free to love and to extend the grace God showed us to those who need it most.
Maybe our motto as Christians should be "Grace first, always."
Prayerfully yours,
C.
