If you scroll through social media or listen to the news, you will discover people who say that if you align your life with their values and political side, then you have a righteous life. They make the claim that only people who think and believe like them have a relationship with Jesus. We must follow Jesus and not people.
For centuries, people have used guilt-shaming as a
manipulative device to get people to believe or do what they want. In my
younger years, I allowed people to guilt-shame me. With maturity of age and
growth in my faith in Christ, I refuse to give into it. I know the tricks
because I’ve done them.
Some of the guilt-shaming phrases begin with the following: “If
you’re really a Christian you would…” “How can you be a Christian and do…” “Here’s
a verse that says you can’t do this…” You know what all these phrases have in
common? Jesus never used them. Jesus said, “Follow me.” “Have faith.” “Repent
and believe.” “Go and make disciples of all nations.” See, those words require
action from each of us.
When I reflect on my life politically and spiritually, I can
see similarities. I changed because I worked with people. I changed because
when I did something to make a difference, policies got in the way, and the
people I served lost and became oppressed both in the church and in the
community that I served. My views changed because I remembered the most important
thing. People, including politicians, cannot save you. Jesus saves.
Jesus sacrificed his life for our sins. We don’t do anything
to be saved. We accept Jesus and his grace. We don’t have to believe, think, or
vote a particular way for the salvation of Jesus. Once I remembered that in my
earlier years, I lived my life with the purpose to serve Jesus in everything I
do, especially with my career.
Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you will be judged.” (Matthew
7:1; NIV) Jesus does not need us to go around and point out the flaws and sins
of others like the Pharisees did. He needs us to look in the mirror and repent
of our own sins. If everyone did one thing to improve their life every single
day, then no one would have the time to agonize over the actions or beliefs of others.
When we focus on what we can do, we get so busy that we don’t
have time to fret over what others do. I tried fixing everything with my voice
in education. It didn’t work. When I got into the trenches, I saw the root of
the issues, and now, I am finding ways to defeat the root issue. God put me in
places that I could see the root cause of the issue. I had to see God’s hand in
all of it.
We can guilt-shame others, berate others, and disassociate
with others who do not agree with us, or we can go and make a difference in the
life of someone else and bring them into the presence of Jesus. You get to
choose. Jesus saves with His grace through your faith. Jesus does not guilt-shame because he forgives. We all get to choose to follow Jesus or not. No one decides our Christianity for us.
