Ok. Let's talk about the latest controversy in American culture: the red cup. Lord have mercy, y'all. I have two things to say about this topic. First, let me tell you how I got here.
I was driving a back road to a friend's house. This road is lined with beautiful sprawling homes, pastures, farms, and a few ranch properties. I love this road. I was driving and in the distance I saw a steeple. The white structure looked stunning against the beautiful blue sky and fall foliage. That steeple literally stopped me in my tracks and got me thinking about that silly red cup. The thought that came to mind was: steady. I felt like the Lord reminded me to steady myself; to realize and understand that while I may feel like Christ is being ripped out of everything I know in my surroundings, He is still there; steady. Just because Christ isn't portrayed through the symbols of Christmas on a red cup that is sold at a non-Christian business does not mean that He is gone. He is still alive in me, in my heart, in my actions, in my life. The presence of God does not escape the world just because people and businesses deny Him. He is still there. He is steadily moving in the lives and hearts of the people He created regardless if we see it in our culture or not. He is working in the lives of the 30+ Christians that ISIS recently released from captivity. He is moving in the Iranian prison where Pastor Saeed Abedini is being held for his beliefs. He is on our campuses, in our work place, and at the PTO meeting. He is even in our politics. Gasp. So, just because we don't see His presence on a red cup does not mean He is gone. He is steady.
Secondly, I want to talk to us believers. Let me start with some Scripture for He says it far better than I ever can or will.
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;" Romans 14:10
Many are disturbed that a cup is receiving all the attention right now. Christians are condemning other Christians for fighting this battle. While I do believe we need to take a breath and think before we speak or move into action, I can understand the perspective of the red cup fight. God created us all uniquely for a specific purpose. What you believe passionately about and fight for is not my platform nor mine yours. We have got to stop attacking each other because we do not feel like someone's argument has enough meaning. I have a friend who passionately serves the Lord through foster and adoption. While I would love to be able to do what she does, that is not my calling; not my fight. I have another friend who works tirelessly to teach women to love themselves from the inside out through health and fitness. While I love being healthy and working out, this is not my cause; not my fight. I have another friend who gives of herself tirelessly to preschoolers loving on those families like no other truly showing the love of Christ. While I love teaching and children; this is not my fight. Just because my passions and what I fight for does not align with these does not make it any less valuable. So, while many Christians feel the red cup fight is ridiculous, it is not to those who are passionate about keeping the name of Christ out there in our culture and society. Everything we do, we do for the kingdom. Nothing is more important than the other as long as our motives are to bring glory to God and Jesus to those who do not know Him.
Imagine how many people are talking about Christ and Christianity now all because of a silly red cup. How many homes had the news on this morning when the red cup story came on talking about Christianity? How many conversations began because of this red cup?
So, I guess what I came away with was that Christ is still very present in a world that seems so far away from Him. He is steady and that brings me peace. I also learned that while I may not agree with someone or align with their passions, when I take a second to look at things through their lens, I gain a new perspective and can see the hand of God at work in what seems like a really silly headline story.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 (emphasis mine)
Love & Blessings,
Meg
I was driving a back road to a friend's house. This road is lined with beautiful sprawling homes, pastures, farms, and a few ranch properties. I love this road. I was driving and in the distance I saw a steeple. The white structure looked stunning against the beautiful blue sky and fall foliage. That steeple literally stopped me in my tracks and got me thinking about that silly red cup. The thought that came to mind was: steady. I felt like the Lord reminded me to steady myself; to realize and understand that while I may feel like Christ is being ripped out of everything I know in my surroundings, He is still there; steady. Just because Christ isn't portrayed through the symbols of Christmas on a red cup that is sold at a non-Christian business does not mean that He is gone. He is still alive in me, in my heart, in my actions, in my life. The presence of God does not escape the world just because people and businesses deny Him. He is still there. He is steadily moving in the lives and hearts of the people He created regardless if we see it in our culture or not. He is working in the lives of the 30+ Christians that ISIS recently released from captivity. He is moving in the Iranian prison where Pastor Saeed Abedini is being held for his beliefs. He is on our campuses, in our work place, and at the PTO meeting. He is even in our politics. Gasp. So, just because we don't see His presence on a red cup does not mean He is gone. He is steady.
Secondly, I want to talk to us believers. Let me start with some Scripture for He says it far better than I ever can or will.
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;" Romans 14:10
Many are disturbed that a cup is receiving all the attention right now. Christians are condemning other Christians for fighting this battle. While I do believe we need to take a breath and think before we speak or move into action, I can understand the perspective of the red cup fight. God created us all uniquely for a specific purpose. What you believe passionately about and fight for is not my platform nor mine yours. We have got to stop attacking each other because we do not feel like someone's argument has enough meaning. I have a friend who passionately serves the Lord through foster and adoption. While I would love to be able to do what she does, that is not my calling; not my fight. I have another friend who works tirelessly to teach women to love themselves from the inside out through health and fitness. While I love being healthy and working out, this is not my cause; not my fight. I have another friend who gives of herself tirelessly to preschoolers loving on those families like no other truly showing the love of Christ. While I love teaching and children; this is not my fight. Just because my passions and what I fight for does not align with these does not make it any less valuable. So, while many Christians feel the red cup fight is ridiculous, it is not to those who are passionate about keeping the name of Christ out there in our culture and society. Everything we do, we do for the kingdom. Nothing is more important than the other as long as our motives are to bring glory to God and Jesus to those who do not know Him.
Imagine how many people are talking about Christ and Christianity now all because of a silly red cup. How many homes had the news on this morning when the red cup story came on talking about Christianity? How many conversations began because of this red cup?
So, I guess what I came away with was that Christ is still very present in a world that seems so far away from Him. He is steady and that brings me peace. I also learned that while I may not agree with someone or align with their passions, when I take a second to look at things through their lens, I gain a new perspective and can see the hand of God at work in what seems like a really silly headline story.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 (emphasis mine)
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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