I just spent some time perusing through some various links, websites and blogs. It all started when I was trying to find out more about the Pioneer Woman's book tour and it led me to several pioneer women haters or haters of women with privilege or haters of anyone who writes about a life that is seemingly perfect, blessed, happy. Haters of people, haters of a life different from their own, haters of haters. Who cares if ThePioneerWoman is rich and isn't the picture perfect representative of what life is really like for a rancher's wife? Who cares if she's rich? The fact of the matter is..her story is her own, just as my story is my own. There are situations we are born into and then there are situations we make for ourself. And if her site gets over a million hits a month, then she is a voice that is either relatable, admirable and/or lovable on some level. What's her crime..? She keeps a PG site that references life, children, marriage, food, gardening, photography...there is nothing illegal, she doesn't claim to have it all figured out..but aren't these the same kinds of things we discuss with our friends?..if they give us a recipe that is not "original" do we cry "LIAR" & "CHEAT". If I photoshop out a zit on my face before posting it...is that soooo wrong? Sorry, for the rant.
Seeing the haters' sites made me feel dark and sad and yucky. Most of them had profanity and essentially crucified whichever person or ideal they were mocking. Even right now...I am gorging myself on a bag of Chex Mix stressed over what I am about to right....
I'm thankful for the freedom of speech but I see far too often that our "freedoms" give people room to be hateful, awful people all under Freedom's name. I understand how any person or subject of recognition will draw both lovers and haters. It's true of politics, news, religion, entertainment, etc...but what makes people think that being ugly and hateful about it, about anything, is ok. And it IS anyone..there are people who call themselves christians who are so truly hateful in their approach to a particular subject or group of people that Christ is not even recognizable. Then there are the liberals who beg the argument "hey, whatever you want to believe is your own choice", yet are murderous and angry toward anyone who differs from their opinion. I know this is not true of everyone. But, these freedoms are getting abused for the sake of shock and awe, for the sake of "this is what makes me happy" and for the sake of "freedom". People are getting away with moral and ethical murder and depravity for the sake of freedom. I am a believer in Christ and it is my responsibility to honor God, love others MORE than myself, love my enemies, spread the GOOD NEWS, Forgive, give grace and mercy because that is what I have received. If I am quick to judge, quick to argue, quick to hate then I am no Christian and all I do for the name of Christ is slander it.
I believe in the BIBLE.
I believe Christ is the son of GOD, died for my sins and that he rose again.
Why is that offensive? Who could argue that THAT is a problem...many. And many would and could argue that this post is offensive...fine. But I will tell you this, I still have the right to say so..and by saying so I am not claiming perfection or that I am more deserving of heaven, Christ's death or his grace. I am human. I am flawed. And I promise this..I will make mistakes every day and so will EVERYONE else. NO ONE IS PERFECT. ALL MY THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ARE FAR FROM PERFECT. I AM FALLIBLE. YOU ARE FALLIBLE. God still died for us. HE will still forgive/love you and I. I cannot say this is true of mankind.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 3:9-26
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”[b] 13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”[c]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[d]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[e] 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[f]
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[g]
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”[b] 13 “Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”[c]
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”[d]
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”[e] 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.”[f]
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”[g]
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.*****If you want to hate me for loving God then I say, bring it.
Phil 1:20-21
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Well I believe it would be an understatement to say that you were a bit upset. :-) The thing that I think the "haters" don't realize is that if there is someone out there who's blog you don't want to follow then don't follow it. People who just have to say the mean things about others truly have nothing better to do and no worthy contribution to make in society. They need to realize the golden rule of "if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." It truly irritates me as well to read the nasty things and I know everyone has the right to voice their opinion however it does not have to be harshly rude or abusive to others. What good does that serve? None! Keep writing Mel.....no "haters" here hon!
ReplyDeleteI just read your recent comment under the Pioneer Woman's ode to "Black Heels" and I noticed you had a blog. (I actually made a comment not long after your comment to the Pioneer Woman. My name is Amy.) Anyway, I read your comment, and I thought it was written so nicely and you painted such a nice picture with your words, that I decided to visit here. And I just wanted to say that sometimes I feel the same way that you do about all the hate that is out there. In fact, sometimes I even feel torn about the freedom to hate. But what gives me strength (and makes me feel a little less dark and sad and yucky) is that all of the hate in the world does serve to make the goodness all the more precious. And the goodness IS precious. People who are kind and respectful and hard working are precious. People who take a chance and share their heart with the world (like you and the Pioneer Woman and millions of other good people on this planet) are indeed a treasure. I believe our being means that much more because hate does exist. So I try to focus on that when I come across a cesspool of hate. As vulgar as it is, it does make the beauty of a pure heart shine that much brighter. I hope this helps! Hugs, Amy
ReplyDeleteMy lovely daughter-in-law
ReplyDeleteYour musings are precious to me. I too am appalled by all the hate. I see it all too often in myself. But I always Praise God that He has "...cleansed me from ALL unrighteousness." I Peter 1:9
Keep on Blogging, I love it!
Dad Gray
P.S.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that; The haters confuse the difference between Freedom and License.
Dad Gray
Thank you Michele and Dad for your love and encouragement and that you "know" me and love me in spite of myself. I love you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy for your posting...When I first read your comment and you said you had come to my blog after reading what I wrote on PW website..I thought.."Oh dear Lord." and that I'd scared you off or offended you from my clear 180 degree swing from my post on her site to my rantings above. Thank you so much for reading, and responding and doing so in such a way that gives me grace for my emotional diarrhea and grace for the world we live in which it so desperately needs. Your words are "precious" to me and your heart is clearly kind and an encouragement that there are "lights" that shine bright in the darkness. :)
Have a blessed day.
Mel