unChristian: To Write Love On Her Arms
Last week I wrote this meme about some of the common perceptions of Christians and what Christians should be known for. This meme has spread quite a bit and while the perceptions differ, there is a common thread in what people say Christians should be known for. Love.
Too often Christians aren't known for love. They are known for making stances against things, protesting for "family values", and for showing anything but love for others.
Well I am sick and tired of hearing about Pat Robertson, Ann Coulter, James Dobson, or worse, Fred Phelps. They are no more representatives for Christians than Osama Bin Laden is for Muslims.
Today I'd like to highlight a friend of mine who people should think of when they think of Christians.
Last year Jamie Tworkowski found himself spending five days helping a girl that a treatment center wouldn't take and who was struggling with addiction, depression, and suicide. Since then, Jamie has accidentally founded a non-profit organization, To Write Love On Her Arms, to bring hope and help for young people dealing with depression, self-injury, and suicide. I'm not going to attempt to retell the story; Jamie has told this girl's story here.
This week Jamie was interviewed by AbsolutePunk.net. I love what Jamie says about how his Christian faith influences what he does:
"How is faith and spirituality incorporated into what you do at TWLOHA and how big of a role does it play?
Jamie: The language of what I believe (personally) is pretty obvious in the (TWLOHA) story that I wrote. But we surprised some people in that we, TWLOHA, don't call ourselves "a Christian organization". I think the language of what I believe has been grossly abused. Today, the word "Christian" offends a lot of people. It means things I wish it didn't, so we're trying to acknowledge that and use language that is inviting, comfortable, honest. And i think I knew we were going to have to choose our battles, so the one we're putting at the top of the list is that we want to meet people where they are, as they are. We want to help people, encourage people. The last thing we would ever want to do is push people away.
I will say that my faith plays a huge part in my life, why I am the way I am, how I see the world. And in my own battles with depression and seasons of hopelessness, my faith helps me keep going.
I am a huge fan of Bono and U2. He is my favorite example. He is a man of faith, bent on seeing the world change, but he is also very honest and real. He admits his demons, his questions. He wears it all on his sleeve. I like that. And you don't see anyone calling U2 "a Christian band", because that's a stupid phrase that doesn't really mean anything."
Technorati Tags: Culture Religion UnChristian twloha to write love on her arms jamie tworkowski love is the movement unchristian stop the bleeding
Thank You
beautiful...just beautiful
I humbly disagree. =]
I think I understand what you're saying concerning what I'd simply call "culturally engaged conservative Christians". The more consistent among them, I think, would be in total agreement with you on the importance of loving others. In effect, I'm left puzzled as to why you would think these interests to be mutually exclusive? Does being an advocate for so-called "family values" logically imply the negation of loving kindness in our everyday lives?
I still have not seen anything resembling a reasonable argument to support such a view. My suspicion is that the sort of kind-hearted and selfless acts which we aspire to do never have been prone to receive the sort of limelight that scandal and political controversy do. When Christians are content with staying on the periphery of important cultural developments, we're easy to ignore.
But when Christians (or anyone, for that matter) begin to draw closer to the center of public influence, the harsh light of scrutiny may uncover what has long been festering for decades. I think if Christians go on to earn greater influence in culture, what we're witnessing now may in time be described as a slow revolution still in its infancy stages. After all, we've not enjoyed the sort of illustrious political heritage secular liberals have dominated with and honed over the last 100 years of American history.
No one can doubt the level of their political and media-savvy sophistication, and they've earned it through determination and perseverance. In contrast, I blame our current missteps not on our audacity to have ever come out of the political closet, but for having absconded in there for so long in the first place. In my opinion, Fundamentalism, or the refusal to engage in responsible cultural and political engagement for fear of reprisal has worked to weaken Christianity in America more than the Religious Right has done in the last two decades.
I Humbly Agree..
I'm so thankful for TWLOHA and the method of approach. The word "Christian" and the characteristics of "Christ" have been so dissolved, Diluted and distorted that it has left a filthy stain stain and a very bad taste in our culture. But over the last 2 years i feel God( defined as father, holy spirit, Lord and Savior)has been bringing people to the front line in an attempt to reclaim his name and all that it means. I Agree that there is a Slow revolution happening in the body and those that are listening are being pulled to the front lines. NEVER did the apostles speak to bind people in fear or Turn or Burn, the message is Grace and that message has been wrapped in human elements for to long. LOVE is the movement...it was from the very begining. Thats the Gospel(Good news). Our culture thinks "Christians" can do what they want, Sin all they want and just repent for it and keep doin the same thing. This is NOT true. When we understand Grace and Forgiveness, out of our love to the father we should want to obey and do good. The messages in the bible are soaked in Love!Recently in one of my quiet times, I asked the question to God " did you know when you created Lucifer that he was going to Rise up against you and deceive your greatest creation and you were going to have to Send your son as a sacrifice to redeem us( Propitiation)"? about a week later I was sitting still and I heard in my head " I'm ready to answer your question", knowing this was the Lord, i got my pencil and wrote this down:"My Son, I knew you before you were born, I knew the revolt that was to come in the heavenly's. I knew you...my greatest creation, before I created Adam. I knew my sons death and redemption plan before i created Lucifer. I LOVED you at this time. This Fellowship, Agape Love so deep for you is worth the price paid. Yes, I knew what was to come and what had to be done and I still created you so you would know my LOVE for you and live with me forever. This is how it is to be." That is the ultimate act of love right there. I fully support what this organization is doing and I thank you for it! God bless you!
To Love is God's Law
At my church (a conservative Regular Baptist one) we're often reminded of the "double-love" command. Jesus said to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
A lot of fundies like myself miss this and adopt a "censorious spirit" toward those who don't observe the mores of their tribe. No less than the Puritan Jonathan Edwards pointed out that this attitude is just about the opposite of what Jesus had in mind when he spoke of the most important commandment. (You remember him, he's the "Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God" fellow.)
Christians must live with a tension between love of our neighbors and respect for God's law. A lot of beastly behavior is perpetrated by my coreligionists who substitute their opinions and traditions for God's law, then apply them in a censorious, or unloving fashion. This beastliness is very hard to root out. Please be patient with us. At least we're not lopping infidels' heads off.
i LOVE twl♥ha. this is
i LOVE twl♥ha. this is everything i belive. and many christians don't belive that the word "christian" does offend a lot of people and is not always associated with a good picture. so amen. <3<3<3<3<3
i am an atheist and therefor
i am an atheist and therefor when i try to speak out about how i feel.. i too am associated with a terrible picture... i'm glad that i have the freedom to express this, but the term christian doesn't offend me in the least.. the term atheist has a much more downward affect on most people. it's due to close mindedness.
there are bitter atheists and there are indifferent atheists and there are good people who could classify as "good christian"(what ever that means) who are in fact atheists. there are people who know what christianity is and gleem with pride in being a part of that faith, there are people who claim to be christian and don't do a thing with it.
there's no stipulations on love, so love me like i am your neighboor. if you'd focus on what you personally believe and not how other people view you, then the christian faith would be as valid as you're stressing over it to seem. ultimately people are going to believe what they want, and see what they want. the people who gave christianity a bad "rep" shouldn't concern a true christian. if we could all open up our eyes and just love then this world wouldn't be in such turmoil. religion had become the battle ground.
i am an atheist and therefor when i try to speak out about how i feel.. i too am associated with a terrible picture... i'm glad that i have the freedom to express this, but the term christian doesn't offend me in the least.. the term atheist has a much more downward affect on most people. it's due to close mindedness.
there are bitter atheists and there are indifferent atheists and there are good people who classify as "good christian"(that ever that means) who are in fact atheists. there are people who know what christianity is and gleem with pride in being a part of that faith, there are people who claim to be christian and don't do a thing with it.
there's to stipulations on love, so love me like i am your neighboor. if you'd focus on what you personally believe and not how other people view you, then the christian faith would be as valid as you're stressing over it to seem. ultimately people are going to believe what they want, and see what they want. the people who gave christianity a bad "rep" shouldn't concern a true christian. if we could all open up our eyes and just love then this world wouldn't be in such turmoil. religion had become the battle ground.
i also think part of this faith that i'm trying to learn more about is learning to love others who don't have the same beliefs as you. you expect someone like me to respect your beliefs, and i do. i think it's absurd to prosecute either.. this fundamental idea is what founded our country. love is a compromise, just like our forfathers compromised government to have the foundation we have today.
this hits home 4 me... i
this hits home 4 me...
i was a christian looking 4 answers....
i have struggled w/ cutting, drinking, and drugs, i hated my life i was alone... all i wanted 2 do was die, i attempted suicid more than twice, i never looked 4ward 4 2moro bc i didnt kno if i was goin 2 b there 2 c it... i was known as the mistake the problem, no1 cared abt me no1 knu... no1 saw the scars or the blood stained clothes no1 cared... then i found jaymee, nick, krystal and doug... they were all christians and they saw my pain and they saw the scars and they stayed up w/ me all night they cared... they all prayed 4 me and they didnt think i was a mistake and they knu that God would get me thru this and he did... God is real and he is w/ u ever sec of every day... he will never leave u or forsake u... he loves u... and he loves me...
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