God’s Promise

I woke up aggravated yesterday, thinking about a Facebook post by an acquaintance. In it she claimed to be cutting ties with all businesses who support LGBTQ+ rights and stated that ‘the pride flag is a mockery of God’s promise.’ I hear this type of speech somewhat regularly, living in southeast Ohio, a hotbed for Christian nationalism.

I didn’t comment. This is the type of ideal (and person) that can’t be argued with. In my experience, it’s black and white for them. It’s a deep seated, ‘doctrinal,’ issue of morality. It negates another’s experience in lieu of words on a page that can easily (and often are) taken out of context to prove them right (and those that believe differently, wrong). And yet, here are just two very clear passages that seem to say that God loves us all, regardless of race, creed, culture, gender, sexual preference, etc. The word ALL seems clear to me.

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9:13-16

“The Lord is faithful to ALL his promises and loving toward ALL he has made.” Psalm 145:13

Holy Bible

I am not one to quote scripture, but these are just two references of God loving ALL creatures, not some. Not IF you’re a certain way, ALL. And what about non-Christians in the eyes of those who lean so literally into scripture? What are they relegated to in the eyes of Christian nationalism? Are billions of people on earth doing it all wrong and going to hell? In my opinion, no. God is far more powerful and loving than that.

Yesterday I wrote about how we’ve made God too small. We’ve fit God into our narrow ideologies and beliefs instead of living in the grandeur and wonder of this amazing world in which we live. We’ve relegated God to doctrine and a system of belief that makes us right and others wrong. We’re swimming so deeply in old ways of thinking, outdated beliefs, and in waters that dishonor the body (and our felt and lived experience), over the mind.

I am saddened by the state of humanity. We’ve taken so many steps backward in recent years. It makes me wonder where we are heading. Unless we stop othering others and instead begin to see our fellow humans (and all of nature) as sacred beings with their own experiences, needs, wants, preferences, etc., in, with and through God, we’ll destroy ourselves. We ARE destroying ourselves; everything on this planet is connected.

God is love and divine compassion and grace and beauty and oneness with all. THAT is our birthright. Not these finite beliefs that keeps us stuck inside of our small worlds, in our heads. I choose love and all that follows from that posturing of my heart.

(Photo by Rogelio Gonzalez on Unsplash)