God made us all, in a variety of skin colors, sexual orientations, and in so many ways, very different from each other.
Since I was a child, I'd hear people say that God loves variety. At many junctures, I'd wonder why, if so many people say and write those words, why don't they live as though they believe those words. Why have race and sexual orientations ( a matter of genetics ) create so much distrust, hate, and violence--from people who consider themselves "followers of God" as well as non-believers?
Twenty or more years ago, I began to believe that God created different skin colors and sexual orientations and other "differences" as lessons--or maybe tests.
Too many "Christians" or "people of God" have gone around stating that they are "people of God"--then lived lives of prejudice and hate and/or fear.
To "speak" love, tolerance, respect, kindness" --is NOT enough--and I don't believe it's enough for God. We are called to "act" love, tolerance, respect, and kindness. In fact, we're called to "be" love, tolerance, respect, and kindness. This week I caught an online message from a pastor ( on Facebook--I couldn't even tell you what church / parish or the priest's name--just came up on my feed in time to listen to his message ) about how our words are meaningless if actions don't follow. The priest also shared a very interesting thought about how "everything is the end times." Reminding us all that our words and actions need to be aligned, and we never know if today is our last day here.
I'd suggest that "race" and "sexual orientations" are lessons that God is asking--perhaps strongly asking --us all to recognize. Our attitudes AND actions to anyone who is "not like us" in some ways --mark us as truly following God --or not.
In both the Old and New Testaments, it seems clear that what is important to God is what is in our hearts--what is in our souls--and what do we do with our hearts and souls in relationship with God ( Love God with all your heart ) and others ( treat others as you would want to be treated )---and how we do, or don't follow the precepts set out in the Bible determines our relationship with God through eternity.
If what is important to God is our own--and our neighbors' -hearts and souls and not the color of their / our skin or their sexual preference --then shouldn't that be our focus too? If our words are hollow, by not "living lives" that honor God in this way and others, are our own souls not hollow?
We're called to love--as in respect, tolerate, care for, and be kind to every single person as we journey through this stage of life eternal--and be in relationship with others only on the basis of what is in their hearts, what is in their souls--how do they reflect God in their lives and relationship with us. Some will be "hearts and souls" we choose to spend more time with, enjoy their company, maybe learn from. Other we might only want to pray for and not spend so much time around--but we're still asked by God to respect, tolerate, and be kind to those we might not choose to "hang around" with.
If we state that we are followers of God--no matter what denomination or faith base we might be inclined to have ---then prejudice and hate--distrust ( for no other reason ) and violence are opposite from being a follower of God. I believe that God is trying to show us all what is truly essential--what is truly important--and that -as the New Testament speaks to, is invisible to the eye. We're all called to live lives where our actions reflect our words, and reflect God's calling us to truly follow the pathway God lays out.
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