I write majority of my blog posts to a particular audience, to all my christian friends. Stories and encouragements to those likeminded with me in faith and belief.
But tonight I write to all my friends that hold different beliefs and follow a different religion.
Because of the wide, connected world of social media, I write to my Jewish friend from kindergarten in 1991; to my bestest Malay Muslim friend who barely speaks English; to my favorite Syrian and Egyptian friends whom I drink tea and eat food with; to my Catholic friend I have so much fun with; to all of you throughout my thirty five years of living and friending––to all my friends old and new.
Your friendships have been very special to me. And I am tormented because of it. Tormented by regret. I regret all the times I was not brave enough to be candid with you about my faith.
Talking about faith and religion is risky business. Its a turnoff to most and buzz killer in any relationship.
So why do I feel compelled to mix my friendships with my faith? Because my faith is the very air I breathe and the essence of who I am. It is the reason I choose to be open and kind; it is the root of all my principles.
And you! So different from me––having contrasting beliefs, following different religions, shaped by alternative principles.
Our differences are sharp and bright, colorful and vivid. It is a beautiful mosaic and I am drawn to it.
Your beliefs or your doubts don’t scare me. I am not afraid of your religion or your philosophies. Your morals or lack thereof don’t alarm me. I am your ears, teach me what you wish, I will listen and learn. But I beg you to be mine.
Allow me this one moment. Don’t stop reading. Let me plead my case.
The God whom I love and worship is the God of the Bible. The creator and sustainer of all things from before the beginning of time itself. He is infinite; he is unchanging; he is holy; he is just; he is good; he is loving; and he is true.
All mankind, created by God and in his image, is sinful and broken. We are guilty of big and little evils, and as a result we are separated from God.
We have usurped him and made ourselves into our own gods, choosing that which satisfies our own desires and pleasures. Our view of goodness and rightness becomes subjective.
We refuse a God who would allow tragedy and pain. God appears mean so we reject him or we create him in our own imagine. But pain and tragedy is a result of the sin mankind ceaselessly produces.
Because we were created in the image of God, we were meant to know God and to love him. We were meant to be filled by him, but instead we are empty and hollow. Like little zombies never fully alive, we try our best to find wholeness. We fill our hollowness with pleasures, money, love, power, and anything that gratifies, but it is only temporary and our longings remain insatiable.
We are fatally diseased, incapable of saving our souls or finding our nirvana.
But God.
Before God was creator, he was a father. And when his creation disobeyed him and ran from him, he sent his beloved son after them to save them.
Jesus, exalted and esteemed, left heaven to enter into our broken and foul world. Fully God and yet fully man, he was born of a virgin, helpless and needy. He grew into manhood and grace. He knew suffering and pain, and yet he remained sinless.
We know that it is just and fair for the guilty to face punishment. We also know mankind is guilty of sin. And because God is holy and just our punishment is death and eternal severance from him.
There is no penalty for the one who is innocent. But there has never been such a person.
Excepting Jesus.
What’s unfathomable is that Jesus lived among us just so that he could suffer for us. Because he was innocent, he could take our punishment upon himself. He was beaten. Stripped. Whipped. Mocked. Crucified. Unto death.
Because of love.
Only a God who sees, who cares, and who loves would punish his own beloved Son for someone else’s wrongful offense. And only an obedient and faithful Son would love the offender enough to take his place.
God’s love and forgiveness is found in Jesus. It is the most precious gift to us. Believe in Jesus, trust him. He is safe and he is good.
Let him fill your hollowness and make you whole.
If you’ve read to the end of this letter, thank you. We may continue to strongly, even sharply, differ in our beliefs but know that I still desire your friendship and that I am still affectionately yours,
Abby
It's just Me Abby 