“Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you. Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion. Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” ― Rumi

You are enough.

Prints available in brand new RedBubble Store andSociety6

What Is Gratitude Anyways?

Is it an emotion? Is it a practice? Well, it’s both and more. Gratitude has been referred to as an appreciation that comes from within, it’s a tool we can use to shift our attention to the good we have, and it’s also a conscious choice we can make to return kindness back into the world.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~Oprah Winfrey

Are There Benefits?

Many researchers have studied the long and short-term effects of practicing gratitude. Here are some of the benefits (there are a whole lot more!):

-Helps us focus on the positive, resulting in a happier life

-Increases resiliency

-Has a positive impact on self-esteem

-Improves relationships

-Helps us become more generous, give from abundance

-Reduces depressive symptoms

-Improves sleep hygiene

-Helps the mind focus on good things, when bad comes it doesn’t feel as bad

What Does the Bible Say About Being Thankful?

The idea of thankfulness (Hebrew: yadáh) shows up in the Hebrew Bible 102 times and (Greek: eukharistÔ) shows up 71 times in the Christian Bible. It’s clear that the idea of giving thanks is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, indicating that it is a crucial part in being in a relationship with God and others.

We see this in books such as Ecclesiastes, Job, and the Psalms, where people are in various places of prosperity and suffering, yet hold to trust and gratitude toward God.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; For you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” ~Psalm 23:4-6

Even though the Psalmist is near death and surrounded by enemies, they are sustained by their gratitude for God’s presence and gifts.

Materialism

Another benefit of cultivating gratitude is it can help you become less materialistic. This world we live in is all about the next best thing, new this, new that; and in our materialism we are ravaging the earth God trusted us to take care of. Being grateful for what we have helps slow us down and appreciate the gifts God gives us like the everyday food we enjoy, the constantly-changing weather, good art and music, and the people we love.

From Transactional to Transformational

With the idea of materialism comes the idea of a transactional life, and giving to get. We often just use prayer like a transaction:

“YOU’RE SO GREAT GOD! — NOW IT’D BE GREAT IF YOU DID THIS THING FOR ME.”

But praying from a posture of gratitude turns our shallow transactional habit into a transformational relationship. Waking up and giving thanks for the gift of another day, of our breath, and of the person God is ever creating us to be — this worshipful practice of gratitude transforms us into people who love God, love ourselves, and love others.

Cultivating Gratitude

HERE ARE SOME APPROACHES TO HELP YOU ESTABLISH A PRACTICE OF GRATITUDE IN YOUR OWN LIFE!

Gratitude Journal; start a habit of writing down just a few things every day.

Write a thank you letter to your friend.

Prayer; slowly and intentionally thank God for things you appreciate.

Find your breath, slow down, and be present in the moment.

To view this in slide guide form, go here.

The “Clobber Passages”

This is part 3 of our series on the Bible passages used by some Christians to exclude LGBTQ+ people. This next “clobber” passage from Romans is probably the one most non-affirming people refer to when they say “the Bible is clear on this…” Romans is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the Christian church in Rome. After a greeting and introduction, Paul writes about the righteousness of God, describing what life is like without God. And then the “clobber” verse…

“For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural* intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural* intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.”

Romans 1:26-27 (NASB)

Non-Affirming View

Non-affirming Christians interpret these verses as an indictment on same-sex relationships. They assume that Paul is critiquing same-sex behavior and same-sex relationships. As such, they conclude that Paul is saying that heterosexuality is the only good and natural orientation in God’s eyes.

Affirming View

Affirming Christians, including many biblical scholars, interpret these passages as an indictment on extreme idolatry and excessive behavior. Paul is describing a group of people who have deserted God and abandoned their decree to love God, neighbor, and self. These folks have fallen into extreme idolatry and have become obsessed with their own passions and desires. When he talks about sexual behavior here, Paul is actually critiquing married heterosexual men and women, not gay people. They were so consumed by lust that they were no longer satisfied with their marriages and abandoned their natural inclination for their partners.

A People Who Have Lost Their Way

Paul is talking about people who had fallen into extreme pagan idolatry and stopped worshipping God. Romans 1:25 says “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator.” And, because of this, they did unhealthy things to each other—cheating, stealing, backstabbing, killing. And some turned sex into a meaningless act of self-gratification—no romance, no companionship, no beauty, no love. These passages are a warning (similar to the Sodom story) about what happens to communities when people lose their love for God and for each other.

“Natural” and “Unnatural”

What does Paul mean when he refers to intercourse as “natural” or “unnatural?” Does this mean that queerness is unnatural and against God’s order? Affirming theologians argue that Paul uses “natural” (physis in Greek) to mean “customary.” For example, 1 Corinthians 11, Paul says it’s natural (physis) for men to have short hair, and that men who have long hair are disgraceful.* Do Christians today conclude all long-haired men are unnatural and disgraceful to God? No, because we understand that Paul is referring to customs in his culture. Paul’s comments in Romans 1:26-27 (which uses the same Greek words) are references to custom.

*”Disgraceful” is the same word translated “degrading” in Romans 1:26.

Not Gay vs Straight, But Excess vs Moderation

“Paul is not condemning being gay as opposed to being straight. He is condemning self-seeking excess as opposed to moderation—a concern made clear by his repeated use of the term “lustful,” and by his description of “exchanging” or “abandoning” heterosexual sex.” Matthew Vines, The Reformation Project

Paul is NOT critiquing same-sex relationships; he is NOT condemning consensual, loving, committed same-sex relationships. What Paul is condemning is idolatry which has led to excessive, greedy, indulgent, love-less sexual behavior.

Conclusion

Romans 1:26-27 is a warning against idolatry, which drove a group of people to excessive behaviors, including abusing themselves and each other sexually (which falls outside the confines of their natural state.)

Romans is NOT an indictment of same-sex behavior or queer relationships. As such, these passages are gravely misused as “clobber” texts to condemn the LGBTQ+ community.

To see the post in slide-guide form, go here.

sub-textural:

Always genuine.