Go After Him!

I was a breastfeeding, cloth diaper, stay home mom when I began parenting in 1993. Like any new mom, I had to learn about babies, my own body, and how to navigate my way through the social group of other parents. As I entered this new territory, I prepared myself as best I could by reading books, watching videos, and joining parenting and play groups including La Leche League International the support group for breastfeeding moms.

At first I attended a La Leche League chapter in the town to the west of me. It was run by an experienced mother who was also a nurse. Due to her influence, the group tended to be more about the technique of breastfeeding and the health benefits to both mother and child. I’m glad I started there as those ladies gave me the information and encouragement I needed as a new mother. When that group disbanded, I began attending meetings with another La Leche League chapter to the south of me. The host mom there was an organic, homeschooling, hippie type. It seemed a better fit for my personality, but I noticed the emphasis was more on the freedom to feed our babies in public and march for breastfeeding rights.
There was a certain pride in that ‘breast is best’ motto and even though I agreed and never gave my babies a bottle of formula, I didn’t want to insult my friends who did.
In other words, I made my choice but wasn’t interested in imposing it on others.
LLL is an International group with chapters all over the world, yet I noticed how these two groups differed so much in their approach by taking on the personality of its local host.
Similarly, the Church is global and yet locally it can take on the personality of its most active and vocal members. Just as some parents use plastic disposable diapers and others choose cloth, we in the body of Christ are many members with differing preferences on Bible translations, end time interpretations, views on spiritual gifts, and what constitutes fellowship itself. Whether parenting or pew sitting, within these groups are members more disturbed about the differences than others. Some to the point of fighting and accusing the other party of not really being a good parent or a worthy Christian.
The social divide among the young parents in this video exposes the underlying attitude of those who argue over their differences. Is it really about how great a parent YOU are… or is it about loving your baby? The parents at the end of this video put aside their differences and united in what was really important: the life of the baby. What if Christians did this? What if instead of drawing lines between our individual beliefs we united in Christ? I wonder if the world would take notice?
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, – 1 Timothy 1:5-6
Like the battle on the playground in this video, Christians also have chosen their sides. Instead of breastmilk and diaper wars to prove who is the better parent, we engage in games of Scripture ping pong to prove who is the better Christian. That’s the wrong goal. If we’re not careful, before you know it, the central figure of our affection, Jesus Christ, will be rolling off into the distance like an unattended stroller.
Go After Him!
Keep yourself in God’s love,
Julie
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Author: Julie

As a convert to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Julie believed she had found “the Truth,” but when she was “disfellowshipped” for “apostasy” when she questioned the organization's policies and refused to trust the organization over Jesus as her ONLY mediator, Julie left to find true freedom serving the REAL Jehovah God in joy and truth! Call Julie at 719-355-7164 ext 113