Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible.
Imagine for a moment what the world might look like if we as people of faith, morality, and conscience actually aspired to this mantra.

What if we were fully burdened to create a world that was more loving and equitable than when we arrived?

What if we invited one another to share in wide-open, fearless, spiritual communities truly marked by compassion and interdependence?

What if we daily challenged ourselves to live a faith that simply made us better humans?

John Pavlovitz explores how we can embody this kinder kind of spirituality where we humbly examine our belief system to understand how it might compel us to act in less-than-loving ways toward others.

This simple phrase, "Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible," could help us practice what we preach by creating a world where:

spiritual community provides a sense of belonging where all people are received as we are;
the most important question we ask of a religious belief is not Is it true? but rather, is it helpful?
it is morally impossible to pledge complete allegiance to both Jesus and America simultaneously;
the way we treat others is the most tangible and meaningful expression of our belief system.
In If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk, John Pavlovitz examines the bedrock ideas of our religion: the existence of hell, the utility of prayer, the way we treat LGBTQ people, the value of anger, and other doctrines to help all of us take a good, honest look at how the beliefs we hold can shape our relationships with God and our fellow humans-and to make sure that love has the last, loudest word.

Now, it's on my very long reading list.

Chapter One - UNBOXING GOD

** My take, so far, God IS EVERYWHERE, even in the box, but on HIS own terms. **

8:54 AM 6/6/2022
When we experience moments that we identify as spiritual or miraculous or transcendent, they’re seldom attached to organized religion or a single building, and rarely confined to a church service or Bible study.

Pavlovitz, John. If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk (p. 31). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.

I disagree. I've had both.

I was a serious and devoted Catholic through my 20's until the Church started turning it's back on Vactican II and the ideal that WE as Christians should behave in an ecumenical way and agree where we could to do the work of God together rather than fighting with each other all the time. I was hearing from a new seminarian that they were going back to the idea that ONLY Catholics were going to Heaven. Then there was the whole gay bashing scene and my Mother got taken in to it.

I was in 12 Step Programs for a long time, so I kept what I liked of my faith and left the rest.

As a Catholic

Every Sunday in the pew for the sermon, I'd wait to see what GOD's Word would have for ME that week. How the message pertained to OUR life was the focus of the Preists at our church. I'd always get something and feel that warmth like GOD was reaching through time and space to touch me and care about my life. The sparrow getting his notice.

Sitting/kneeling in the crying room on a saturday with my young adult group saying the rosary together and feeling the power of that prayer moving through us and out into the world.

A spiritual retreat with my church where we had the mass outside and a few of us put flowers around the alter that we picked on the property. standing together in the sunshine and singing god's praises. holding each other and listening to the word of god. it was magical.

On the road...
On my way to a new job in LA and being lost at 4:20am and pulling to the side of the road and YELLING AT GOD. "YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME THE WAY. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!" and suddenly the fear left my vision and i found the way. seriously. God said, "I just wanted you to know it's ok to be angry with me. now you do. it's ok."

As an adult, have you ever really thought about the conclusions you hold about those elemental questions about the character of God and how you acquired them?
How you would specifically describe whoever or whatever you believe holds everything together?
What this God thinks of you and wants for and from you?

Pavlovitz, John. If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk (p. 34). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.

My first thought of God begins with Genesis.

Here the all powerful being who already has angels worshiping him because they are designed to do so wonders, would someone or something love me by choice? He gave Lucifer choice and Lucifer decided he wanted in on all that praise GOD was getting instead of simply loving God on purpose.

Was GOD who has been in existence forever and will go on forever, bored? Was he looking for a little chaos to stretch himself and make his existence more than it could be if everything was calm, peaceful and glorious? IF SO HE sure got what he asked for.

WAS GOD tired of his OWN BOX? His own preconceived notions about himself?

Our origin story out there has GOD reaching out to US and wanting simple obedience in exchange for the secrets of the universe, unending power and abilities, but we let ourselves be tempted by fear and got ourselves kicked out of paradise.

IS THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW? LETTING FEAR KICK US OUT OF THE CHANCE FOR HEAVEN ON EARTH?

When I look at the character of GOD I see a being wanting connection with something outside himself.

Like Adam he needed something more. Where would Adam have gotten that need if GOD didn't know loneliness?

And all of US created to love Him and what do we do?

We walk away. We fear. We run amok.

It doesn't make Him less, but it shows that He knows how we feel in every situation.

Like THE ULTIMATE loving parent knowing we WILL eventually grow up, but seeing each age and stage for what it is and seeing us through it.

Always that feeling that GOD is there, if I can just figure out how to reach out.

I can often do it on behalf of others, I pray when I see others in pain or need.

But I often feel it is egotistical of me to reach out to God for my own needs and often I am confused as to what my needs are.

I pray for His Will instead and often am blessed more because of that.

Yet, I remember having an easygoing relationship with God where we could walk and talk and look at the sunset or a beautiful waterfall together. I remember feeling close. I know He's still there. But where am I? Where did I move to that I don't feel that anymore?

COVID did take me out of certain buildings, but ironically, it is actually catching it that gave me time to find and read this book.

God really does have a sense of humor. An ironic one.

but I think Pavlovitz is amazing. I follow him on Twitter, where he links a lot of what he's written, so I probably have read some of what's in the book. I wish he would come to speak here when he's fully recovered. I would be first in the door, I swear.

If you're on Twitter you can follow him. Others I follow who are really good, irrespective of their religion, are James Martin, SJ, and RevDaniel. Martin is a Jesuit and very cool. IIRC he is a celibate gay. RevDaniel is a gay Canadian Anglican priest. Good guys, both of them.

I really got the best church to grow up in. They were open and accepting and vibrantly alive.

I moved to Minnesota from California and did NOT recognize how Catholic is done in the MidWest.