Be my guest

 I'm going to see the remake of Disney's Beauty and the Beast today.  The original is my all-time favorite Disney movie, so I've been looking forward to this day.

I've been told not to not see it.

I've been told to boycott Disney because of a hidden agenda.

I don't have to mention what that agenda is, because we already know.

Here's my understanding of what I need to do.  I'm not suppose to take my family to see this movie so that my children won't realize a particular sin, and won't see a particular sin as common.

Don't get me wrong. I've had convictions of multiple television shows for multiple sins, and I've stopped watching them.  Sin is common!  It's been like that since the fall of Man.  We all seem to think that things are worse now, but the Bible says that there's nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).  It further says, "what has been will be again, what has been done will be done again".y

Don't get me wrong.  I shelter my children.  It's just a parent thing.  I do realize that my children may be naive in some areas.  That's okay.  You heard that right!  It's okay if I let some things go over my children's head.  It's okay if I don't explain sin in detail.

That's the way I was taught.  Granted I was considered a "good girl", a "goody-goody" and I was (and still am) naive, but I rarely remember my parents sitting down with me to give me a list of what not to do.  "Don't do that." "Don't wear that." "Don't go there."  Sin wasn't explained to me.  Here's what was.

Jesus, yes, that life-giving savior Jesus.  My parents didn't have to introduce sin to me, that had already happened when I was born.  Psalm 51:5 says, "I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". My parents introduced me to Christ.  I was raised in church and introduced to Jesus, as a person and a Savior.  Through His convictions, I knew right from wrong.  My parents were not there to slap my hand when I erred.  They were there for all my life milestones, including many spiritual experiences with our Heavenly Father and His sweet spirit.

I was told by relative that I was only a Christian because that was the way we were raised.  No, I'm a Christian because I've had experiences with God!

 I'm told to boycott one movie because of one sin.  Be our guest.  Be my guest.

I'm not going to do that.  I spent years being the judgmental Christian, and it didn't do me any favors. I didn't gain anything from it; I lost friends.  More importantly, I didn't win anyone for Christ.

Luke 6 speaks of taking care of our own sins, not our neighbors.  Interestingly enough, right before that (same chapter), it speaks of not judging and loving our enemies.  Love everyone, not just those who love you.

So, that's what I'm doing.  You see I'm a sinner, and to quote a song we do in REFIT®, "I love me".
We are all sinners.  I'm not going to focus on love the person, hate the sin.  I don't have to say that I hate your sin because you already know what I believe (at least I hope that people do, based on my actions). I don't have to say that I hate your sin, because I'm over here trying to take care of my own sin.  I'm just going to love sinners.  I'm just going to love people. Period.

Oh, and I'm going to see Beauty and the Beast....with my children....and my parents.