Little Thing #27: Cornerstone Baptist Church

Little Thing #27:  My church & my peeps!

A racist, conservative, Republican, white bigot. That is what I was called this week.

That was not based on anything I’d said, or done, or anything this individual who claims to know me, actually knows. It was simply based on the color of my skin. I’m white by the way. I’m first generation American too. My father served in the US Army, and became a citizen. He loved this country, and he came here legally. Legally. Worked his butt off. Taught me right from wrong. Sent me to school to get an education, because he knew how important that was. He only had a 5th grade education, and he wanted more for me than he had. He taught me to be a strong woman of God, and he taught me right from wrong by the way that he lived his life.

I never, ever, ever post anything political. But this morning while scrolling, I came across a post about abortion, a pro-life video, and I was tempted, oh soooo tempted, and then decided not to.

I don’t like to offend people. You see, I often suffer from worrying in unhealthy amounts, what people think of me.

But then something in me just rose up and got angry. Angry at how the world has taken things that are blatantly right and wrong, and made them politically correct and incorrect instead.

Well, you can call it whatever you want – right will still be right, and wrong will still be wrong when Christ returns, and there will be no confusion then. The world can re-title any sin they want, and get confused (as it will), but it’s not going to confuse me. I know Truth.

And murder will never be right. Or politically correct. Even, when it’s lawful.

Almost two years ago, a young lady I know came to me because her 15-year-old daughter was one of four young girls pregnant by a boy. That boy gave $50 to each of the young girls he’d gotten pregnant. That $50 was supposed to be his contribution to each of the girls’ abortions. Abortions that they did not need their parents permission for. This particular young lady had an appointment on a Friday.

On the Wednesday before her appointment, my friend and I met with her, pleaded with her, cried with her….. She would not change her mind. There was nothing her mother could do. Nothing.

I gave her my phone number.

Twenty-four hours prior to her scheduled abortion she called me distraught. She could not do it. Immediately, my 81-year-old friend, my 23-year-old friend, and myself stopped everything we were doing and drove to pick up this young lady – her mother aware of what was going on. We took her to a crisis pregnancy center where I was able to accompany her into a room where she was able to see her baby, and hear baby’s heartbeat for the first time. She cried and asked me to cancel her appointment at Planned Parenthood.

That moment will forever be one of the things in my life that brought me great joy – watching her heart grasp the reality of the miraculous life inside of her.

And yes, I got to make that phone call.

God-1, Satan-0. God won that day, and her healthy, chubby, adorable daughter is just over a year old now. They cannot imagine, nor do they want to – life without this precious little child.

Some incredible people from my church joined my friends and I in throwing an all-out baby shower for this young lady. We provided food, money, clothing, and all sorts of love to them, and continue to be in touch, and continue to pray for the family. There were no racist, bigoted white people at my house that day.

I won’t stoop to the level of defending myself as to the many accusations that get tossed around by cowards behind their lap top screens posting “LOL” after every fire they start. I will be the strong, independent woman that I’ve been accused of being, that God has created me to be. And I’ll gladly take the hits that come my way – some day they will just be jewels in my crown.

So go ahead – Erase the comments of those who disagree with you, challenge you, perhaps even convict you that you are gravely wrong. Stop pointing fingers at people based on the color of their skin, things you THINK you know, shut your laptop, and go do something more constructive with your time. Maybe even volunteer at that pregnancy center you claim to be a big supporter of. You know – the one that you couldn’t remember the name of? Yeah, that one.

As for me? I am not ashamed of the Gospel. And times don’t change the Word of God. He is the same today as He was yesterday, and will be tomorrow. His promises are true. Sin is still sin, and will always be forgive-able THIS side of eternity. Even when you want to rationalize it, even when the government makes it lawful, and even when you cowardly erase comments that you don’t agree with. It is still sin.

You know, most pro-choice people I know, with a good, civil, intelligent, honest-to-goodness discussion discover something in the process.  None of them would ever recommend an abortion to a younger mom.  Nope.  And in that revelation, they usually discover that they are actually pro-LIFE, with a regret – one that they don’t realize they can be forgiven for.  And forgive themselves for.  If you have questions regarding this truth – please email me at ritalilallan@gmail.com.

So for today, my Little Thing #27 is:   My church and the incredible friends I’ve made there!

I’m thankful for my church, my pastor, who preaches verse, by verse, by verse. He loves his flock, and prepares us appropriately for times such as these. I am surrounded by brothers and sisters who spend Sunday afternoons at baby showers for 15-year-old girls they’ve never met, and joyfully give unselfishly because they too, are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16