Meangirl

Texas Fighting Aggie class of 25, Taylor is a Molecular and Cell Biology major hopes to start a masters degree program in Genetic Counseling in the fall. She loves spending time with her Siamese cat, Mabel, who is always waiting for her to come home. She is from Pennsylvania and came to A&M to be close to extended family in Houston. She recently sprained her ankle and can not go to the Rec Dance class she went to for the past two years.

Taylor got involved in Treehouse through her friend Ashlyn who also was seeking a place to attend for faith and fellowship. “Ashlyn told me she knew of people that liked Treehouse, and I knew those people. They went to the church we went to, and they also felt hurt by that gathering, “ Taylor remembered. “I went to church in High School and then the one here at A&M for the first 2 years and the first year was great and then it got weird. So we went to the MSC Open house to say high and meet Pastor Jerry knowing we were coming that night to the Treehouse gathering but felt more comfortable meeting in MSC.”

“I needed a place that would let me attend and was for us. Not a place where we needed to do more stuff to keep the group going.” Taylor shared, “At Treehouse there was no mass chaos or drama. Treehouse is very straight forward. We talk about God without the drama and no strings attached or requirements to do. And this makes people want to be involved more.” Taylor remembered the other group she was involved in was forcing or manipulating those involved to be in leadership or keep the group going.

Taylor came back for the discussions. “I liked the theological discussion. The breaking down of texts and stories.” Taylor affirmed, “I was learning a lot and becoming interested again in religion and how I felt and thought about it. It is a break from the every day struggle and stress of being a college student with people who are my friends and cheering each other on in life.” Treehouse was a place to let go of daily struggles and know you are loved and accepted and open to asking and growing.

“I was also looking for a place that is not one dimensional,” declared Taylor. “You can’t be gay, don’t have premarital sex, don’t do these sins. I wanted away from the High School Mean girl vibe.” Treehouse was a place that let Taylor be her and grow in her faith. It is a place where she is accepted and not expected to be or do anything to be a part. “Treehouse is people who care about my life and follow up with me about what is happening.”

immoral

So then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to keep living the way you already are and even do better in how you live and please God—just as you learned from us. You know the instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. God’s will is that your lives are dedicated to him. This means that you stay away from sexual immorality and learn how to control your own body in a pure and respectable way. Don’t be controlled by your sexual urges like the Gentiles who don’t know God. No one should mistreat or take advantage of their brother or sister in this issue. The Lord punishes people for all these things, as we told you before and sternly warned you. God didn’t call us to be immoral but to be dedicated to him. Therefore, whoever rejects these instructions isn’t rejecting a human authority. They are rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. You don’t need us to write about loving your brothers and sisters because God has already taught you to love each other. In fact, you are doing loving deeds for all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. Now we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do so even more. Aim to live quietly, mind your own business, and earn your own living, just as I told you. That way you’ll behave appropriately toward outsiders, and you won’t be in need. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, CEB)

What is immoral? M-W.com defines immoral as “not Moral”. Thanks for that. Really?

So it does give a broader definition of “conflicting with generally or traditionally held moral principles.” Which again doesn’t really say what is immoral it merely tells us what it means. How do we know what we shouldn’t do now today? Because what was immoral when 1 Thessalonians was written may not be immoral today.

There are still nuggets of wisdom in here, “Don’t be controlled by your sexual urges” and “No one should mistreat or take advantage of their brother or sister in this issue” and “God’s will is that your lives are dedicated to God”.

Sexual immorality is not homosexuality. We should also not hold our siblings down because they see things differently than we do and have sexual urges that are different than ours. God wants God’s will to be the focus of our lives and not how our sisters and brothers are not living up. Maybe if we focus on our own lives and strive to be who God is leading us to be we will love the world rather than judge the world.

Focus on your own life and share grace and mercy and love with everyone around you, not judging what they are doing, but loving them and reminding them they are loved by God.

Love Out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.