Well, if the shoe fits...

I had not even heard the term 'millennial' until I was home for five months recently. Oddly enough, there don't seem to be a lot of them in Zambia! When I did hear it and the definition, I thought very strongly to myself, "No, that is NOT me! I don't even fit into that age bracket!" Only then, I did some research, and I'm pretty much in the middle of that age bracket.

Okay, so I am a millennial by timeline, but I told myself, I'm not a millennial in any other way! I don't fit in with my own generation, so I was not comfortable with the thought of that label being applied to me. Sure, I thought differently from my parents on things like politics, movies, and some social issues, but I still considered myself more a result of my parent's generation than mine.

Then I did a lot of thinking over my furlough. I did a lot of talking to a lot of people. I came back to my station.

And, I have come to the conclusion that I am a conservative millennial.

I am in the process of working through and healing from a fundamental upbringing that came from the best of motives, but has left some baggage to wade through. There were some wonderful things about how I was raised that laid a foundation of scripture and solid teaching that I can come back to when the world gets messy.

But... I no longer believe that the world is only black and white, totally right or totally wrong.

I no longer believe that certain religious behaviors are valid.

I no longer believe that just because someone disagrees with you they are not worth listening to.

I no longer believe that it is our job to judge the body of Christ for Christ, and sift His church for Him.

I no longer believe that all mental illness and distress is automatically sin.

I no longer believe that obsessive rule keeping and legalism makes me better than anyone else.

I no longer believe that retreating into carefully controlled environments and refusing to engage with the culture around you are the answer to 'in the world but not of the world.'

I no longer believe that any one church or denomination is absolutely right.

I do not believe that only a false Christian would knowingly choose to sin.

I can not ignore a person's character when considering their deeds, and while emotions are often not correct, they are valid.

I also love a good cup of coffee, take occasional selifies (because otherwise there would be no pictures of me), and have recently got on to what a good thing kombutcha is. I am willing to try essential oils to treat illness, and I love having a smart phone.

But, while I am far more of a millennial than I ever thought, there are some areas where I can not accept everything embraced by my generation.

I believe in the absolute reliability of scripture, and a literal creation.

I believe that all humans are sinful (as a teacher I get a special front-row seat!).

I believe that unrepentant sinners are going to a place of eternal punishment and separation from God.

I believe that God created us male and female, and that He does not make mistakes with your birth gender.

I believe that sexual promiscuity and infidelity of any kind and with anyone is outside of God's command and plan, and thus sin.

I believe that we live in a depraved world, because not knowing or being willing to listen to the truth makes us particularly vulnerable to Satan's lies.

And, I believe that is doesn't matter what we think, but God's laws are binding and for our best interest.

So, I started this blog to have a place to journal and write a bit about my journey to become more like Jesus. I live in a beyond fundamental environment, and I can no longer agree with or perpetuate some of the behaviors practiced here. But, I can not advocate a lot of the behaviors practiced by my generation either. So, I continue to work on strengthening my discernment, to seek out the Lord's will and to it, and to in all things grow in love and into the image of the Lord Jesus, the only standard worth measuring my life against.

To follow Jesus is the address of this blog, and a journey well worth dedicating my life to.