Welcome to the thirteenth day of the 2018 Love Blog Challenge! Today’s prompt is Beliefs. Check out the announcement post for all the prompts and rules this month. You can still join the link-up for last week’s topic, Challenges.
Beliefs are central to who we are as human beings. For better or for worse, our beliefs guide everything we do in life.
These are my beliefs.
Note: all Bible quotes are New Revised Standard Version.
What I believe as a Christian
I believe in God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. -Genesis 1:1-5
I believe in Jesus, the Son of God.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
I believe in the Christian Church.
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:12-17
I believe in the forgiveness of sins.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. -1 John 1:5-10
I believe in the life everlasting.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. -John 3:16
My Christian faith is the basis for how I treat other people.
Related: What I Believe as a Christian Feminist
I try to love my neighbor as myself.
I try to forgive people who hurt me. (Although that doesn’t mean I open myself up for further abuse from people unwilling to change).
I try to be patient and to offer grace.
When people observe me and get to know me, I want them to know I’m a Christian through my actions more so than my words.
What I believe as a feminist
I believe that all people, regardless of gender, should have equal rights and opportunities. However, this doesn’t mean that I treat all people exactly the same without any respect for individual differences. Rather, I believe in treating people as unique individuals without making assumptions based on gender, race, sexuality, or any other innate quality.
I believe in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes. However, I recognize that we aren’t there yet. The goal of feminism is to reach the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes, and the practice of intersectional feminism includes working to end other forms of oppression.
I believe in bodily autonomy. What does this look like? As an individual, I don’t touch other people without their consent. This includes not pressuring children (like my nephew) to hug me if they don’t want to do so. As a voter and an activist, I advocate for access to reproductive healthcare, including contraception, abortion, prenatal care, midwifery services, and postpartum care.
Why my beliefs matter
As a daughter of God working towards a more loving and equitable world, I believe I will change the world for the better.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. –Margaret Mead, attributed
Meet Your 2018 Love Blog Challenge Hosts!
Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Pinterest // Tumblr // Google+ // Bloglovin
Brita Long is the pink and sparkly personality behind the Christian feminist lifestyle blog, Belle Brita. While her first love will always be Paris, she lives happily with her husband Daniel Fleck in the Atlanta area.
Bloglovin // Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest
Charlene is a 20-something wife and fur-mama living in Portland, Oregon. She’s a follower of Christ, watcher of SciFi, reader of fantasy, singer of show tunes, and lover of her husband! She uses her blog, Enduring All Things, to help couples build a marriage that will endure whatever comes their way.
Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin
Alessia is a lifestyle blogger, entrepreneur and post-graduate student in History from the best borough in London, up and coming Croydon. She’s a bit like Emma Woodhouse (Pemberley Digital version) and just about no longer the most eligible Catholic bachelorette, as she has found her Mr Knightley in sunny Derbyshire.
What do you believe, and how do your beliefs shape your life? P.S. If you believe in supporting artists, check out last week’s giveaway! It’s not too late to enter!
