From Atheist to Believer to 143 Army
Drawing my line in the sand.
I became a card-carrying Atheist during college at Vanderbilt.
Couldn't wrap my head around priests molesting kids, then hiding it.
Hypocrisy that thick? No way, I'm out.
That anger fueled me for years. I was a proud skeptic. Quick with the verbal jabs.
Church? Religion? I said it was just a bunch of broken humans playing God.
Then I got curious. Did my own homework. Not the headlines. Not the pulpits. The source. Scripture itself.
What I found:
One story after another of human imperfection.
Brokenness. Rebellion against goodness. Against Love.
The Bible isn't a PR piece. It's raw history. Prophets failing. Apostles bickering.
Everyone, except One, falling short.
Two commands rise above the mess:
- Love your God with all your heart, mind, soul.
- Love your neighbor as self.
Not religion. Love.
God's mercy pursuing us through our screw-ups. Jesus living it perfectly.
No wonder it stung. Hurt people hurt people.
But God's Love? Keeps showing up anyway.
143 Army isn't about fixing the Church.
It's about living out the Love it points to.
Jesus-rooted. Open table.
Science says daily practice rewires you.
History says small groups make history.
I'm drawing my line in the sand. Planting my flag.
Not for dollars. Not for claps.
For harnessing hearts to do what we're made for: Love.
Love on each other, y'all.
1:43pm.
Join the real ones. 🤜❤️🩹🤛