Control to be yourSELF

I have been thinking a lot this morning about the fruit of the Spirit. According to Galatians 5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control"

The last one, self-control, is where I am feeling stuck. In this current political climate, I find myself getting into debates in the wee hours of the night while nursing my child. I speak openly about my views on our President and I am not afraid to quote the Bible or the Law to someone that speaks against me.

In the back of my mind I hear I voice saying "Ali, you want to be a Pastor, you can't be political" then I hear another voice saying "Ali, you want to be a Pastor, you HAVE to stand up for people". How do you do one without the other? How do I practice self-control while still being loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, faithful and gentle?

Matthew 25: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him saying 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the Kind will answer them 'truly, I tell you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me'"

Those words right there say it all for me. We are to feed those that are hungry, welcome people that are not like us, give of our possessions and clothing to those that need it, help people that have lost their way...

So how can I not say something? How can I not respond when people are for cutting healthcare for millions of people? When people are for taking away reproductive rights for women? When people want to lower taxes for the rich instead of putting more money into federal grants to help the poor? When people want to privatize our education system making it impossible for people in poverty to ever have a chance at a good or equal education?

I think I have been reading the word "self-control" wrong. Self-control typically means to hold yourself back, to not engage in conflict, to conform to what society wants you to be. That is not how God made me and that is not what Jesus came to this world to do. Jesus spoke out against Pharisees, he flipped tables in the synagogue, he touched people that were deemed 'unclean', he healed the sick that no one would talk to. He did all of this in order to show the true way of God and the love, mercy and grace offered.

I believe that self-control really means to have CONTROL to be yourSELF- to not conform to what society wants you to be, to speak up when someone is being oppressed and to allow others to be their authentic selves as well. When we all practice true self-control we become complacent and just accept the reality of what is happening. Can you imagine if Jesus had done that? What would our world look like today?

I don't want to live in a world where I have to silence myself. I want to live in a world where I can use my voice for good. I do acknowledge that I have to also practice kindness, love, peace and faithfulness while being myself. That is the hard part but I believe it is possible through the love and support given to me by the Holy Spirit.

Don't be afraid to be yourself and to use the gifts that God has given you. That is truly what we are all called to do in this world.