I’m going to have to get approval for this post. But I figured I’d write it first and then ask C if I can post it. She’ll have a much harder time denying me once she knows I spent good, quality time on it.
So…it’s no secret. I love Jesus. In no way do I belong to a religion or even practice anything that looks like it would be part of a religion but I do believe all the things Christianity teaches about the life & death of Jesus and I do my best to live in thanks. Cristy too, actually.
We live in the biggest Mormon driven State in America. You can’t have any idea what that’s like unless you live here too. Some of them are super crazy. You can tell the minute they open their mouths. But most of them just live their lives like the rest of us and save their judgements ’til Sunday. (most of them) Because I’m not Mormon, I’m pretty much a black sheep. Because I’m a big lesbian, that makes me black sheep twins or something. Luckily for me, we live in one of the bluest cities in America - we’re just surrounded by deep, blood red.
So back to Jesus. C’s family totally knows we attend church. They know her basic belief system and also know she has no interest in hearing about Mormon, Nephi, Moroni, etc. She was baptized Mormon by her eldest brother when she was 13 but only because Susie Cardell promised they would live happily ever after once she was dipped. She dipped and the girl dumped her. She’s been bitter ever since. - not against the Mormons, just Susie. She eventually asked to be ex-communicated but they still count her to keep their numbers up.
Anyway, she has this one brother who thinks he became her father once her father died. He has about 8 kids and lives in the mountains. We only see him during Christmas and even then it’s touch and go. Lately, there has been this “back and forth” through email trying to convert her. He always sends these little Mormon messages but then his friend started emailing Cristy and now one of his sons (who is on a Mormon mission) is emailing her. And they’re these awful messages that say how sad they are that she’s “lost” and that it’s such a shame that we all won’t be together when we die. It makes me CRAZY!
I’m all for standing up for what you believe in. I stand up for myself all the time. But I also don’t rub unwanted Jesus songs in other people’s ears. I wouldn’t dream of talking Jesus with my Jewish friends. I wouldn’t tell a Mormon that their religion is totally hokie with a giant whack job on top. It’s disrespectful. It’s inappropriate. We’re around this crap every day of the week - it’s not fair that we have a family member pushing it on us too.
I don’t think Cristy knows what to do about it. She’s tried nicely asking him to stop trying. She’s tried telling him that her relationship with God is just fine. She’s tried telling him that all the items that Mormons think they have to “check off” before they get to heaven were “checked off” by Jesus while he spent a few days NAILED TO A CROSS! and that they’re really just wasting their time. (this one didn’t work that well)
So what now? What can we do? What would you do? I mean, this is her oldest brother. He’s the parent to her many nephews & nieces. We have get to see him once a year when he introduces me as “Cristy’s friend”. I’d hate to make these visits any more uncomfortable but sheesh! Stop with the self righteousness!
