After reading my brother-in-law's blog about getting caught up in the differences in life and faith I decided I wanted to weigh in as well, because it amazes me how so many people hear the good news of Christ but are still so affected by things as basic and laughable as labels.
Now don't get me wrong, I am just as petty as the next guy, but last I checked we serve a huge God, a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever as Hebrews 13:8 puts it. A God that has called us to be one body with many members in Christ. So why is it that things as man-made as political affiliation, monetary gain, and the color of our skin get pushed into the Sanctuary? Why is it that we need to have a small group with people who think exactly like we do? Why is it that money separates believers from communing with each other? Why is social status a big deal even in the church?
The cross was one of the most humiliating ways to die, it was, "The most wretched of deaths. (Josephus)" It was such a horrible way to do that "The ancient philosopher Cicero asked that decent Roman citizens not even speak of the cross because it was too disgraceful of a subject for the ears of decent people. (Cicero, Pro Rabirio 5.16)
The cross was a horrible horrible excruciatingly way to die, yet our massive God, creator of everything you see around us, the being who spoke Half Dome and El Capitan into existence, the being who knew grapes would wither into raisins, the being who filled the oceans and made everything work in a delicate balance, the being, went to the cross for all of us. That being, died one of the most painful and degrading deaths imaginable for us.
And we sometimes have the audacity to talk about churchgoers behind their backs, to stick our noses up at the people who are different than us. The cross was supposed to free us from our sin, our pride, our differences from each other and embrace one another as brothers and sisters united under the banner of Christ. Sadly, we dont always see that happening.
2 comments:
Unfortunatell the fact remains that we are still human and prone to human weaknesses. I try very hard not to point out the “sins” of anyone else because I am so keenly aware that as one finger points towards them (or two if we count the thumb and depending on how we hold that thumb...LOL) there are still three pointing back at me. However, there is only one perfect human being who ever walked the face of this earth... only one human that did NO sin including point out the sins of others.
As I said I try very hard not to point out anyone else’s sins and yet I do so in my mind often as I attempt to deal with my feelings on my own wrong doings. It makes us feel better to focus on the sins of others instead of our own yet I am convinced that many people refuse to accept any personal wrong doing and see only the wrongs of others. Those people are the ones my heart breaks for because I wonder if they will ever be able to even see their need of salvation let alone ask for it. I am convinced that these are the people we need to pray for the most.
I am further convinced that many who constantly warm the benches of our churches EVERY WEEK WITHOUT FAIL are more in need of a personal walk with God and how the can get the know God the triune God they profess to serve. I am convinced that many of these people are more in need of our prayers than many who set in front of their TV’s (or computers) on Sunday Mornings.
I agree, and I don't mean to place blame on others, as Paul said, I am the worst of these. But I am drawn to Titus at the end of chapter 2 when Paul talks about using the tools he has described to not only teach but also to rebuke. We have an obligation as followers of Christ to make sure other followers are not damaging the faith, essentially we are called to be intolerant of the sin in others lives.
Granted, the way in which we do this is of utmost importance. If we are merely calling people out due to our disdain for their actions and the way they live their life then that is not biblical at all. But if we rebuke out of love, showing them that the Lord is gracious and compassionate, then ultimately we are doing them a favor.
I had breakfast with a friend of mine this morning who told me not rebuking someone is like not telling someone when they have a disease. If someone is sick, you don't shrug your shoulders and pretend like everything is okay, you do the hard thing and tell them what is wrong, and then walk through the appropriate course of action with them.
I have been rebuked on numerous occasions, sometimes by those close to me, other times by people who I barely have a relationship with, and it never gets easier to handle, but I am thankful for those conversations because I am a better person for it now.
A favorite quote of mine, and speaking from a believers perspective, is this, "Tolerance is the weakest of virtues."
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