We have been watching a video series at church that is completely and totally rocking me to the core. I listen to these words and while my heart is cheering, "Yes, this is what I believe! I agree!" The other part of me is weeping wanting everyone to hear this message, embrace the truths, and love. Just love. Love despite differences. Love without abandon. But I know the controversy that these messages have created, you don't have to search the web very far to know that. And so, my heart weeps. Weeps for a love that is lost.
We are so quick to get on our soap boxes and "stand up" for what we believe. What we claim a "right of free speech" has become proverbial yelling to anyone who will listen. Even if we don't want to listen or don't agree, we have no choice but to see the "free speech" filling the different feeds of social media we choose to use. Love is not splashing our views of everything bad out on the web, intolerant of another. Love is not telling people who they are, what they believe, or what they like is wrong and immoral.
Aren't we called to love others? To bring them into the love that God has for us? What I read on my facebook page is not compelling. Rather it is completely the opposite. Why would someone want to come to know Jesus, when people who claim to follow him do nothing but hurl insults and condemnation? I know Jesus and I am turned off by it. I am ready to turn off the social media or do some serious cleaning out of those whose opinions I do have filtering into my feeds. I doubt He is very pleased with it either.
No, my heart is weeping because of the lack of love. He showed us how to love. We, of anyone should know what it is to live in grace. Did He, perfect in every way, accept, love, and forgive me, a sinner? What right do I have then, as a sinner, to condemn anyone else? If nothing else, I should be walking along side those who are far from him, supporting, loving, forgiving, and offering grace. I know how sweet that gift is, why withhold it from others?
Is the parable of the king forgiving the debts of a man, who immediately upon pardon runs to another demanding his money, so quickly forgotten? The debt that I have been forgiven is no less important than the next person's debt. Our struggles may be different, but they are all sin.
Today, I am not taking a stand on any political or social issues. The only stand that I am taking today is the stand of loving others. That each person, no matter who they are, deserves to be loved, forgiven, and shown grace because in truth, there is only one who can claim to be perfect. The rest of us fall short and need forgiveness.
Such a perfectly articulated summary of the Andy Stanley videos!!! I'll have to link to yours after I finish one of my own (I wrote one last year after the take responsibility videos and had thought I do the same with this one)
ReplyDeleteI also just read another similarly themed blog post, that's quite good too. http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/07/27/in-the-basement
Thank you Kar. I can't wait to read your thoughts about the video series. Thank you also for the link. I enjoyed reading it.
DeleteMaybe I'll have to look these up online, sounds compelling. I cringe when think of what people who don't know Jesus see as an example, my own behavior included sometimes. It's so damaging when even fellow Christians cannot love one another.
ReplyDeleteJen, I agree with you completely. It is so damaging when we cannot love other Christians and not at all appealing when we cannot love someone who believes differently than we do. The link to the video series is http://www.northpoint.org/messages/christian#
DeleteI fully support you in your stand. This series has been one that has met me with what I have been working on personally. It has also created great conversations within our family. What we keep coming back to is that it is OUR responsibility of how we respond to others.What are we showing others? I am guilty of not loving how I should love but I am thankful for the lessons and guidance to change myself. Take your stand and know that many are right there with you.
ReplyDeleteTiff, it has also created conversations in our family, and I am thankful for that. It is encouraging to know that there are others that are feeling the same way. Perhaps together we can make a difference! :)
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