They slip in the back doors of our houses of worship and wonder if they will be accepted as they are. They think, “If anyone really knew me and the things I have done, would they even love me?” They are well aware of their spiritual deficiencies and that they are great sinners. That is why they quietly and discreetly come in and sit down. “If only I could find a Love and Forgiveness here”, they think to themselves. A lifetime of trying to figure it out for themselves or a laundry list of misdeeds and missteps, has filled their sacks with dirty and filthy rags as they look for a place to drop the baggage. Maybe they didn’t grow up in church and were not taught any better. Maybe they grew up in church and saw their need for Him become a greater and greater divide by the list of rules handed them by the religious elite. For whatever reason, as they attempt to come to the place that supposedly offers forgiveness and healing, they find none. The looks and glances given are not helping matters, and with an invisible code or guideline to live up to, they walk out more alone than when they came in.
Church can be a lonely place. I often wonder how many truly feel that they have found Love and Acceptance within the Community. Or how many even really feel that they have found Community at all. Many walk in and walk out, unchanged and uncared for. Some may come for the obligation of it, but do not receive the washing of feet or prayer over their lives. They don’t want to miss, but may feel that there’s no reason to stay. They look to see if they are truly noticed or unconditionally loved. The impenetrable circles leave them cold and distant, untouched by anyone who might recognize in them the Face of Christ.
Caring for others, should mean those within and without. We gather together to sing and worship Our Creator, but lose sight of each other. The Call to Love God and Love others is halfway kept. The premise that if we look good and act like we have it all together, means all is OK just reinforces the Mask Theory. We are all faking it at best. Focusing on Him, but not caring for others. Exhorting the assembly to serve and go on Mission, when the mission is all around you. Christ died for sinners but also for those who are broken and in need of healing. Do we even have the time? Faith in God is strong but faith in others is lost. Where do we go from here? Father, make us uncomfortable so that we will love others like you have loved us……
Much has been made about the A.D. series on television. Churches have taught on and studied the book of Acts as this mini-series has played on television. The early church is held up as an example and a model for us to follow now. The trouble is that you cannot replicate a Love for one another just by pointing to certain Scripture passages. This involves a change of heart. In fact, it means that a heart has to be overwhelmed by a Greater Love than it could ever produce on its own. The characteristics of the early church are rarely found in today’s assemblies. Sure, there are some who breathe Love, but there are many more who believe that we must weed out those who are not like us first. Or holding high a standard that others cannot reach, they look down on those who will never reach their expectations of what a Christian should look, smell and act like. Many seem to be indifferent as if interference with their way of life is not something that Jesus taught. Prayer has been kicked out, and pouring our hearts out in intercession for one another is scarce. We make nice with each other as if an hour or two on Sunday is about all that we can stand each other. How sad! And many will see this and walk out and stay out because of our lack of True Love and Compassion for one another.
I do not have the time to list in detail here everything that the early church was known for, but can easily suggest that we are a far cry from what they were then. They shared out of everything that they owned. They were constantly meeting for prayer and meals. They shook their culture and turned the world upside down because of that supernatural Love that comes only from the God who is Love. They were known as Followers of the Way, but today we call ourselves Christians, for that gives us a less meaningful definition of who we are and what we should be. They were persecuted and executed for their faith, but the world knew what they were about. Today we are only known for what we are against. We cannot invite people to something that we do not truly have, namely, a Love, Forgiveness and Compassion that come from Christ. Even fellow believers can easily recognize that we are not what we could or should be. Many, knowing they cannot live up to our imposed standards, have walked away taking their chances with a world that is more accepting of them than we are.
Some will say that I am focused too much on what we are not or what we could be; and that is fine. Some will say that I should not point the finger, or judge other believers, but Christ says we should produce good fruit. I am only inspecting fruit here and mine can be rotten as well. For those who do not know me, you do not know that this is written after self-examination. Christ calls me and you to repent and confess when we are in the wrong. Some will say that we do not have the time or that we do not live close enough to each other to love and care as we should. While it is true that we may drive many miles to the places we worship and drive past other houses of worship to do so, there is an expectation to love others within the places we gather to worship. When we remain within our circles of friends and do not reach out to those who need friendship, we are loosely following the command of our Lord. When we do not attempt to bring others into the fold, how will they see Christ's Love in that?
The early Christians were known not only for their love for each other, but also for how they loved and cared for their non-believing neighbors. In today's world this can be problematic. Many do not want others in their business, but when the chips are down, we all want someone to care for us. I believe the call to love others does not give us an out. We are called to love others, period. We are given the example of Christ to love others regardless of who they are, their social or economic status and no matter what the cry of their hearts or addictions are. This cannot be refuted by Scripture. Anytime that we lack compassion for others and what they are going through, we are in the wrong. Whenever we don't feel like it, we must remember that Christ loved on, even when He was overcome with the crushing weight of our sin. And we have not carried anyone else's sins, only our own. The Bible clearly says that we should bear one another's burdens and we must have Love and Compassion. He shouts from the Cross to Love others as He has loved us. For this we should be known. If we are to be found guilty of anything, let it be that we are guilty of loving one another in such a way that the world scratches their heads and wonder what is wrong with us. The indictment from our culture is upon us, what will we do?
Church can be a lonely place. I often wonder how many truly feel that they have found Love and Acceptance within the Community. Or how many even really feel that they have found Community at all. Many walk in and walk out, unchanged and uncared for. Some may come for the obligation of it, but do not receive the washing of feet or prayer over their lives. They don’t want to miss, but may feel that there’s no reason to stay. They look to see if they are truly noticed or unconditionally loved. The impenetrable circles leave them cold and distant, untouched by anyone who might recognize in them the Face of Christ.
Caring for others, should mean those within and without. We gather together to sing and worship Our Creator, but lose sight of each other. The Call to Love God and Love others is halfway kept. The premise that if we look good and act like we have it all together, means all is OK just reinforces the Mask Theory. We are all faking it at best. Focusing on Him, but not caring for others. Exhorting the assembly to serve and go on Mission, when the mission is all around you. Christ died for sinners but also for those who are broken and in need of healing. Do we even have the time? Faith in God is strong but faith in others is lost. Where do we go from here? Father, make us uncomfortable so that we will love others like you have loved us……
Much has been made about the A.D. series on television. Churches have taught on and studied the book of Acts as this mini-series has played on television. The early church is held up as an example and a model for us to follow now. The trouble is that you cannot replicate a Love for one another just by pointing to certain Scripture passages. This involves a change of heart. In fact, it means that a heart has to be overwhelmed by a Greater Love than it could ever produce on its own. The characteristics of the early church are rarely found in today’s assemblies. Sure, there are some who breathe Love, but there are many more who believe that we must weed out those who are not like us first. Or holding high a standard that others cannot reach, they look down on those who will never reach their expectations of what a Christian should look, smell and act like. Many seem to be indifferent as if interference with their way of life is not something that Jesus taught. Prayer has been kicked out, and pouring our hearts out in intercession for one another is scarce. We make nice with each other as if an hour or two on Sunday is about all that we can stand each other. How sad! And many will see this and walk out and stay out because of our lack of True Love and Compassion for one another.
I do not have the time to list in detail here everything that the early church was known for, but can easily suggest that we are a far cry from what they were then. They shared out of everything that they owned. They were constantly meeting for prayer and meals. They shook their culture and turned the world upside down because of that supernatural Love that comes only from the God who is Love. They were known as Followers of the Way, but today we call ourselves Christians, for that gives us a less meaningful definition of who we are and what we should be. They were persecuted and executed for their faith, but the world knew what they were about. Today we are only known for what we are against. We cannot invite people to something that we do not truly have, namely, a Love, Forgiveness and Compassion that come from Christ. Even fellow believers can easily recognize that we are not what we could or should be. Many, knowing they cannot live up to our imposed standards, have walked away taking their chances with a world that is more accepting of them than we are.
Some will say that I am focused too much on what we are not or what we could be; and that is fine. Some will say that I should not point the finger, or judge other believers, but Christ says we should produce good fruit. I am only inspecting fruit here and mine can be rotten as well. For those who do not know me, you do not know that this is written after self-examination. Christ calls me and you to repent and confess when we are in the wrong. Some will say that we do not have the time or that we do not live close enough to each other to love and care as we should. While it is true that we may drive many miles to the places we worship and drive past other houses of worship to do so, there is an expectation to love others within the places we gather to worship. When we remain within our circles of friends and do not reach out to those who need friendship, we are loosely following the command of our Lord. When we do not attempt to bring others into the fold, how will they see Christ's Love in that?
The early Christians were known not only for their love for each other, but also for how they loved and cared for their non-believing neighbors. In today's world this can be problematic. Many do not want others in their business, but when the chips are down, we all want someone to care for us. I believe the call to love others does not give us an out. We are called to love others, period. We are given the example of Christ to love others regardless of who they are, their social or economic status and no matter what the cry of their hearts or addictions are. This cannot be refuted by Scripture. Anytime that we lack compassion for others and what they are going through, we are in the wrong. Whenever we don't feel like it, we must remember that Christ loved on, even when He was overcome with the crushing weight of our sin. And we have not carried anyone else's sins, only our own. The Bible clearly says that we should bear one another's burdens and we must have Love and Compassion. He shouts from the Cross to Love others as He has loved us. For this we should be known. If we are to be found guilty of anything, let it be that we are guilty of loving one another in such a way that the world scratches their heads and wonder what is wrong with us. The indictment from our culture is upon us, what will we do?
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