Just a quick thought. My daughter went to an all weekend Concert and Teaching time that was targeted at teen age Christians. About 30K of them met up in Detroit. On the way in my Daughter saw picketers outside with signs the read "We don't want your Theocracy!!"
My first thought was "How can these people picket us, when there are Muslim extremists out there who really do want a theocracy. What is wrong with America these days?" Just about as soon as I thought it, I realized - that it was the easy thought - the lazy thought - the unintellectual thought - the unimportant question.
Here's the important question: What have we been doing as Christians that would give even the most critical the idea that we want to do anything but love one another and share the amazing truth of the Way of Christ to those that we do love?
Just a thought.
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4 comments:
Interesting blog.
What initially comes to mind is that no matter what you do, there will be someone who doesn't like it. I am not always real in touch with what Jesus would do, but do know that while he was on earth Jesus did what Jesus would do (I know, not an especially complex thought, but it makes sense)
What it got him was an approval rating that went from great to less than impressive. The same group of people who waved palm fronds on Palm Sunday said "crucify him" on Good Friday.
That said, Christians also have this tendency to be human. While our motives may be pure and good, our actions are less than ideal.
I get this thinking mostly from a time in life when I read the book of Romans. During my reading I kept thinking about how in 2,000 years of human history, we tend to read the book of Romans proclaiming early christians as idiots, but make the same type of mistakes ourselves.
While the goals of Christians are perhaps more Christ centered than others, the fact that we often miss the mark still exists.
I think that the biggest mistake that we make is trying to cover up that we are still human. We would rather appear Godly than truthful. Rather be exulted as the annointed than recognized as the afflicted.
We are supposed to love others and point them to the love of Christ, not attempt to be better than them and win them over with envy.
Great thoughts Terry. In no way do I want to disagree with what you said, but I had different thoughts on the issue.
Those people holding those signs weren't anything at all like the people who loved Jesus at first and then eventually screamed "Crucify Him!" The people in Jesus' time were led astray by religious leaders who felt threatened by what Jesus was saying and doing. (As an aside note, they were also fulfilling the phrophecies of old and were part of a bigger plan.) The people holding those signs up last weekend were not swayed or part of a greater resurrection plan.... they were in pain and hurting. They'd been injured by someone or something in the church. Their protest was out of reaction to something that had been done to them. Jesus did nothing to anyone but bring the truth.
I think the question you're asking Steve is where have we gone wrong? And what are we going to do about it? The church looks nothing like it did before AD 300. Even down to the role of the pastor and people. We aren't doing anything like the early church did. And in those changes, we let our human rules and lies and judgment in. Those people with the signs were bruised and bloody from those changes. We have to get back to the love and caring of Jesus if we have any hope of reaching those people. (Which brings me back to agreeing with you Terry!)
It is unfortunate people hold up signs at an event like that. I agree that would be the first thought that came to my mind, 'What is wrong with America'.
I was at work at Starbucks on a friday morning, when I made the comment, "Fridays are the worst days to work." My opinion was based on the fact that we are always extremly busy. Someone said, have you ever worked on a Sunday? I, have never worked at that Starbucks on a Sunday, so no was my answer. She said, it's not that we are busy, but people always come in before and after church and they are so rude! Maybe that was her way of poking at Christians, cause she knew I am a Christian, but I repeat Steves question when I ask, What have we been doing as Christians that would give even the most critical the idea that we want to do anything but love one another. Christians should be the nicest, biggest tippers out there, there should be something different about the way we live, that when we come into a restraunt, they thank us, because they have had a rough day, and they just want a nice group of people to deal with.
Sorry if that isn't a very mature thought, but I don't think we would be hurting people, if we could just try harder to love each other, and live like the Jesus who did.
Andrew - I'm not sure how it could be any more mature.
And yes Mean people Suck!
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