When I make the statement, ‘I’m baffled,” I’m referring to total bewilderment pertaining to us as Believers. I don’t know when we became so self-righteous, religious and mostly so very full of pride?
There is too much judgment living inside the Body
of Christ with a great overflow to the outside world. The Church is not doing
her job. We are not being the light we are supposed to be. We are falling short
of even helping our own. We are pouring vinegar in the wounds of others when what
they really need is the healing balm of love.
It is no wonder, people are not accepting Christ and
being saved—they are hard pressed to see His light through so many of us. We are
puffed up in pride and arrogance—forgetting where we came from and that our righteousness
before Christ was nothing more than a pile of filthy menstrual rags.
You may be one of the most fashionable dressers
around, live in a beautiful home, drive an expensive and prestigious car, have a
successful husband and good looking children, but none of that will draw the
world to Jesus. And I say that because everyone in the world is not looking for
the “broke down gospel”! Everyone is not sick, broke, uneducated, recovering from jail, bogged down with a bunch of kids, living on welfare and eating off of
food stamps or a single mom and destitute! No, so your fine clothes, house,
car, husband and kid,s are not a big deal or
impressive. In fact there
are a lot of wealthy, healthy people walking on the face of this earth, but
they still need the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Everyone is looking to fill the void in their
lives that only Jesus can. Everyone wants to be loved and fulfilled in this
life.
I’m a big fan of cooking challenges, such as Chopped,
the next Top Chef, and Iron Chef. But there is one thing that really turns me
off, and that is…arrogance. I immediately want the arrogant ones voted off with
the quickness. And there is a big difference between being confident in who you
are and what you do, versus arrogance and pride. And I have the same mindset
when I have to deal with arrogant folks, especially those in the Body of
Christ. To me, we are the worst! Why? Well, people who walk in darkness can’t
do any better, but when you live in the Kingdom of God, we are to be different—especially
when we have resided there for a number of years.
Here’s something to think about…a same sex couple (two men) moves
next door to you or in your building (your state says this type of union is now
legal) and they have a little girl they have adopted—how many of you would
reach out to them and this child? Would you be a good neighbor and welcome them
into the neighborhood or building? Would you bake them cookies, or just stop by
to introduce yourself? Would you offer to be a helping hand? Or would you judge
them “Sinners” and ignore them and pretend
they didn’t exist versus talk to them? Would they see you on Sunday getting into
your car heading to church with your big Bible, never looking their way?
What is your stance on a 27 year old single mother of five, who lives in your block and has a minimum wage job which still
qualifies her for subsidized housing, (most of her rent is paid by HUD),
daycare subsidy (where the government pays most of her daycare fees) and food
stamps? Are you one who is upset and keeps posting things on Facebook about how
people like her should not get food stamps? Are you upset she keeps having
babies and your taxes are footing the bill? Have you ever reached out to
get to know her? Have you talked to her enough times to find out what her story
is? Do you pray for her and her children? Or do you ignore her, shaking your
head in disgust?
On Facebook our self-righteous is obvious by many of the things we post.
There are a few popular ones with a picture of a fetus, and captions
about how this aborted fetus might have been the next person to find the cure
for cancer. We fail to realize anyone who God deems to walk on
this earth will be born. And if that were not true, Christ would have never
been born and we would all be lost and going to hell. Though God has given us a
free will to choose, it does not negate His Sovereignty as God. So, we need to
stop trying to shame people into doing right, and instead show them love.
I spent many years as a volunteer work for a Christian Crisis Pregnancy Center, and
if you don’t think women (including pastor’s wives and daughters) in your
church aren't having abortions…then you are very naive to where sin lives.
Our government can say whatever they want is legal or not legal. It does
not alter what God has said about a thing. Same sex marriage has not altered God’s
covenant of what marriage is—nope, not one iota.
Back in the early 90’s WWJD (what would Jesus do) became a money making
mantra for Christian book stores—bracelets, pins, coffee mugs, calendars,
devotionals, you name it. But I think we are in a time we really should be
asking ourselves, “What would Jesus do? How would He respond?
Sisters…it is time for us to stop being so high minded, judgmental
and uncaring. Take a minute to check if your light has become lackluster or still
shines bright. Jesus says,
“You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
No comments:
Post a Comment