Jesus said he came that we might have life, and have it more ABUNDANTLY. (John 10:10).
Where in this culture is the abundant life Christ talked about? I saw it recently in an employee at a coffee shop. (I’ll do another blog later- because I swear she’s filled with the Holy Spirit). A woman filled with joy! Not afraid to actually wish me well when leaving, telling me to fill up on as much coffee refills as I wanted!
I hear a lot of Christians talking about “church” in public places. But they always seem to prefer to stay in their box, rarely engaging others in their conversations, almost afraid to leave the square of their routine. Why are Christians so afraid to venture into new areas, afraid to speak out in love, and joy? Why are we so quick to criticize and badmouth those who don’t believe what we do? Where are the bold believers who will break out of this mold of death and stagnancy and LIVE? Why has fear cast this shadow of empty ritualism over us, preventing us from LIFE? (Check off the box, devotional done. Now back to humdrum life.) NO! Let our devotional begin with scripture, yes, but continue in our interactions! Why are we so afraid? Afraid of art, afraid of Muslims, afraid of anything different? Doesn’t the Holy Spirit give us bravery (Acts 1:8)?
This blog is worthless if you don’t respond! I want conversation, not a soap box. And if you’re voice has been overshadowed by the “power brokers,” the people in “control,” then step up, and SPEAK UP HERE! Where do you see abundant life? And why is it missing in a culture of 85% so-called Christians? Why would we rather complain about the president than bless others with our joy? Where is the abundant life?
What you were saying about being afraid of Muslims (or gays, or anyone who doesn’t believe what we do) stuck out to me because I think the Church has had a hard time accepting those who’s beliefs are contrary to our own…which makes sense on a surface level. However, I think that is be something that we as the Church need to work on…how else will those who don’t follow Christ know his loving and saving grace?
Recently I was told to read Luke 6:27-36, and the verse that jumped out at me (after I just finishing reading this blog post) was verse 32 that says: “”If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ do that.”
That might be a good place to start when we consider our non-Christian counterparts. Yeah, sure we love each other, and those in the church, but do we love those who don’t love us? Who persecute us? Who ridicule us? I’m not saying that I am perfect in this area, but it might be a good place for us to start loving others.
Cercatore,
Wow! How many times have you heard of a gang, company or “club” that says “we take care of our own.” I am imagining a Mafia boss saying that in a thick Italian accent!
I read the scripture you mentioned, and verse 35 tells us to not simply love our enemies but to lend them money! That’s pretty radical. How many have done that!
Anyway- back to your comment- I’m brainstorming now on all the ways we can “love our enemy”….. Someone drove up my rear end this morning, impatient and all- so I tried a different attitude; “Lord- help them get where they’re going on time, safely.” I know what it’s like to be in a hurry! Okay- that’s a start…. Now- to be ready to loan my enemy money…. quite a more difficult challenge! Anyone need money? You need to be my enemy to qualify today. And no- you can’t be rude to me just to get the money!
Loving our enemies…easy in theory, much different in practice. What does God mean about loving our enemies? I would believe that forgiveness is a part of that. Sure we have the examples about the person being rude, cutting you off in traffic, etc. Those are fairly “easy” to do for the most of us, they don’t affect us but for a moment. But what about the ones who’s sole purpose in life is to martyr themselves by killing innocent civilians in accordance to a radical belief in a false god? Or those who would rule over a population by means of terror, whisking people away in the middle of the night to be tortured and raped for amusement? Would God have us simply “turn the other cheek”, forgive and forget? Or would he want us to do something about it. Yes, those are absolutely the people that need God the most, but do these acts go unpunished or unchallenged?