In response to yesterday's Speaking of Jesus Blog, I figured it was probably a good idea to follow up with an explanation. You see, when something controversial goes out on the web, I'm literally amazed at how many people sit behind their computers and think they can just post a comment no matter how un-educated, how ill informed, or how mean.
Yesterday, when I posted the message about my friend Carl, I started getting people telling me how they couldn't agree with the way Carl Loves Jesus because he loves Muslims. REALLY?
Another e-mail I got criticized the methods they've seen people employ when Simply Jesus becomes the mantra. They just can't imagine being in the court of people who might compromise the idea that God is on the throne of heaven and earth. No matter what the person who does recognize God thinks, we should all just build a mountain where God exists, and leave the rest of the world to their own vile. REALLY?
And a Twitter handle of someone I've never met started to claim the "Allegiance" we have toward God supersedes our ability to love people that think differently than we do? Allegiance? Now that's where this thing God weird. My Allegiance to Jesus has nothing to do with where I go, who I hang out with, or how I decide to share my faith. I can defend that socially, psychologically, academically, AND theologically.
So it made me feel kind of sick yesterday, when I was thinking about the state of affairs concerning the Faith Population.
Not long ago, my friend Andrew asked me a question when we were sitting in Iraq talking to a prominent European Ambassador, who has become a friend.
"Do you ever let Jesus get in the way of Jesus?" -Andrew Schill-
When he said it, I thought, "Well, that's a silly statement." But the more I thought about it, I REALLY LIKE IT!!
Last night I went to bed thinking, "Am I living in an alternate Universe?" or "Have we let our own idea of JESUS invade our methodology of sharing Jesus' love with others?"
I got SUPER sarcastic and starting thinking, "There must be so many people following Jesus' teachings that the best use of our time is to criticize fellow believers about how they go about loving?" I apologize for my lack of cooth right here up front.
NEW FLASH!!
Those of you who think this way...
You're loosing whatever battle you're fighting.
Nobody wants to hang out with Christians because everywhere they see a wave of judgement, hatred, and bigotry.
I can see if we're sitting in some theological discussion deciding every jot and tittle of God's word being included in the scripture, but REALLY? Are we going to waste one minute of breath giving credence to argue about how people love other people?
I thought about my friend Andrew who asked me about letting Jesus get in the way of Jesus, and I wondered...Could it be true?
Do we live in a world where it's more important for me to be right about theology than it is to care about the person who lives next door?
Do we seriously care more about putting the right answer on the test, than sharing our lives with people where it might get messy?
Have we created a theological bubble only allowing those who agree with our positions to enter in?
COME ON!! You gotta be kidding me.
Some of us have certainly maintained this hard core lust to be right, and we have allowed the US to get in the way of seeing God work in the THEM. I'm sorry for the rant, but I'm just tired of trying to defend people who claim to love Jesus, and then in the same breath veer far from where He is.
I couldn't hardly sleep, because I thought, "This is it!!" This is the biggest problem facing those of us who believe today. We don't have a view of God that is Bigger than our own small kingdoms we've created.
Well, I for one will not fall into that pool.
I'm not ashamed of the gospel, and I can sit with Atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, or any other religion without compromising my faith or "allegiance" to Jesus. Can you? Are you threatened by someone else's belief system so much, that you're willing to compromise your love and compassion toward them for your own security of knowing what you think is right?
Last night I just wanted to fill out prescriptions for the people who commented on my blog, and just mail the valium and say, It's gonna be ok folks. Even Jesus said, "Love The Lord your God with all your heart, with your soul, and with your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it...Love your neighbor as yourself. ALL the law and the prophets hang on those two commandments." It's pretty hard to argue when the Son of God says, (paraphrase) "Have fun studying as much Biblical truth as you want, but if you want it all to fall into place, Love God, and Love Others."
You can't go wrong if you love.
If you decide to become God's judge here on earth, you better be darn sure you're on the right side of history. "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness." (James 3:1)
We need not fear.
We need not walk in a world trembling from everyone else.
We have the answer.
We just need to DO IT!
We need to live IN the world and Love ALL people.
And unless God has called you to be the prophet and judge of this generation, maybe it's time to take a long hard look into how you care about the people to your left or to your right.
I for one am tired of telling the world, "No, that's not who we really are. Those people are NUTS!"
Let's be known for what we ARE, rather than for what we're NOT!
Let's not let OUR idea of Jesus get in the way of JESUS message to the world.
Love God Love Others
It's really not that hard.