As the body of Christ, we are to lead the way in reconciliation, kindness, love.
Much of the American church is failing in this.
I am an American citizen. With that citizenship comes many privileges and responsibilities. I am also a child of the kingdom of God. With that citizenship comes many privileges and responsibilities and that citizenship supersedes all other allegiances.
These days I often fail to recognize the church. So many American Christians are placing their rights as American citizens far above their obligations as citizens of the kingdom of God.
It seems that instead of holding rallies and protests maybe we should be demonstrating our faith by loving our neighbors. Traditionally, the most basic demonstrations are to bring food to those who need it. Gifts to those who may go without due to the devastating effects that 2020 has had on so many in our nation (not to mention, world). Regardless of personal beliefs about coronavirus, this year there is an even MORE basic way to show love to those around us. It is a demonstration of love to your neighbor, your coworker, your family member, to wear a mask. To socially distance from one another. I am baffled that for many Christians these things are instead considered “radical,” “unconstitutional,” and a “violation” of our rights as Americans. These are simple acts of love for our neighbor that we as a church body are struggling to meet.
Instead, we are exercising our right to gather and protest during the height of a global pandemic. Until this year, I have never wept or so fervently prayed for the body of Christ in America, so obsessed with our rights, that we disregard the safety of others, and worse yet, it seems as though we often toss out the Law of Love (Romans 13:10) in favor of our rights as American citizens.
Most people recover from COVID19. Great. Both my brothers are highly trained and experienced nurses (one works in the ER and one in ICU). They have both been pulled into the COVID ICU unit during this extended crisis. COVID units are maxed out. ERs are full. And it’s not even Christmas yet. There are too many that don’t recover.
Instead of protesting for our rights, perhaps it’s time to set aside our blind nationalism and embrace our responsibilities as the children of God to love others more than we love ourselves. In doing that, we will be a far better example of the selfless, sacrificial love of God that as Christians we claim to be celebrating tomorrow. What a marvelous gift that would be this year.
I have this tendency that I am largely unaware of, one that lies dormant within me for the vast majority of the time. I live and breathe with it, but its presence is not felt. I am in blissful ignorance.
“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” -Romans 4:20-21
This verse struck me because I often feel as though I doubt God’s goodness in my life. He has given me so much, blessed me so much, endured with me through so much, proved His love and faithfulness to me time and time again, and yet… Read the rest of this entry »
There are two primary issues that impact every area of my life: 1) self-reliance 2) lack of faith
I rely on myself far too often. Why? ‘Cause usually I can get by. I know what people want/need to hear, I know how to assuage others anxieties. It leaves me with an impression of, “Hm, I can get it done!”
My circumstances have changed in ways small to the outside world, but large in my perception. Some changes are positive, and some are more challenging, yet something strange has been happening to me in the last two weeks. Each stress, challenge, discouragement and change in my life has been met with a reaction unanticipated, unexpected and unnatural. Read the rest of this entry »
When I was 15 years old, 3 students I went to high school with died within 4 days of each other. I attended funerals and memorials and grieved with my classmates. It wasn’t that they were close friends. I knew them through loose associations at school, but I cried because that week myself along with 1,600 other students were forced to acknowledge that death didn’t just come knocking for the old. Read the rest of this entry »
“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their resting place.”
In the Hebrew, it seems to indicate that the term “resting place” means quite simply, “to rest; place to lie down.” Now that all sounds harmless enough until you’ve accidentally fallen asleep on the bus. Or a train in Austria. Or had to spend the night on the street. If you’ve done those things, perhaps you are better acquainted with the significance of the implications of “resting place.” When you rest you are completely vulnerable. Anything can happen. And how can you stop it? You’re in a REM cycle! It is in sleep that we are the most susceptible to harm. Now that I have sufficiently alarmed you, let me ask: Read the rest of this entry »
The fifteen year-old neighbor whose parents bought her a car for raising her GPA to 3.0
The principal’s son, who thinks he knows everything
The group of 20 somethings out on the town that walk in front of your moving car in a gaggle and then gesture rudely at you when you slam on your breaks
A couple months ago, I received heartbreaking news: I am part of the ME generation. I am an old-timer ME, but technically I made the cut (which is 1980 and I was born in ’81) and I must call myself a member of this most fascinating and unsettling generation. The “ME” has a double-meaning, a dual-edged sword if you will. First and foremost, we are “millennial,” that is, we came to age around the time of the turn of the century. The second definition is easily seen: we are all about “me.” In fact, I’m pretty sure The Beatles were prophesying about us when they penned the song, “I, Me, Mine.”
“Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind” – King Solomon
I oft get caught up in the notion that people today are unlike any other generation regarding the insane demand to keep up with their crazy schedules. In one sense it’s true, because from cell phones, the internet, the ease of travel, the seemingly constant interconnectedness of everything at all times, our hectic schedules can meet a level of frenzy like never before. Sometimes there appears to be no “off” button.
Yet this passage gives me a pretty clear picture of the hustle some people had even way back then (somewhere between 970-928 BC). Read the rest of this entry »
The Sasquatch Soul: wandering, searching deeply, and avoiding photos. 
Law of Love.
December 24, 2020 at 9:40 pm (2020, American church, Body of Christ, Culture, Devotional, Love your neighbor, Pandemic, Philosophy, Protests, Religious Commentary, Social Change, wearing masks)
Enough.
We have taken leave of our senses long enough.
As the body of Christ, we are to lead the way in reconciliation, kindness, love.
Much of the American church is failing in this.
I am an American citizen. With that citizenship comes many privileges and responsibilities. I am also a child of the kingdom of God. With that citizenship comes many privileges and responsibilities and that citizenship supersedes all other allegiances.
These days I often fail to recognize the church. So many American Christians are placing their rights as American citizens far above their obligations as citizens of the kingdom of God.
It seems that instead of holding rallies and protests maybe we should be demonstrating our faith by loving our neighbors. Traditionally, the most basic demonstrations are to bring food to those who need it. Gifts to those who may go without due to the devastating effects that 2020 has had on so many in our nation (not to mention, world). Regardless of personal beliefs about coronavirus, this year there is an even MORE basic way to show love to those around us. It is a demonstration of love to your neighbor, your coworker, your family member, to wear a mask. To socially distance from one another. I am baffled that for many Christians these things are instead considered “radical,” “unconstitutional,” and a “violation” of our rights as Americans. These are simple acts of love for our neighbor that we as a church body are struggling to meet.
Instead, we are exercising our right to gather and protest during the height of a global pandemic. Until this year, I have never wept or so fervently prayed for the body of Christ in America, so obsessed with our rights, that we disregard the safety of others, and worse yet, it seems as though we often toss out the Law of Love (Romans 13:10) in favor of our rights as American citizens.
Most people recover from COVID19. Great. Both my brothers are highly trained and experienced nurses (one works in the ER and one in ICU). They have both been pulled into the COVID ICU unit during this extended crisis. COVID units are maxed out. ERs are full. And it’s not even Christmas yet. There are too many that don’t recover.
Instead of protesting for our rights, perhaps it’s time to set aside our blind nationalism and embrace our responsibilities as the children of God to love others more than we love ourselves. In doing that, we will be a far better example of the selfless, sacrificial love of God that as Christians we claim to be celebrating tomorrow. What a marvelous gift that would be this year.
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