I heard this quote/fact in church on Sunday, "You may be the only Bible someone ever reads." I have also heard, "You may be the only Jesus people ever see." Both of these quotes I think are very true! Many people will never darken the door of a church...out of apprehension, fear, or just straight up because they don't want to! All are valid reasons. I began really thinking about these quotes that I have heard most of my life. I think sometimes we as Christians take the responsibility so seriously that we become less authentic and more automated.
I think that we as Christ-followers (which is what a Christian is) should be more like Jesus and not conform to a set of ridiculous rules and expectations of other people! In other words, we need to be REAL! Authentic! If we are the only Jesus someone ever sees, then we need to be a person who is compassionate not judgmental, peaceful not chaotic, authentic not automated!
I don't know about you, but when I call a customer service 800 number I absolutely dread the automated line! If I push zero, sometimes it starts all over again...so sometimes I push zero twice and it says "that is not an option-main menu"...it's so frustrating! All you want is the real person! All you want is a LIVE voice to be able to express the issues you are having and actually engage in a conversation about it! We are relational people! We need communication. What we don't need are a bunch of robots!!
Being the the only Jesus someone may ever see should be a motivation to love other people, forgive when they hurt you, and most of all be a faithful friend! It's not about rules and regulations and a puffed-up pious religion...it is about a RELATIONSHIP! Be authentic! Not automated!!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Kickin' Rocks...
Have you ever heard the story in the Bible regarding the adulteress who was caught IN the act? It can be found in the passage, John 7:53-8:11. This is one of my favorite passages mostly because it exemplifies how Jesus sees us for who we are, not for what we have done! He doesn't care about where we've been, but rather where we're going! So, the Pharisees and the Scribes had a pretty heated confrontation with Jesus regarding this woman. They wanted her to be punished for this horrible sin...executed actually...stoned to death. I wish that I could somehow go back into time to see what happens next.
John 8:4-11(NLT) says, "'Teacher,' they said to Jesus, 'this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?' They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!' Then he stooped down again and wrote in the sand. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, 'Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?' 'No, Lord.' she said. And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'"
Isn't that such a beautiful picture of what Jesus is all about? He isn't a God of chaos, but rather a God of love and peace! I have always wondered how those who so whole-heartedly preached about God and taught others about the Bible could read this passage of Scripture and yet still choose to judge others? I understand that we all (Christian or non-Christian) judge other people. We are all human beings and if you honestly believe that you are incapable of being judgmental in any way, then you aren't being real with yourself! It is something we do as human beings! I do believe though that it is something we should be very careful with. Who am I to point a finger at you with disgust and judgement, when I myself am in my own pit of "stuff"? Do you understand what I mean?
I heard this today in church, "Judging me isn't going to make me change! Would it make you change?" Well, would it?? Probably not! You know what we need more than anything...people willing to help other people when they need it most! When we are hurting, we need our friends and family and our church family to be there to pick us up...not kick us while we are already down! Face it, we all need someone! I hope you will take an opportunity this week to reach out and extend LOVE to someone instead of passing judgement! Remember, you who have never sinned, never hurt, never cried, never disappointed someone, never made a poor decision, never took the "wrong road" in life that led you down a tough path, never did something that was wrong...you go ahead and throw that first stone!
Go out of your way to be kind to others this week! We need each other! Love you!!!
John 8:4-11(NLT) says, "'Teacher,' they said to Jesus, 'this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?' They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!' Then he stooped down again and wrote in the sand. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, 'Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?' 'No, Lord.' she said. And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'"
Isn't that such a beautiful picture of what Jesus is all about? He isn't a God of chaos, but rather a God of love and peace! I have always wondered how those who so whole-heartedly preached about God and taught others about the Bible could read this passage of Scripture and yet still choose to judge others? I understand that we all (Christian or non-Christian) judge other people. We are all human beings and if you honestly believe that you are incapable of being judgmental in any way, then you aren't being real with yourself! It is something we do as human beings! I do believe though that it is something we should be very careful with. Who am I to point a finger at you with disgust and judgement, when I myself am in my own pit of "stuff"? Do you understand what I mean?
I heard this today in church, "Judging me isn't going to make me change! Would it make you change?" Well, would it?? Probably not! You know what we need more than anything...people willing to help other people when they need it most! When we are hurting, we need our friends and family and our church family to be there to pick us up...not kick us while we are already down! Face it, we all need someone! I hope you will take an opportunity this week to reach out and extend LOVE to someone instead of passing judgement! Remember, you who have never sinned, never hurt, never cried, never disappointed someone, never made a poor decision, never took the "wrong road" in life that led you down a tough path, never did something that was wrong...you go ahead and throw that first stone!
Go out of your way to be kind to others this week! We need each other! Love you!!!
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