Love

Last nights bible study still leaves me thinking...We are currently doing a study by Rob Bell-someone whom I imagine is very popular with the gen-xers. He is young and casual although somewhat melodramatic, but most weeks I enjoy the message (although I still laugh at the burning of the forest to make a point). Moving on....last nights message was entitled "Bullhorn" and to paraphrase, spoke of those "bullhorn" Christians who seeks to share God's message by standing on a street corner shouting hell and damnation for all to hear. The discussion led to the question of can this type of evangelism bring people to Christ and does it hurt Christians as a whole. It was interesting to me to hear every one's thoughts on this subject. It really is true that for most of us, this kind of evangelism (and many would not even call it that) is tough to swallow. Without going into our two hours of discussion, I think what I came away with is that Christians are the problem with Christianity. We can't blame anyone else but ourselves for the stereotypes and it's something-in my opinion-that will never change. I would say it would take a miracle, but the miracle has already been given to us in Jesus and yet still we falter and continuously fail. J said something last night that could potentially be at the root of the problem of our reputation-if you will-as Christians. Love. Do we know how to REALLY love? The Bible is explicit about how we are to love God and those around us. Very specifically He tells us that you can love God, but if you do not love his people, you are a liar and a hater of God. It's true. How many times do we see Christians on television holding signs that say "Fags burn in Hell" . How often do we see Christians standing in front of abortion clinics with banners painted with the images of aborted fetuses and screaming hate speech at those walking inside. Justification in the name of God does not make this right. A quote that I love from Christianity Today said that "Madness in the name of God is still madness".

Do we really know how to love our neighbor as ourselves? Do we truly understand that to love another person is to love God Himself? How do we change the fact that we loathe the young man on the street corner begging for money with beer on his breath? How do we love the friend that betrayed us in our most vulnerable hour? How do we love the man that beat his wife to death yet repents his sins? How do we love ourselves when we understand in all of our nakedness that we are irreparably flawed? The answer is simple but the purposeful way in which we handle this great gift given to us by Christ will take tremendous effort every day of our lives-at least for me.

Today my prayer will be that for better or for worse, I will love my neighbor remembering that they too were made in the image of God. I will find the beauty in everyone I meet, even that bullhorn guy who annoys me so.