This morning when I turned on my phone, the first thing I saw was another celebrity taking their life. As I stood in the shower crying out to the Lord on behalf of all of those suffering, those in darkness, in despair, those experiencing hopelessness, injustices, etc. I was wondering, where is the Church/Body of Christ in all of this? Are we really doing our part to reach a lost and dying world? When did things change so much that we are more concerned about political parties, someone’s skin color, their religion, their sexual orientation, what side of the tracks they live, etc.? Today we post scripture and tomorrow we criticize someone in the government using the most hateful, vitriolic language. We want to be cool, so we use terminology from the world like Bada__!! How are we different? When did we stop reaching out to others who differ from us? When did we stop being a safe haven for anyone and everyone?
* If I am a minority, can I feel safe coming to you the Church? Or will I be judged?
* If I speak with an accent, will I be accepted by you the Church? Or will I be judged?
* If you find out that I voted differently from you will I be welcomed by you the Church? Or will I be judged?
* If my lifestyle doesn’t line up with what you consider to be Christian, will you still love me Church? Or will I be judged?
* If you found out I made a huge mistake in my life, will you still love me Church? Or will I be forever looked at through your lens, my mistakes and be judged?
* Can I trust you Church to love me in spite of? Or will I be judged through your ideals, expectations, self-righteousness, etc.?
How are you the light? How can you lead me out of the darkness when you yourself seem to display it with your words, your actions? How are you different from me when you spew curse words when you are angry, frustrated or want to be relevant? How are you different from me when instead of encouraging me to pray for and about all government leaders, you tell me who I should and should not pray for; and who is deserving of God’s Mercy, His Forgiveness and His Love. You do not encourage me to seek the Lord in everything!! You do not let me know that despite who I am, you are a safe harbor. Instead, I see the anger, the hatred, the bias; I see everything that I struggle with daily. How are you the light?
Church, this is just where I was this morning in my time with the Lord. I cried out to Him with everything I see daily on my social media news feed and on the news. This world has enough darkness in it that I personally don’t need to add to it. “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” (Romans 8:19 NIV)
So be revealed Sons/Daughters of God!! If you have to, examine your heart…it is something I do daily. It is absolutely necessary that we look within and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal in us anything that will stop us from being His Light, that will cause us to speak or act opposite to who He is. For He is Love!!
Are you love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New International Version (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
