Often when the idea of irrational love comes up among christians, the concept often is applied to loving people that we consider very "other." Yes, we need to love and reach out in love to anyone trapped in or running toward sin but what about those who, for the most part, look-like-talk-like-act-like-us?
I just heard through the grapevine that a church I once attended is pulling it's support of a Christian school in their area. Why? Because the school has a band...and they have been playing at some charismatic churches.
Once I was able to get through the initial wave of nausea and anger, I thought, "I'm called to love those people just as irrationally as anyone else." Sometimes, like in this case, that feels hard to do and I recognize a strong lack of desire even! Yet, I'm called to irrationally love these people who have made such an irrational and unloving decision. Maybe it feels harder to love because I'm a sister to these people and from the "world's" point of view we are all the same! And I want to scream, "But that isn't me!! And I don't believe that Christ would respond that way either!"
Just had to get that out....thanks!
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8 comments:
I fall down/struggle here, too. Mainly with an attitude of "there's people going to hell every day, people that need Jesus and His love in their life RIGHT NOW, and here we are putting each other down and striving within our ranks. Doesn't anybody GET IT?" Then God gently reminds me that "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." I'm workin' on it with His help...
Irrational love and obedience is just that. It's irrational. It's when the purpose overrides ones desire to be RIGHT!!!!Unfortunately many of our church leaders can't see through this. I wonder if the Body of Christ could be more effective if we realized that God uses charasmatics, baptists, methodists, men, women, rock bands, praise bands etc... to bring others to a saving knowledge of Him. Isn't that what it's all about? Am I part of the problem?
zeph - I'm with ya...thanks
anon - You are so right. He uses us all. "charasmatics, baptists, methodists, men, women, rock bands, praise bands..." and we could add what some would call uber-legalistic-fundamentalists and ultra-liberals to the list too. I may not be understood and/or understand others but He can use us in spite of ourselves when we submit our will to His and not worry about who is right.
I'm agreeing with you, too.
Although we can come up with lots of different categories under which we place ourselves, perhaps we would do better to go back to the one that describes us all: SINNERS - saved by the blood of Jesus, Who loves each one of us!
In response to zephaniah 317, I wonder if we as good christians in good christian churches have learned to do "the church thing" so well, and boy do we look good, that we have forgotten what on earth we're here for. I think we are camping on issues other than the cross of Christ and therefore greatly hindering God's hands and feet.
In response to irritable mother, I'd like to invite you to read "Waking the Dead" by John Eldredge (no, it's not a guy thing :o) ), and "Victory Over the Darkness" by Neil Anderson. In both books, they point out how we need to make a distinction between SINNERS and SAINTS. I know the word is used "religiously" and often takes on a "lofty" status/meaning, but we who have accepted Jesus as our Savior are no longer sinners. We are SAINTS who SIN. We are no longer worms who crawl around on the ground begging for crumbs, but sons and daughters of the KING who can sit at His table, yes, through the blood of Jesus, and not through our own merit or actions, but sons and daughters nevertheless. I make this point because this is an area that I still need a lot of re-programming in, so I'm not on a soapbox here, but I just wanted to encourage y'all with this truth.
zeph - Thanks for bringing that up and doing it in such a...well, loving way. I just got and am looking forward to reading The Sacred Romance...Waking the Dead is on my list too.
zeph - Oh, yes! I did not intend to say we should crawl on our bellies like worms begging for crumbs. I mean only to remind us from where we came. None of us is better than the other regardless of denomination, gender, talent, etc.
How thankful I am that we are welcomed at the banquet table!
Thanks for making a clear distinction.
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