Good News Sense

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”—I Thessalonians 5:15

This world is filled with incompetence and injustice; some people fail to do their work well, and some people freely mistreat others through bias and favoritism. Those who have authority misuse it and mistreat those under their power. Those who have important responsibilities carry them out carelessly and ineptly. The unbelieving world often fails to value excellence in favor of other values, but Christians are, far too often, equally guilty of unacceptable behavior.

What should people do who suffer difficulty and loss from the sins and shortcomings of others? How should we handle stupidity and unfairness? Should Christians, who recognize a call to honor God with our best, confront or refuse to accept those who clearly give less? Does love require we accept shoddy or shameful work? Is “righteous indignation” an appropriate response to underachievers or to abusive tyrants? Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t handle such situations very well. With little wise reflection, we get angry and react harshly. When we do, we rarely solve problems; at the same time, we demonstrate a lack of the very love that our Lord desires we display.

For the benefit of those less spiritually mature, let’s talk about effectiveness first. Lashing out at someone rarely produces a good result. If the offending person or group is functioning poorly, then criticism is likely to produce anger, defensiveness, or both. Just think of how you respond to being attacked, criticized, or humiliated. Is the more common response agreement? “Oh, I see. You’re right. I’m doing an awful job.” No, the typical reaction is self-protection and retaliation.

In the case of mean, evil, and oppressive people–if such a classification is more than a rarity, the likely reaction to disrespect or anger is even greater harshness. Most of us understand this better than we care to admit, for we are all guilty of unkindness, which is why an unkind response comes so easily to us. Ego and hatred lie within most of us, if we are honest enough to acknowledge them.

However, for Christians, the measure of our response is whether it is Christ-like. Certainly, he could lash out in righteous anger, usually against those called to lead God’s people who abused their position. Plainly, though, he calls us to love.  This is more than “being nice.”  In my experience, “nice” people too often cover their meanness and spite with a thin veneer of false pleasantness.  Once a person’s back is turned, the nastiness spews forth.  That is clearly not love!

Love seeks the good of their other person, despite what they may have done or failed to do.  If the poorly performing person is an unbeliever, our love may be the key to their redemption, perhaps followed by improved performance.  If the person who disappoints or harms us is a professing believer, our love may be an important bridge to healing they need.

Let’s be honest, though, and recognize that some will never be as good, effective, or pleasant as we want.  Even then, love is the appropriate response.  Jesus loved the children, and children cannot do very much yet.  Jesus loved the broken-hearted, the handicapped, and the most despised, like that tax-collector, whom he called as a disciple, or the other, in whose home he ate dinner.  I believe love is redemptive, but regardless we are to love, not just be nice, but love sincerely with the very love of Christ.  This isn’t warm and fuzzy but something real, as Paul wrote:  “Love is patient.  Love is kind.”

While human beings are not much different than those in the time of Christ, unquestionably the world is much different. Then people traveled by foot, either their own or those of animals. News passed slowly since it depended on those who moved slowly. Today people travel easily by car, train, or plane to anywhere in the world they wish to go, money permitting. Information moves literally at the speed of light.

In this world of rapid travel and even more rapid communication, the commands Jesus gave may take on enormous scope. What does it mean to “love your neighbor as yourself” in this modern world? Last time I challenged Christians who rest comfortably in their material blessings and look down on the needy rather help them. I asked how different the world might be if, like Jesus, we practiced what we preached. Since then, two totally unrelated books have got me thinking further on why and how we should love our neighbors.

A friend wrote about a new book called The Hole in Our Gospel: What does God expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World by Richard Stearns. While I haven’t read it, some of the information I have read relates to this big modern world. In it, we have the ability to become aware of every disaster, each case of oppression, numerous areas of terrible poverty and need, and many areas of hunger and disease. To read about it can create an overwhelming sense of obligation, and I commend those who have the ability, by virtue of wealth, influence, or ability, to meaningfully address those problems. I believe Christians must be careful not to lose sight of the Great Commission as they seek to respond to the Great Commandment, and I am confident that the Great Commandment is always the wisest avenue of approach in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission. Does that mean, then, the Church in America must make a priority of addressing these global concerns? I think the answer must be a qualified yes.

I have always been troubled by the notion that Christians can “buy off” their responsibilities by supporting programs, whether they are missionary programs or aid programs. What is wrong in a church where missionaries report on the many conversions overseas but no one is bringing people to Christ here? Is that any different that supporting aid programs but doing nothing to help the needy up the street or in poor areas where we might minister in person? Both kind of programs, carefully monitored for waste, abuse, or local mismanagement, are fine, as long as they are above and beyond the personal outreach of believers in their own communities. Money is a tool, wisely used; it is not a substitute for what we may do with our own hands, feet, and voices.

The other book that influenced my thoughts is Mosques and Miracles: Revealing Islam and God’s Grace by Stuart Robinson, a book I started reading months ago. Frankly, a large part of it is rather depressing as it describes the history and purposes of Islam. This is a frightfully aggressive religion, historically, and that hasn’t changed. It’s goals are worldwide domination, regardless of the wishful thinking of many of our leaders. Apart from that, however, is one interesting fact; Islamic countries and communities around the world are some of the poorest, most oppressive places on earth today. In them, women are second class citizens, infidels including both Christians and Jews have even less status, kidnapping, murder, and enslavement are acceptable practices in the name of Allah, and no Muslim is required to keep his word to an infidel, which casts a disturbing light on any efforts to negotiate in places like Palestine.

It is also somewhat troubling to note the missionary fervor of many Muslims as they resettle throughout the nations of the world with a view toward eventual domination. They will use the freedoms that they despise in order to overturn those very freedoms. Our last President fought to introduce democracy in the Islamic world, but that will benefit us little if they use it to put sharia law into effect, which it their ultimate goal. Our current President is either naive or complicit in his approach, and either attitude is frightening in an American President.

All of that information is too much for most of us to grasp. What can we do about things so seemingly beyond our ability to change? I look forward to reading Stearn’s book and finishing Robinson’s, but I am confident of one thing. God doesn’t expect us to fix the world’s problems; he expects us to serve him in love where we are. Muslims are moving wherever they can to bring their faith and, if necessary, impose it with the sword. However, the power of love is greater than the power of the sword, and “He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world.”

I will never forget a phrase from a song that never became popular, as far as I know, written by a YMCA director. It said, “She was an old women who lived up the alley, but she loved me.” Her love led this man to Christ, and our love, if we are loving our neighbors, will do the same. Whatever the challenge—systemic poverty or militant Islam—it will yield to the love of Jesus Christ; but, for it to do so, we must “bloom where we’re planted.” In the end, the solution to the problems of the world will occur, not from enormous programs or vast expenditures of money, but from personal expressions of love in neighborhoods where Christians live.

“Love your neighbor as yourself” seems a pretty straight-forward command, a mandate plainly stressed in the life and ministry of Jesus and in the apostolic teaching that followed. Yet, it is clearly not as simple it appears for most believers. Christians are usually very nice people, who work hard, love their families, and try to be good citizens. They are generally decent people to have living in a neighborhood, dependable folk for employment or volunteer work, and pleasant people to have around for whatever reason. Of course, there are exceptions, but those are often living contrary to the plain teaching of the Word.

So why are Christians so despised by their political and social adversaries? Why have people written scathing attacks upon the so-called “Religious Right,” for example? What has inspired atheists to write books like God is Not Good? How could a Rosy O’Donnell honestly think that Christians are as bad as radical Muslim terrorists? Why are basically decent pro-lifers the target of suspicion when one crazed killer murders an abortion doctor? How is it that these nice people may find themselves in fear of breaking “hate crimes” laws? Is there more to these concerns than aggressive opposition inspired by the enemy? Are we “nice folk” in some way responsible for the suspicions directed our way?

Two of Jesus’ stories help us understand how his disciples should respond to others and, as important, to whom we are to respond.  Luke’s Gospel records the story of the Good Samaritan after a lawyer asks him, “Who is my neighbor?” in response to the Great Commandment.  How often have we turned that story around to suggest that we should be helping the “Samaritans” around us when, in the story, it was the Samaritan who did the helping.  Which is harder to help an undesirable or to be helped by one?  Of course, the victim in Jesus’ story had no choice; he was too badly beaten to resist any help.

In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus bases the division of the saved and the lost on their care or rejection of a whole host of undesirables–the hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, and imprisoned.  Jesus’ kingdom teaching always bothers those who preach salvation by faith alone.  Dare the saved assume they may neglect those in need and be secure in their hope of heaven?  Those who have truly been changed by trusting Christ for the forgiveness of their sins will reflect that change with compassionate hearts.  When such a heart is missing, what does that say about the person’s state of grace?  I would recommend thoughtful, prayerful reflection on that very question.

I have always cringed a bit at the phrase “social justice.”  Too often, those who use it seem to imply that we Christians need to fix the social and political problems of our world, structures dominated by unbelievers.  Moses didn’t fix Egypt; he left it, leaving behind a strong dose of divine judgment.  Christians are typically not the powerful in this world, and God warns those who are powerful that he will judge them in their use or abuse of that power.  Just to be clear, we should include the wealth among the powerful for surely money is power.

Nevertheless, we believers, especially when we enjoy much of this world’s goods, have an obligation to those in need.  Poor, imprisoned, widowed, orphaned, stranger, outcast–all deserve our loving, neighborly concern and ministry.  God didn’t bless so that the blessed could sequester themselves in a nice suburban community, far from the ugliness of inner city neighborhoods.  He doesn’t mean for us to look down on groups of people because we regard them more as threats to our way of life than as people in need.

Some rightly attack Christianity and Christians when we seem to have little sympathy for the plight of others, especially when we may be seeking to preserve traditional values politically.  I am ardently pro-life, but I have observed some painfully shrill anti-abortion protesters, who seemed to demonstrate little of the love of Jesus Christ.  I oppose gay marriage, but too many Christians seem to hate homosexuals (when Jesus said love your enemies).  I believe Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the light,” but I see Muslims no differently than any other unbelievers, those whom God would bring to himself.  I am politically conservative, nearly libertarian, and I hate what some on the other end of the spectrum seem to be doing to our country.  However, Jesus dealt with such people lovingly and reserved his anger for the evil inside the household of God.

Jesus practiced what he preached.  I wonder how different things might be if we, his followers, did the same?

I have often told that my first sermon, as a teenager, was about love, based on the text in I Corinthians 13.  I have studied, spoken, and written on love, numerous times, over the years.  As I have done so, i have become even more convinced that love is the most important virtue, the highest principle, the deeplest, most profound subject, and the most ignored, distorted, and misunderstood word in any language.

Realistically, the idea is not difficult.  We teach it to children:  “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  I’m reminded of the line from Forest Gump, when Forest says, “I’m not a smart man, but know what love is.”  He did, but many Christians do not or, at the least, they don’t act like it.

Love is far bigger than romantic love, far greater than most poets conceive.  This love is sacrificial and unconditional, and Christ commands his people to love each other with this kind of love.  Oh, but we fall so far short.  “Love your neighbor as yourself,” he says, and “As I have loved you, so must you love one another.”  :”Husbands love your wives,” and the like; we get that.  “Love your enemies?”  Is he serious?  We can barely love our friends.  The so-called Christian from the church down the street; he may not be my enemy, but love him?  What about those who disappoint or hurt me?  Love them, too?

Of course, the answer is yes, but the test is a correct Sunday school response.  The test is real life in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and churches.  Love is the coin of credibility for Christians.  More than that, love is a priceless treasure that lonely, desparate people are searching to find, but they have to look so hard because we Christians are not loving!

The sad thing is that we’re searching, too.  What a sorry situation that believers cannot find love, right there among the Christians in their various churches.  Oh, there are glimmers and a few shining examples.  How far are we, though, from “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another?“  Almost any day, people criticize Christians, some rather strongly.  Don’t you just hate them when they do that?  If you do, then you’re part of the reason they do.  They see our criticism, our self-righteousness, and our hate without ever seeing much evidence of our love.

Even within the “Family of God,” I don’t often feel loved, do you?  Our job isn’t to get love, but give it; still, if Christians are loving, then we all will know it, personally!  Instead, too many of us are self-involved, focused on our own wants and needs, and just too busy for this love business.  What does it mean, and how does God see it, when we’re too busy to do the thing he says is the most important?  How do we justify, how will we explain, some day, that we had other priorities, when he gave us this one to do first?

The question isn’t “What is love?”  Forest Gump could answer that.  No, the real question is “Why are we loving?”  Even though Christians tend to be better people to hang around with than some non-Christians, I have also know nice unbelievers who would put many believers to shame…even a few who were Muslims.  We will never win the battle for truth through argument; only love will give us the victory.  We will never win the culture war with words, laws, or elections, but love will defeat the wrong ideas we oppose.  So, again I ask, why aren’t we doing it?  Why aren’t people seeing the love of Jesus in us, who are his disciples?  Why aren’t they seeing it so clearly that they every criticism and complaint is rendered meaningless by the amazing love of Jesus Christ in us?

To be honest, I get a bit tired of people, especially politicians and talking heads, attacking Christians.  Either we’re pushing to take over everything and have a theocracy, or we incredibly stupid for believing what we believe.  The sad reality is that most of us believers are neither dangerous or ignorant.  Sometimes we get off the track, but mostly we just want to serve God and enjoy the blessings he has promised, not the least, eternal life.

How do people recognize an authentic Christian? For that matter, what is a genuine Christian? Are believers political?  Are they supposed to be?  Who’s right and who’s wrong among the many different groups?  Is it only a matter of belief, allegiance to a set of ideas, or even just claiming the name?

Jesus himself was actually pretty clear. He said:

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Here Jesus plainly promises that those who truly stick with the teaching he gave are legitimate disciples, and the benefits are knowing the truth and being free. The Jews argued that they were not slaves, but he disagreed, saying they weren’t free but enslaved to sin, as are many today. Even worse, he accuses them of being children of Satan, not true sons of Abraham.

Many today argue their legitimacy comes from having correct doctrine. Yet, this promise is for the disciples own encouragement, not to use as proof. Indeed, truth claims only produce arguments, and therefore they fail as a way of verifying authentic faith. Jesus provided a different way of providing credentials and credibility:  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The reality is simple. Most people are not looking for correct doctrine; most have no idea that it might even be important. In this age of advertising and sales, those who argue that they have the truth sound like cheap hucksters selling a product. Most people recognize a pitch, when they hear one, and they will listen only if they’re in the mood to “buy.” This kind of often poor salesmanship satisfies the pride of the seller more than filling any God-given purpose, much of the time.

People have needs and will listen to a credible person who offers a way for those needs to be met. One of the most compelling needs is for love, to be loved, and to be accepted despite the sin that most people recognize makes them unlovable. Our love for each other, if genuine and apparent, announces that we have what they want…not only love, but more:  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” This familiar Beatitude reveals another mark of the genuine Christian, being recognized because of being peacemakers.

Is it any surprise then, today, that so few regard Christians favorably? Christians fight with other Christians far more than they love them. Where are the peacemakers? Every believer should be a peacemaker, a reconciler, and person inspired by love to break down the barriers that divide, but few are. As a result, we don’t live up to Jesus’ prayer in John 17, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Love, peace, and unity should indelibly mark every believer and every assembly of believers. Then people will know we are the genuine article, the authentic disciple, and the one true Church of Jesus Christ.

More importantly, people will listen to us. They will be curious to know why we act that way—not fighting, enjoying relationships that last, and comfortably part of what we call the family of God. We can then fulfill the suggestion in I Peter 3:15-16, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Political activism is a separate issue for another time, but few believers want anyone but Christ himself to rule.  When he does, all arguments will end.  Until then, however, those who follow Christ must be careful to be what he has called us to be, not arrogant sellers of a religious product, but loving representatives of a loving Savior.  Before we can convey truth, we must show love, seek peace, and live in unity.  Then we will be disciple who are both genuine and believable.

Does life seem bleak and grim?  Do you find yourself worrying about how things will turn out?  I do, sometimes in a blue funk, at other times simply looking at the state of the world around me.  Don’t you?  How could it be otherwise in a fallen world.

My pastor preached today on Romans 8:31-39.  As always, the thought begins earlier, at least to verse 28, although it probably includes all the previous chapters.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” “If God is for us, who can be against us?” and nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So which is the reality?  Is it the gloomy outlook we fear or Paul’s optimistic vision.  Perhaps it would be better to ask which way we live and act.  Indeed, Paul’s upbeat sounding words include some pretty dark realities; trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword are all things we’d prefer to avoid.  Paul does not promise we’ll never face these things’ he promises that they will not separate us from God’s love.

Faulty optimism is harmful to faith.  It makes us doubt God or doubt that we are worry of his love, doubting his grace.  The first promise says that God uses everything we experience to make we who love him Christlike.  The second promises that no one can overpower our infinitely powerful God in his work in our lives.  Finally, he promises that none of those bad things can separate us from his love.  Along the way, he also assures us that we will overcome every hardship and threat and become “more than conquerors.”

Bad promises and wrong interpretations can threaten our confidence and hope; even those things cannot endanger our final victory.  I wish I could promise that we will prevail in our earthly struggles, but I cannot.  In the ebb and flow of history, we see great accomplishment and terrible mistakes in the name of Christ.  For many of us, personally, the same is true.  The great good news is that, regardless, God loves us, keeps working on our growth in Christ, and we will indeed prevail overwhelmingly!

What is love?  People answer that question, especially around Valentine’s Day or Sweetest Day, with romantic nonsense, or they suggest that it is a mystery nobody truly understands.  Before someone accuses the writer of being the Grinch or Scrooge of romance, the problem isn’t romance, per se.  God blesses couples, especially husbands and wives, to enjoy the romantic expressions of thoughtful, loving partners.  However, romance is not the definition of love, and it is not love’s primary purpose.  When Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another;” he surely didn’t mean romance.  He identified the greatest commandment:  “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”  Indeed, several passages make it clear that love covers all the commandments.

The love commanded is not a feeling.  God doesn’t tell us to feel love; he commands us to love.  Love involves decision, action, and commitment, which is why the traditional marriage vows promise “to love, honor, and keep from this day forward, in sickness and health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, till death” parts those who make them.  This isn’t based on emotion; the vow does not include “as long as we feel like it!”

In this culture so saturated with the idea of emotion as a source of authenticity, no doubt many would see this perspective as cold and loveless.  I would never propose something like that, especially just after Valentine’s Day.  God’s plan from the beginning recognized that it is “not good to be alone,” and aloof companionship wouldn’t be very satisfying.  However, a friendship, partnership, or marriage that ends with the vagaries of human feelings wouldn’t please us either.  We need the best of both, a lasting relationship that satisfies us heart, soul, and mind.  That is precisely what God intends when we love as he commands.

The Creator’s observation about Adam, that it wasn’t good for him to be alone, is true for each of us.  We have a need to enjoy the companionship of others of our kind, a need not fully met simply by living among other humans.  We each want to be known, understood, accepted, and indeed, appreciated.  Fully aware of our own shortcomings, we fear that no one can do that, especially if they look deeply.  Ironically, while we want something deep, we live in a culture obsessed with the superficial.  Few of us measure up to that standard of beauty and shallow personality, although many try, and that isn’t really what we really want or need anyway.

What we need and want comes first and most wonderfully from God himself but often through other humans, and that is his plan.  Among fallen men and women, love will always lack, at times, and disappoint us often; yet it is that love precisely that God intended with the creation of Eve.  His love is pure, fully knowing, gracious, and unconditional; his love never fails.  It is not sacrilegious or heretical, however, to say that his love isn’t enough, by his own declaration.  We have a sacred obligation to love each other as he commands, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, to love our loved ones appropriately, and to love our mates romantically. 

The good news is that we know God loves us, and we can always rely on that, no matter what else is happening, even when love is lost to death, distance, or disappointment.  Because it is more blessed to give than to receive, I believe we may discover in loving others a kind of deep satisfaction that equals or may even exceed anything that we gain in being loved.  In that view, when we enjoy the love of another, it becomes less a necessity and more a profound gift.  So many live, seeking love.  How much better it is to live, giving love just as God has given love to us.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, know that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.”–Romans 5:1-5

Our lives seemed filled with troubles—inside troubles, outside troubles, spiritual troubles. We don’t need the news to tell us that we have problems. Sin, sin’s effects, and temptations to sin are hard to miss. For some, the answer is to deny sin. If there’s no right or wrong, then there can be no violation. Our problems are just psychological and sociological problems that education, science, and medicine can fix. Yet somehow, the more we know the more troubles there seem to be. People may deny it, but sin and sin’s effects remain; philosophers call it the problem of evil.

Sin is rebellion against one’s Creator. Philosophers ponder “man’s inhumanity to man;” clearly, humans cause the worst human suffering. I find that a strangely comforting proof of what sin is really all about. Those who deny sin’s reality seem “hell-bent” on a solution that makes things even worse. Giving greater power into to fewer people, whether in a socialist government or an ever more powerful United Nations, guarantees that the worst sorts of “inhumane” people will seek that power, and not for good.

Where is the good news in that? You might say, “God’s got it covered!” For our personal sin, he justifies believers by faith and gives us peace with Him. The root problem’s solved, but that’s only the beginning, an “introduction” Paul says because, by faith, we stand in His grace. No matter what appears to be happening around us, we stand firmly in His grace, now and forever. Have you ever “exulted in hope in the glory of God?” Maybe you’ve felt that way in a worship service, but all the time? Even so, have you “exulted” in your tribulations? That’s even harder.  Think about the daily worries we hear on the news; nobody is exulting in those troubles, except perhaps the very few who have figured out how to profit from them.

The good news here is that He even has a plan for the troubles we face, you might say a 5-step plan. It runs from tribulation to perseverance into character, from character to hope and finally to experience the very love of God, poured by the Holy Spirit. This world and, let’s be honest, we too, would prefer to take a shortcut straight to love; but it just doesn’t work that way. The path to authentic love is through a rigorous character-building process that requires a certain amount of pain and suffering.

You’ve heard the stories. Maybe you have one to tell. Men in combat, neighbors who survive a tragedy, or victims of a horrible crime are often bonded together. There’s something that shared hardship produces that is sweeter and dearer than many of the paler emotions that we think we value in the good times. The love of God is with us all the time, of course, but the process of growth through the difficult moments, moments that often seem to last much longer, produces something remarkable, not unlike that clam’s annoying grain of sand that becomes the heart of the pearl. As I read recently, it gives a wholly different perspective on those “pearly gates,” as our entrance to heaven, doesn’t it?

Indeed, our Savior’s suffering, represented by those pearly gates and by a wooden cross, is both the price and the proof of his love. He didn’t suffer merely to prove it; he suffered to make our redemption possible. As unpleasant as it is, trouble is a glorious thing when it demonstrates and sanctifies love. In that great news, we can exult!

I have been writing lately about the amazing opportunity for creativity that God has given us, his children. From the creation of Adam through the redemption of the Second Adam, he has called and equipped us to do, to act, and to accomplish creatively. He has charged us with the ministry of reconciliation, the work of evangelism, the task of missionary outreach, and the business of his church to care for orphans, widows, the needy, imprisoned, lonely, and hopeless inside and outside our congregations. He has gifted us to compose, perform, write, act, paint, sculpt, and produce all manner of art to tell his story and glorify him and his creation. He has enabled us to discover, understand, invent, and engineer to make amazing things to “subdue” the earth and make life better for everyone. He has fashioned some who can communicate, others who can empathize, and still others who can mediate to help people have better relationships. In other words, every kind of skill, ability, talent, and gift exists not merely to fulfill his purposes but to bring purpose, satisfaction, and joy to the gifted individual.

I am more convinced than ever that he has a remarkably open-ended purpose for each of us; that is, in making us in his own image, he granted us freedom to use the unique nature each of us possesses. For this to work, we cannot all be the same. Traditions, movements, denominations, and church leaders should not try to make us look or act alike. We will do our best work in the liberty that comes through Christ and, preferably, in an earthly community where people are free. Here is where a community of believers may serve to encourage the diverse contributions of its members, preferably a true community where believers are together more than just Sundays.

Two contrary attitudes may interfere. One is controlling but lacks authority because it denies any objective truth or value system. The other is domineering in the name of authority or tradition. The former is often called liberal; the latter conservative. While I refuse to accept the one’s denial of truth and agree with the other’s commitment to it, I reject all forces that stifle the individual’s freedom to be and to do what God created each to be and do. For this very reason, God plainly commanded us to love rather than to impose truth on anyone. We need truth, but its purpose is to ground each of us so that our creative efforts stand on a solid foundation. Pride is prone to focus on being right instead of loving, a subtle error perhaps, but an error nonetheless.

I have written that each of us may say, “I can,” and that none should be afraid of freedom. I have engaged folks in conversations about community and people-focused worship. I have taught for years against the more restrictive traditions and organizational loyalties that interfere with love as well as truth. In doing so, I have observed one sad thing. People easily talk the talk, but they don’t walk the walk.

I was interim pastor of a new church, as such, unencumbered by history or tradition, though came from a certain denomination. I was excited to help shape a new work without those constraints, but I discovered two problems. On the one hand, people seemed intent on bringing in traditions from other places; on the other, given its freedom from tradition, many saw themselves free…to do nothing!

I observe a similar problem today. Both the church and the nation face serious problems, but I am optimistic, supremely, overwhelmingly confident, that God has given everything we need to overcome them. My hope is in God, but his tools are we, his people, not a few of us doing the work for the rest, not a selection of driven and even arrogant leaders driving the rest, but as many of us as possible, doing in freedom what he has gifted us to do.

Where does it start? It has already started with me and with a few others I know. Where does it go from here? That depends on you. It’s a geometric progression where one stimulates another who does them same, growing by 2, 4, 16, 64, and so on. This won’t happen if it is a leader driven or celebrity-dependent process; it must be people-driven, people-dependent. If a ground swell of believers begins to express their God-given abilities and speak truth in love to their friends, neighbors, co-workers, and families, things will change; they will change incredibly. It will take people like you. You can do it, but will you?

How big is God’s love? How big is your love for His people and in His name? How big is your love for your neighbor? The overriding consideration as we deal with people is to be love, just as God’s overarching attitude is love. “God demonstrates his own love for us in that Christ died on our behalf while we were yet sinners!” His love couldn’t be any clearer or deeper. “As I have loved you, so you should love one another” (John 13:34). “If a person cannot love his brother, whom he can see, how can he say he loves God whom he cannot see: (I John 4:20).

Recently I have heard two young people share frustrations that came from how people treated them. In one case, Christian friends reacted negatively to questions and opinions that my young friend was sharing. In the second, sincere Christian people were suggesting that my young friend’s personality needed to change. In both cases, Christian people reacted negatively to fellow Christians who were doing nothing wrong. Neither person was sinning or expressing unbelief. Both are fairly strong, committed believers who are striving to live for Jesus.

Paul said, in Romans 12:2, “Don’t be conformed to this world.” This world and our natural, fallen instincts try to get people to be alike and to think alike. Now, of course, we are all to be holy as Christ is holy, but holiness does not require identical personalities or mind control. Holiness is living separate from this world’s values, from our own inclination to sin, and from the devil’s twisted purposes. Otherwise, we are free to be ourselves and use our gifts freely. We serve a big God who has a far greater scope of purpose than our systems of belief and custom can accommodate, but we still manage to think we figured it all out.

The longer I live and study the more I realize I don’t know and cannot understand. I do know this; it’s not my job to tell other people how to think or act. I may share Biblical guidelines and make suggestions that help people follow Jesus and become better disciples. Even then, it’s not my responsibility to disapprove if they don’t agree with me or act like I act. God has not given me the right to look down on a brother or sister, regardless of their age or situation, because they prefer to dress other than I do, talk differently than I do, or have ideas unlike mine.

A pastor friend of mine taught me, many years ago, to be “shock proof.” At the most extreme, he was suggesting that I be ready to hear surprising secrets from people, things that could be serious problems, and that, when someone confided in me, I be able to hear and respond without horror or dismay or disapproval, but only with love and forbearance. A person who believes they have the worst problem or the deepest, most terrible secret needs, more than anything, love and understanding, when they dare to reveal their fear to a caring friend. I have given much effort to becoming shock proof; I probably haven’t “heard it all,” but I have heard a lot.

Quite often, however, the revelations weren’t terrible. They were nothing more than the fears of ordinary folks who thought they had an extraordinary problem. My two young friends could be like that, although I don’t believe their situations go even that far. My point, though, is that we should be “shock proof” even in matters such as these. Being shock proof is being loving and kind regardless of what people do, what people say, what people ask, how people look, where people come from, what friends people have, and what mistakes people have made. No matter what we may think, we should be accepting and encouraging, not judgmental, dismissive, or condescending.

The good news is that is exactly how God sees us. If you doubt it, read a few of David’s Psalms. In them, he expresses his doubts, anger, frustration, and disappointment…with GOD! Yet David remained a “man after God’s own heart.” If God can be so tolerant and accepting, dare we do any less? If God’s holy heart is big enough to accept us when we were so very unworthy, then surely our hearts can be big enough to accept differences among us His children.