It Isn't Easy
They are all around us, it seems, those loud and obnoxious finger-pointers who make sure that everyone hears their point of view. They comment self-righteously at board meetings, in letters to the editor, on Facebook and throughout the Internet and, I'm told, on late-night radio programs. They come from all sorts of backgrounds, the haves and have-nots of society, highly educated and semi-literate, young and old, male and female and LGBT, atheist and Christian. Everyone has an opinion, it seems, and all of them insist on being heard.
Unfortunately, I've seen and heard far too many Christians who seem to be lost in their legalism. I'll bet you've met some of them, too. They are the ones who look down their noses at you because your skirt is too short or your hair is too long, or you have too many tattoos and piercings. They often insist, quite loudly and, in many cases, incorrectly, that a good Christian would never drink alcohol, go to a movie theater, play cards, dance, listen to secular music or even contemporary Christian music...you can fill in the blank with the rule of the day.
It's too easy for us to point accusing fingers at others who behave differently than we do. That's why Jesus admonished his listeners, in Luke 6:42: "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."
The Pharisees had lots of rules, too, back when Jesus walked on the dusty roads of Galilee. Maybe you've noticed that Jesus didn't have much use for their rules. Instead, he said this: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13: 34-35)
Jesus hasn't asked us to do an easy thing. It usually requires significant effort for us to love the homeless, the kids who need foster homes, the gang members and drug abusers and bullies who seem to be unlovable. We want nothing to do with those narrow-minded, opinionated people who openly disagree with us about anything and everything. We would much rather associate with people just like us, friends and family who seem to be safe and comfortable, at least on the outside. Regrettably, we often like to set ourselves up on pedestals so we can point disdainful fingers at the obvious sinners seated outside our circle. Or, sometimes, we insulate ourselves from the world, staying safely within the walls of our Christian homes and churches and schools, associating only with other Christians who think just like we do. Or we feel like we've done enough if we assemble a shoebox gift to send to some poor, unfortunate child halfway around the world.
Jesus often taught in the temple in Jerusalem, but he didn't stay there. He could usually be found associating with the worst possible sinners, according to the Pharisees, those tax collectors and prostitutes, the beggars, the lepers, the outcasts who were shunned by everyone else. He fed them, healed their diseases, raised some from the dead, and forgave their sins. Then, of course, he did the one thing no one else could do when he carried their sins, and ours, to the cross on Calvary, died, and rose again.
It isn't easy to follow Jesus' example, to simply, genuinely, love the outcasts among us. We tend to overlook our hungry students, our hurting co-workers, the belligerent kids who come to school, coatless, on a bitter winter day. We ignore the poorly dressed woman at the grocery store, the dejected teenager trudging down the street, our next door neighbors. Yet, that's what Jesus has directed us to do--love our neighbors, the people we meet each day, as well as the "invisible" outsiders that we rarely take the time to see.
Because, if we don't love them, who will?
Unfortunately, I've seen and heard far too many Christians who seem to be lost in their legalism. I'll bet you've met some of them, too. They are the ones who look down their noses at you because your skirt is too short or your hair is too long, or you have too many tattoos and piercings. They often insist, quite loudly and, in many cases, incorrectly, that a good Christian would never drink alcohol, go to a movie theater, play cards, dance, listen to secular music or even contemporary Christian music...you can fill in the blank with the rule of the day.
It's too easy for us to point accusing fingers at others who behave differently than we do. That's why Jesus admonished his listeners, in Luke 6:42: "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye."
The Pharisees had lots of rules, too, back when Jesus walked on the dusty roads of Galilee. Maybe you've noticed that Jesus didn't have much use for their rules. Instead, he said this: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13: 34-35)
Jesus hasn't asked us to do an easy thing. It usually requires significant effort for us to love the homeless, the kids who need foster homes, the gang members and drug abusers and bullies who seem to be unlovable. We want nothing to do with those narrow-minded, opinionated people who openly disagree with us about anything and everything. We would much rather associate with people just like us, friends and family who seem to be safe and comfortable, at least on the outside. Regrettably, we often like to set ourselves up on pedestals so we can point disdainful fingers at the obvious sinners seated outside our circle. Or, sometimes, we insulate ourselves from the world, staying safely within the walls of our Christian homes and churches and schools, associating only with other Christians who think just like we do. Or we feel like we've done enough if we assemble a shoebox gift to send to some poor, unfortunate child halfway around the world.
Jesus often taught in the temple in Jerusalem, but he didn't stay there. He could usually be found associating with the worst possible sinners, according to the Pharisees, those tax collectors and prostitutes, the beggars, the lepers, the outcasts who were shunned by everyone else. He fed them, healed their diseases, raised some from the dead, and forgave their sins. Then, of course, he did the one thing no one else could do when he carried their sins, and ours, to the cross on Calvary, died, and rose again.
It isn't easy to follow Jesus' example, to simply, genuinely, love the outcasts among us. We tend to overlook our hungry students, our hurting co-workers, the belligerent kids who come to school, coatless, on a bitter winter day. We ignore the poorly dressed woman at the grocery store, the dejected teenager trudging down the street, our next door neighbors. Yet, that's what Jesus has directed us to do--love our neighbors, the people we meet each day, as well as the "invisible" outsiders that we rarely take the time to see.
Because, if we don't love them, who will?
Thoughtful and thought provoking post, Janet. Needed to hear this. Thank you for sharing your heart.
ReplyDeleteIt's been on my mind for a while. Thanks for your kind comment!
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