*The post with no name*

As I put my thoughts together for this post, I had a couple of names come to mind. Names like “The reason Jesus is crying” and “Will the real Jesus please stand up”. The first seemed a little tacky (and honestly there are a lot more reasons for Him to cry), and the second has already been used. But both of them (as do many others) come to mind when I really sit and think about the things that God has laid on my heart lately.

This evening I saw a story on the news about a pastor that I have a lot of respect for. This pastor has been very instrumental in my walk with Christ by helping me understand what God’s love, mercy, and grace truly mean. The story talked about how this pastor had used his money (made off of the books he writes) to buy a $1.6M home. It wasn’t the story itself that made me really think, but the “Rant’s” that came in afterwards. Many of the comments were bashing this pastor for the way he had spent his money. I can’t lie and say that I totally agree with his decision. I mean let’s face it from the outside looking in, it probably doesn’t look very good. But let’s look at the real issue with what ensued after this story was run.

Many of these comments came from people that may not necessarily believe. And that’s ok. The problem is in the comments from the believers and why the nonbelievers feel the way they do.

“The reason Jesus is crying”-

As a parent, nothing is more frustrating or upsetting than seeing or hearing your kids bully each other. It is one thing to have the kid down the street picking on your son, but when it’s his own brother it’s absolutely devastating. You can easily explain to your son that the kid down the street does not know him enough to truly judge therefore he should brush it off and move on. But when it comes from his brother, who truly knows him, it’s a little bit harder to explain. Matter of fact, it’s almost impossible. The only explanation you can give is that we are all human and that we all make mistakes and will always fall short of the glory of God. But this doesn’t make it any easier; it doesn’t always remove the pain that has already been inflicted.
In the book of Romans Paul writes:
So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.’ “ Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. (Romans 14:10-13 NLT)

When I read this tonight I was reminded of all of the judgment and condemning that I see us (Christians) inflicting on one another. Whether it be those who have judged this pastor, those who judge churches because they don’t believe people should be removed from sin through graphic illustrations but rather through a relationship with Jesus Christ, or those who have judged the pastors who bring people to Jesus through the “prosperity” gospel. They are all bringing people to Jesus, and in His eyes we are all believers; we are all brothers and sisters. A family should not fight AMONGST each other; a family should stand hand in hand and fight WITH each other!

“Will the real Jesus please stand up”-

Not only do I believe that it has become harder for others to come to the family of Christ because we fight and argue with each other, but I also believe that we have made it harder because we have taken Him out of the picture. The real reason people are upset about this pastor and his home, is because we have made him out to be this supernatural being that does no wrong; that is without sin. I don’t say that to judge or condemn him but to say, “where is Jesus in this equation?” By putting these high expectations on these pastors (Matthew 23: 8) or any other Christian we have removed the very reason for Christ’s existence. If we were perfect, made no mistakes…….if we were without sin; there would have been no reason for God to send His one and only son to this earth to live a sinless life only to die a devastating death on a cross at OUR hands in OUR name.

WE DO NOT DESERVE THE GRACE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AT THE HANDS OF OUR GOD. But He has given us that Grace anyways. He did send His son, and His son did die on a cross. And for that we must show Grace as well. Our duty as a believer is not to hoard every ounce of Love and Mercy and Grace that He showers down upon us. Our duty as a believer is to share it with everyone; the least of these, and the most of these; and bring them into His family.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

(Matthew 22:37-40)