Love with roots that go deep...

"In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

So the following blog was actually the notes that I used for one of my chapel sermonets. It was was a great opportunity to speak openly kids about the realities that daunt us with our Christian walk. While I talked about the love that God calls us to have, I also talked about what being a Christian is often viewed as, while looking in the scriptures with what God intended our lives to look like. The following are a few of the responses I got when I asked the question,

"When I talk about Christians what is your initial preception/ response?"
(please take these as they are, they are the thoughts of some of my students and I believe as Christians we need hear others for who they are and what they think-even if we disagree)

-Accept the Unaccepted
-Christianity brings people together through God’s power
-Christianity is initially good
-There is a promise for life after death
-Christians try to fix others where it is not needed
-Intimidating
-Christianity has been misused
-Christians persecute others with good intentions
-It is a closed Religion
-Religion is hypocritical


We as Christians, have become identified as conservative, entrenched in our own thinking, antigay, anti-choice, angry, violent, illogical people who want to convert everyone, and generally cannot live peacefully with anyone who does not believe what they believe. Christians have become famous for what we oppose, rather than who we are for.

So I have a question for us then… ‘Do those people, who are not Christian, feel un-liked because of what they do, how they look, or what they believe? --do they feel minimalized-- or worse yet demonized by those who love Jesus?

Let’s not candy coat Jesus--- Some Christians respond to outsiders by promoting a less offensive faith. With this often the unpopular parts of the Christian teachings are omitted or de-emphasized. We candy coat Jesus by portraying Him as an open-minded, big hearted, and “never offending anyone” moral teacher. The Truth is that this is a totally wrong picture of Jesus, while He acted in love and compassion He also taught many remarkably tough truthes about human beings and about sin. Revelation 19 talks about Jesus’s second coming as being glorious and dangerous; or when He is on earth when He opposed religious leaders and spoke bluntly about peoples spiritual practises--- through events like these we see the strong and righteous side of Jesus. Candy coating or reshaping the gospel is the wrong response to the objections people raise.

“For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

What God intended Christianity to look like

“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul and with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; “Love your neighbour as yourself. All of the Law and Prophets hang on these commandments.” (Matthew 22:37 ff)

Men of the Law tried to trick Jesus (make Him slip up), But Jesus changes the rules of the Law, to the rules of love. The men knowledgeable in the law asked for the greatest commandment… but Jesus gave them both the first and second greatest commandment. Because He does this, it is important to view both of these commandments and take them to heart.

It is so important to be a faith servant to God, in prayer, fellowship, reading of the Bible, and serving others. If we sincerely love God with all our hearts, our outward actions will portray the love we have for Him.

The second greatest commandment is, love thy neighbour as yourself.
We need to the love the way Jesus loved

The Bible says, “there is no greater love than this, to lay down your life for your friend.” (Does this mean death, or giving ourselves in service to others)What does this look like---we need to fight for the weak---to defend them-- let’s not highlight the bad but look for good-- lets go out of our way to love those who are unlovable.

-It is not something we should do, it is something we need to do. I guarantee you that there are people in our community, even in our closest circles who are hurting.

-It is easy to love people from far away.

-We need to become people who serve one another. Jesus said if you want to become the greatest, than become the servant of all.

-We all need to love more-- because the fact is we don’t love like Jesus. Jesus cares about our relationship with Him, but He also cares about those who don’t know Him. Our greatest strength to showing others Christ, is our love.

-If the world saw Christians how we are suppose to be (love God and love others) How different would our world be?

I pray that you would take these words, be challenged and do not become hard-hearted. Lets come together as the body that Christ intended us to be. Lets turn our eyes upon God, give up our wants and our needs, and learn to glorify Him through the love that He calls us to bare.

With a heart for Gods Kingdom to come
Ben

Baby Don't Hurt me....

What is Love--- Baby don’t hurt me

Luke 10:26-28.....26 what is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[a]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b]" 28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

In the summer of 2007, I had just bought a 2003, burgundy, fully loaded Alero. This car was beautiful, sporty and cheap on gas. On summers day after work I went to Canadian Tire to fill up with gas. While I was at the pump this bruised and battered aboriginal man came up to me and asked for a ride. Looking at his appearance I turned him down and said that I wouldn’t be able to give him a ride. As I went into the gas bar to pay for my gas and get a refreshing drink, I had this overwhelming urge to go back to the man and tell him that I would drive him where he needed to go. I had this peaceful sense that nothing would go wrong and I knew that God was with me right then and there. I asked the man where he needed me to drive him; it just happened that he was headed in the opposite direction than I was presently going. With out saying a word I got in the car and started to drive. I asked him time and time again, where do you want me to drop you off, and continuously he told me “where ever”. I thought this to be strange but continued driving. Conversation soon began and as we talked the topic of what I did sprang up. I explained that I was College Student pursing a degree in youth ministry. That’s when God took over. He had question about question that challenged me and forced me to speak honestly and truthfully about my faith in Christ. I explained how I believed God did not segregate colors of skin, but we in our sinful nature as humans have placed each other in classifications of social standards; further explaining how God see’s each person native, white, black or Latino with the same love and desperation. This mans total body posture changed from the beginning to the end of the conversation. He seemed receptive. When I dropped him off I gave him five dollars and wished him luck. As a tear trickled down his cheek he closed the car door and gently placed his hand on my window. It felt like a cheesy commercial, but I placed my hand on the glass and watched him walk away. As I drove away I got three blocks, and was stopped at a red light pondering what had just happened. Before I knew it I was in a four car pile up. The end car failed to stop ramming into a van throwing it into me, and I was pushed into another vehicle. Sadly three of the four cars were totaled off (including mine). But I was able to go about speaking to those involved with a sense of compassion and love and instant forgiveness. Little did I know, that not only was the conversation a blessing to me, but also the accident. God blessed me with more money from my accident than what I had put into buying my car. I then had enough money to go school in the fall with little to no debt at all. God is good and is In control.

Why we hesitate to love others
1. We are busy
2. We are afraid
3. We are indifferent (its not my problem)
4. Who is my neighbor (try to justify it)

Love is an action
It is a gift
It requires us to give all not just a little bit.
God GAVE His only son… which is the ultimate act of love! (John 3:16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.)

1John 3:16-18

“This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and see’s his brother in need, but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in Him. Dear, children let us not love with words or in tongues but with actions and truth.”

B-