January 7, 2018

Do You Walk in Love?

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:1-2

How accepting are you? Do you welcome people who are different, whether it’s someone from another culture or a different faith? Do you treat those who are poor with the same respect as you treat those who are wealthy? Do you treat someone warmly, regardless of their social status?

Don’t be so quick to say “Of course!” Our churches are filled with people who are only interested in welcoming people just like them into their fold. “Different” need not apply.

We’re quick to make excuses. We need people who can give back, whether financially or with volunteer hours. We’re not set up to deal with “issues” some folks might bring, things like drug addiction, depression, abusive relationships. Some other church is more equipped to help them. That’s what we tell ourselves, anyway.

Jesus never said to pass our obligations on to someone else. He never said to make people clean themselves up before we extend our hands in love. He also never said our rules and opinions should matter more than loving the lost, the broken, the hungry. In fact, Jesus said just the opposite.

Let’s take it outside of the church for a moment. Do you welcome the new co-worker to lunch with your friends? Do you invite the new neighbors over for the neighborhood cookout? Do you include the new child at school in your own child’s playgroup? Do you extend the hand of welcome, the hand of grace, the hand of acceptance to those you don’t know and those who might not “fit in?”

Who have you rejected today? Who have you excluded from your circle? Who have you made to feel unwanted, unnoticed, unwelcome? Who is walking alone today because you didn’t make an effort to invite them into your world, even if only for a moment, a meal, a short conversation?

Pastor Ryan Martin said yesterday that when we treat people with love and respect, we see a change in them. He’s right. Sometimes all it takes is a kind word and genuine smile to see people blossom right in front of you.

Here’s a basic truth: God loves the outcasts whether we love them or not. God sees the outcasts whether we see them or not. It’s not how hard you love those in your circle that counts. It’s how hard you love those on the perimeter of your world that draws people toward Christ.

We focus on the ugliness in Washington. We condemn those who are different. We spew hatred toward those we paint with a wide brush stroke as evil. And we do it all in the name of Jesus. How ridiculous and how sad.

We justify ourselves using God’s own words. We pull things out of context. We focus on one sentence, ignoring all the others around it. We excuse our own sins while harshly judging someone who sins differently.

Martin noted that God’s Word is a sword. The Bible tells us that. But here’s the rest of that: It can be used for good or evil. God’s Word can be used to strengthen His Kingdom or tear it down.

It’s easy to point fingers and blame others for all the evils in this world. That’s not your job or mine. Judgment belongs to God. Our job is to love people and, in so doing, shine a light that draws them toward Christ.

December 3, 2018

Jesus Welcomed Everyone

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” – Mark 2:16

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

– Revelation 3:20

There’s a parable in Luke 14 about the man who prepared a great banquet for many people. When all was ready, he sent his servants to tell them to come and enjoy the feast. The invited guests responded with excuses as to why they couldn’t come.

The man then sent his servants to the streets and alleys of the town to invite the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. Then the servants went out to the roads and country lanes and invited more so that the man’s house would be full.

I love this parable because it’s a reminder than Jesus invites everyone to His table. He doesn’t exclude someone because they aren’t wealthy enough. He doesn’t exclude someone because they aren’t part of the “in” crowd. He doesn’t look at weight or dress or skin color. Everyone is invited.

Yesterday I heard a young woman talk about the support she’d received through a church-sponsored program that helps people gain the skills they need to succeed. She talked about being accepted and supported and how that makes all the difference when you’re struggling to succeed.

We tend to assume that everyone has a support system made up of family and friends. We just “know” that everyone knows how to craft a resume or dress for a job interview or balance a checkbook. But the reality is that so many people don’t have that support or those skills. This program is all about giving people both.

We are all about our little cliques. We don’t always see it that way. We’ve got our group of folks we sit with, eat with, socialize with. Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with that. But how often do we exclude someone who longs for a place to belong?

It’s probably not intentional, though adult Christians can certainly be mean and unwelcoming to those who look and dress differently than they do. It’s just that we get so caught up in our own lives and our own habits that we don’t see those lingering on the fringes on our world. We don’t want to see. We don’t want to spend the time to get to know someone else. We don’t want them to become our “problem.”

I’m so very thankful that Jesus never looked at anyone that way. I’m grateful that He invited me to His table. Because, honestly, I know what it’s like to sit alone. I know what it’s like to be excluded from the photographs, from the outing, from the conversation. Have you been there? Have you felt that stab of pain?

Because it hurts. We tell ourselves it doesn’t matter. We put up a strong façade. We hide behind the smile, the right words, the necessity of checking our phone right then. But Jesus sees the silent tears. He knows the pain of rejection.

This Christmas season we remember the birth of our Savior, the One who came to save us all. No exclusions. Everyone is invited to partake of His free gift of salvation.

What gift can we give to Jesus for all He has done and continues to do for each of us? Perhaps we can love those He has placed in our paths. Maybe we can notice the outcast, those on the fringes of our worlds. Surely we can invite them to our table, to sit beside us, to learn their names and their stories.

Jesus welcomed everyone. Shouldn’t we do the same?

November 11, 2018

Accept Everyone

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10

They don’t attend our church anymore. The teenager prefers another church, as does his younger brother. The adults, well, they don’t want the Sunday morning battle. It’s just easier to attend church where the kids want to go rather than try to force them to attend a church they don’t want to attend.

One church member asked about the mom, who had been active in women’s ministry. I explained without getting into great detail. Her reaction shocked me. You see, she volunteers with the youth at our church. She teaches a Sunday school class and knows most of the kids.

“He’s a little different,” she said of the teen. “He just never fit in.”

Excuse me? He’s a wonderful young man who does indeed walk to a different beat. He’s into music, not sports. He gravitates toward theater, not softball. He has much to offer but I wonder how much of it she and others missed because he doesn’t conform to their stereotype.

We certainly missed an opportunity. Church provides a wonderful time to teach people how to accept and form friendships with those who are different than them. Did no one seek him out? Did no one try to include him, to hear him, to see him?

Because I know the backstory to this young man, I understand a bit more about why he might be different. I won’t share that here. It’s not my story to tell. I will say that we don’t always know the traumas others have endured. We don’t err on the side of being kind and inclusive. It’s just too easy to exclude those who don’t conform.

It is high school stuff but it’s stuff we see everyday in church. It’s sad. Church should be the one place where everyone is welcome and accepted. Sometimes that’s true. Oftentimes, though, it’s not.

We want to surround ourselves with people who look, talk and think as we do. We’ve got no room for anyone who maybe dresses a little bohemian or likes things we don’t care for. We prefer our own little cliques rather than try to expand ourselves by reaching out to someone who is different.

Several years ago I gave a ride to a man who was headed to his job at a nearby army base. He was from another country. His wife and sons were thriving in our area. His wife was working on a Masters Degree at a local college. His sons were involved in school and had made many friends. His daughter was suffering greatly. Because of their culture, she dressed differently. And, because of that, she was an outcast at school. No one wanted to be her friend. No one wanted to know her and include her.

I know what you’re thinking and you’re right. They weren’t Christians. So what? They were visitors to our country, to our community. What does this little girl now think about people who call themselves Christians? Did we draw her toward Christ or push her away? You already know the answer.

Our job in life isn’t to criticize, condemn or judge others. That’s especially true when people are different than we are. We have much to learn about Jesus if we don’t get that. Our Savior drew others to Himself. Jesus reached out to the outcast. Why don’t we?

Take a moment today to reach out to someone you don’t know. Include them in your group. Get to know them. Open your heart and your mind. Be kind. Accept them as they are just as Jesus would. Show them your faith through your words and actions. Draw them to Jesus by letting His light shine through you.