Saturday, August 4, 2012

Our Actions Should Reflect God’s Love

“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him -- you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.” -- Acts 7:51-53

Stephen spoke truth but it wasn’t the truth that the religious leaders of his day wanted to hear. So they stoned him to death. We know this story well. We remember that Saul, whom we know mostly as Paul, was there that day.

What we don’t think about, what we don’t consider, is that we could possibly be those religious leaders. We get so caught up in being right, in telling everyone exactly what the Bible says and means, that we lose sight of the love and compassion that marked Jesus’ ministry. We forget that maybe, just maybe, we don’t know as much as we think we do.

We’ve been inundated lately with news reports about a fast-food franchise owner and his religious views. Political views, too, I guess. Because he opposes homosexuals and favors a family unit of one man, one woman, and children. That is his right.

Gay rights activists threatened to boycott and out came the Christian supporters. They chose a day and turned out in force to support the restaurants. How nice. But I wonder if anyone, on either side, stopped to think about Jesus.

Because this isn’t about Jesus. It isn’t. Jesus is about love and this is about hate. Jesus is about compassion and this is about rejection. Jesus welcomed the outcasts and the sinners. These people are condemning and judging the very people that Jesus loves.

It all comes back to the Old Testament. I’ve read what it says. I know the words, just as I know what it says about food and slaves and stoning adulterers. What I don’t understand is why we, today’s Christians, are so quick to pick and choose which words we’ll apply today and which we’ll excuse as not being relevant in today’s world.

I don’t have any answers when it comes to what God thinks about homosexuality. But I do know that God loves all His children. Every single one of them. And He expects us to love them too. I also know that, contrary to what many would prefer to believe, homosexuality isn’t a “choice” for most. It is simply who they are as people that God fearfully and wonderfully made.

I’m a huge advocate of the First Amendment. I strongly support anyone’s right to express his/her views on any subject. But hatred has no place in God’s house. Before we rush out to support an issue, we should consider how Jesus would react -- then act in love, not hate.

Monday, May 31, 2010

The First Martyr

"While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep." -- Acts 7: 59-60

Today is Memorial Day. It is a day to remember all the men and women who have died to give us the freedom to worship as we please. We are thankful. We are grateful.

I am also grateful to a man named Stephen. He was the first person to give his life for the gospel and, thus, became Christianity's first martyr. He spoke truth, knowing it would end his life in this world. He looked toward heaven and, filled with the Holy Spirit, "saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

I want to be like Stephen. I want to be the person who could and would die for Jesus. Would I? Would you? Really none of us knows until that exact instance when we must choose. We can plan ahead and vow loyalty and love. We can mean well. But truth comes in that moment when death beckons and we don't want to go.

Stephen's life wasn't defined by his death. We forget that sometimes. He was chosen for his integrity and wisdom to be one of seven people who distributed food to the needy in the early church. He was an activist for his faith. He didn't intend to do good. He did good.

Is it any wonder that opponents seized Stephen? They flung lies at him but he stood strong. Scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit filled Stephen and he argued with the teachers of the law and the elders. He used Old Testament history to lead them to Jesus, condemning them for failing to recognize the Messiah. So they stoned Stephen to death rather than accept Jesus' gift of salvation.

Memorial Day is a wonderful time to remember all the heroes who have gone before us. Some of those fought wars to give us the right to read Bibles and worship freely. Others defended Jesus and the faith we hold so dear. Thank you to all of them.