Sunday, June 10, 2012

God’s Word Tells Us What To Do

And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’

“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.” -- Zechariah 7:8-12

Look around you. Everywhere you see and hear pious people bemoaning the state of our nation. The liberals are killing it, they proclaim. People should turn back to God to save it, they shout, certain they are voicing God‘s will.

Have they read the Bible? Really read it? Have they asked God what He wants or merely told God what they want to hear? Because what they proclaim and what I read in the Bible just aren’t the same thing at all.

I don’t have any answers to the illegal immigrant problem in our nation. I don’t know how to make people go to work or to find living wage jobs for those who do work. I don’t know how to make people care for their elderly relatives. I can’t force people to have compassion and provide opportunities to children without support and guidance.

I guess you could say that I don’t know much of anything. But I do know what God says. God says to show mercy and compassion. He warns us not to harden our hearts against His words, not to turn our backs on those in need.

And yet we do. Again and again. We “justify” our actions, our cruel words, our hard hearts. We tell people to get a job, and we quote Scripture that warns against laziness. We warn people to follow the law, and we quote Scripture that tells us to obey the laws of the land. We condemn sinners, and quote Scripture about how God has called us all to live.

We somehow seem to forget all those passages calling us to love and compassion and kindness. We ignore the words warning us against judging others. We skim past the words of Jesus as He extended forgiveness and a helping hand.

We forget that we are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. We all need God’s grace. And none of us deserve it. Not one. So why do we believe that it’s okay to place ourselves on a pedestal with rest of the world in a pit beneath our feet?

A dear friend, a deacon in a conservative Baptist church, told me he’s learned to quiet those criticisms in his own mind. He forces himself to imagine what it would be like to walk in the shoes of the person he’s judging and that changes his attitude right away. It opens his heart to love others as Jesus has called us to do.

Pious judgments turn people away from the very God who can save us all. Stop looking around for someone to blame for the state of our country and look in the mirror instead. Change starts with you and me doing what God has told us to do.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Only One Opinion Matters

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

-- Romans 8:1-2

I have been condemned by the people around me. I have been criticized and failed miserably no matter the path I take. The verbal bullet is aimed straight at me and there is no relief in sight. I'm thankful that those who judge me so harshly are not the ones whose opinion truly matters. Jesus has freed me from their condemnation.

It doesn't mean the hurt has gone away. Or will go away in this lifetime. I suspect it will always be there, telling me I am not worthy to be a part of their world. That's okay, I tell myself. This isn't my home anyway. My home is in heaven. This place is just temporary. Satan's voice reminds me that it's a good thing too. Home is where a person is loved and wanted. I've finally thrown the towel in on that one.

It's so tiring trying to meet the expectations of others. It's an impossible situation. Someone is always unhappy and I am a convenient scapegoat. It would almost be comical if it weren't so sad. I get blamed for things that aren't even remotedly my fault. Don't get me wrong. I'm far from perfect and I certainly do my share of things wrong. But, honestly, I have nothing to do with the weather or what other people say or do.

I know I'm not alone in this. We've all had someone else take their bad mood out on us. We've all dealt with temper tantrums and irritable people. We've all deserved better at one time or another. Mine just seems to be ongoing and Satan tells me I'm the problem. Maybe I am. Some people are meant to be a thorn and I seem to be particularly good at that. At least in this family.

I'm thankful for the family I have waiting for me in heaven. I look forward to the warm welcome and loving arms of Jesus. I am grateful that I don't have to measure up to the rules and expectations of those around me here on earth. I am enough for God. He made me to be perfect in His eyes. There is no condemnation for those who embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior. No matter what the rest of the world may say.