Against or for?
Why is it that the Church is known more for what we’re against than what we’re for? We’re against abortion. We’re against homosexuality. We’re against divorce. We’re against Democrats. We’re against Republicans. Half of the time, we’re against other churches!
The convicting thing is that when you study the life of Jesus, he was most often for things. He was for the woman who had been married and divorced five times. He was for little children who wanted to sit in his lap. He was for the diseased who had been outcast from society. He was for the poor, the blind, the crippled, the downtrodden.
Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35) We’re supposed to be known for our love! My grandmother used to say, “You know you catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.” The Church will have a lot more influence by what we’re for than what we’re against.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there are times when, like Jesus, we have to take a strong stand against sin and injustice in the world. But, when we’re known for our love, those stands that we need to take will have much greater impact than when we’re always on the defensive.
James said it this way, "Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time." (James 2:13 MSG)
The convicting thing is that when you study the life of Jesus, he was most often for things. He was for the woman who had been married and divorced five times. He was for little children who wanted to sit in his lap. He was for the diseased who had been outcast from society. He was for the poor, the blind, the crippled, the downtrodden.
Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35) We’re supposed to be known for our love! My grandmother used to say, “You know you catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.” The Church will have a lot more influence by what we’re for than what we’re against.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there are times when, like Jesus, we have to take a strong stand against sin and injustice in the world. But, when we’re known for our love, those stands that we need to take will have much greater impact than when we’re always on the defensive.
James said it this way, "Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time." (James 2:13 MSG)
posted by Greg Nettle at 8:50 AM
7 Comments:
Very interesting questions Greg. I think that is why I am so drawn to the folks leading the "emergent" church movement. They are asking similar questions and asking if church as it has developed, or is developing, in America is really drawing people to Jesus or not.
I've found that being ready to ask the questions is a big part of the answer!
Love your blog!
I think, actually I know, this is the reason I have traveled so far from "church".
I just couldn't understand the amount of intolerance and harshness toward the outside world. The pious and hypocritical judgement of people within their own community, their own families and friends.
No one seemed interested in getting involved, or getting to know the person behind the labels of "sin".
I always thought of all the things they were "against" as symptoms, not the cause.
Wouldn't a lack of love in someone's life be the cause? Love of self, or others?
It's easier is the honest truth. Easier to apply the symptom label and distance yourself.
It's much harder to invest the energy to truly involve yourself in someones life. Maybe help them to see that they have value. It's also hard to know exactly what to do, how to go about it. What to say, or more important, how to say it.
Everyday you have 3 choices in how you affect your world. Positively, negatively, or not at all. The first 2 have a ripple effect.
Kerri - you comments are dead on.
Look at our obsession with celebrities. By looking for the faults and frailties of others we divert attention from our own. Not only do we keep others from seeing our faults, we don't have the face them either.
We need to remember, the church is people, not laws, politics, activism, rants. We are in the church because God chose to overlook our sins. We should make a similar choice.
Great post, Pastor Greg.
Different churches are known for different things. This one has great music. That one has a great preacher. This one handles snakes. That one doesn't let you dance or play cards. This one doesn't use musical instruments.
When it is said, "That church really loves," then the church will be followers of Jesus
Hey Matt,
Thanks for your comments. Really appreciate your being on the frontlines to love the world with Compassion!
Hi Kerrie,
Just a brief comment on your last statement. You wrote, "Everyday you have 3 choices in how you affect your world. Positively, negatively, or not at all. The first 2 have a ripple effect."
I think the third has the worst effect of all. Apathy--choosing to do nothing--is death to millions of people at risk in the world.
Really appreciate you commenting!
It's interesting .........I think we come to the church, generally, from two stand points:
1. We come and stay in church because we know there is something "wrong" or "bad" about the rest of the world. Church becomes a safe haven....from the "evil" of the world.......OR
2. We come and stay in church because we are drawn into the loving arms of Jesus...where we know we are loved (and all others are loved). We come because of a deep commitment to growing closer to Jesus and deepening our relationship with Him.
Coming to church to seperate yourself from the "evil" world, might work for a short time, but it leads to being "against" the rest of the world.
Coming to church for a deeper personal relationship with Jesus, builds a bridge back to the world and you can't help but be "for" loving the rest of the world.
Does that make any sense?
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