At Christmas, the world comes alive; without question, something is different than at any other time of the year.
Those who rarely go to church or praise God, suddenly are thinking of the Incarnation and Virgin Birth.
Things are different because, suddenly, Jesus is everywhere; He becomes inescapable.
And in this inescapable time of the Lord, I would ask that you think with me about those who are outside of grace; those who do not know the Christ; those who have been rejected by society, but can be accepted by God.
The greatest communication of who Jesus was is not of the Nativity Scenes with the Christ-child in the manger; although that is what is foremost in our minds at this time of year.
Instead, the best communication of grace through every day believers; that's where people get the real meaning of 'God with Us.'
Quite possibly, the best witness you can ever have is when we exercise our freely given grace with those who are vastly different than we are.I'm certain everyone knows these people, the 'different' ones that are often rejected in life.
You know, different than 'normal' Christians, like bikers, poor people, foreigners or even gays.
In a nearby church, those who were not of middle or upper class were customarily looked down upon by others. And it is often this way with those who are poor.
And while we will chide one another about this lack of grace towards the poor and rightly state that it ought not be that way, I must ask of our attitudes towards the homosexual as a Christian with the message of grace?
Among those that claim to be gay you will find that many of them do not want to be.
Throw out the window all issues concerning equality, same-sex unions and the like; forget about the recent public advances of the gay community. The truth still remains many homosexuals are tortured within themselves because they do not want to be gay.
The reason, quite simply, is because of the pain that is involved; regardless of how it is tossed
It also damages Christ's image, grace mercy and love.
Somehow, I cannot imagine Jesus using hurtful words in this way.
Jesus would condemn the act as a sin, He would point to forgiveness, He would ask the individual repent; but Jesus wouldn't hurt another person with His Words.
I use this example of homosexuality because it is an issue where people are truly on totally opposite sides; there is little 'grey' areas.
It is also a Biblical/Christian issue as well as a Societal issue; at some point, the Christian must decide how they are going to treat those who are different from them; especially on this issue because homosexuals have been hurt and vilified for years by misguided believers who seemed to spew more hate than love.
Grace is available for any sinner; and because it is available, Christians ought to be the people on earth who lead the charge in loving any person different than themselves.
And if you are a Christian who does not believe God's mercy and grace CAN extend to homosexuals, I'm not sure you understand the nature of grace or of God.
This issue stirs within me because of something I saw up close and in person a few years ago.
At a particular event, I saw one of the most sickening things I have ever witnessed by a so-called 'church,' which owns national fame, protesting soldiers' deaths.
They demonstrated, holding signs which said, "Praising God for AIDS."
To them, to anyone, I would ask simply, 'Have you ever seen an AIDS patient?'
AIDS patients closely resemble Cancer patients; while I don't know what its like to have AIDS, I do know what it is like to begin to waste away because of Cancer.
I would wish neither plague on any human being.
To those who seek to hurt others or ignore other people who are seeking grace and God, I cannot argue them out of their beliefs or deeply rooted passions.
But whether it is homosexuals, divorcees, unwed mothers, murderers or any other active sin in a person's life, I can only point to a revised, old truth:
Jesus loves them...this we know, for the Bible tells us so.
What I have found in my life, so many are familiar with judgement and not compassion from Christians and the Church.
We are the Body of Christ and should be reminded, the place where judgment and compassion meet is called Grace.
Is this not what we see on the Cross?
Compassion and Judgment met; thereby giving us grace.
I recently read of 'Spatula Ministries.'It has this name referencing the phrase, 'Scrape me off the ceiling with a spatula!'
This ministry was founded by a mother whose son confessed to her he was gay.
The mother didn't know how to deal with the issue, nor do literally thousands of parents and siblings. She founded the ministry organization more than thirty years ago, but parents and children are still dealing with the same, timeless issues all such families encounter.
Yet, this ministry has now become a healing place for those with gay children; it allows thousands of people to grow in grace and not reject their child whom God has given them; but to love them for who they are.
Now, this particular blog is about genuinely showing grace to others, especially those whom society and churches routinely reject.
I can think of no group of people who have been more rejected throughout the centuries than homosexuals. I can also think of no other group of people who need grace from the Body of Christ as much as homosexuals do because they have been so hurt by the actions of our fore-bearers and ourselves.
But ultimately, regardless of the sin, we are speaking of grace and rejects.
When I was headed to the desert in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, I was instructed that I should make my own funeral plans before I left.It was odd being in my mid-30's and writing my own obituary; but I wrote the entire service and even picked who was to speak and sing.
During that time, I didn't really think about what others would say at my funeral.
But today, if my funeral was to take place and someone stood up and said:
"Pastor Jack loved the people our society has rejected..."
I would be perfectly happy into eternity.
The reason is because that's exactly what Jesus did.
Somehow, the church has gotten into this habit of rejecting those who are different.
As evidence, I point to the 11:00 hour on a Sunday morning; there is no time more segregated int he United States.
Millions of people who have hundreds of things in common, including their faith, stay away from each other due to the minor difference in the color of their skin.
One reason, I believe, we don't show grace to one another over our differences is because we think being nice to each other means acceptance of sin.
That's not true.
Let me give you an example:
As a minister, I can never approve of divorce because it is disobedience to God, with the exception of the Biblical reasons we are permitted to divorce.
If I did support divorce for any grounds, for either party, at any time - it would betray my beliefs.
Yet, initiating a divorce for an non-Biblical reason is no greater sin than lying.
Therefore, a person in such a situation doesn't need a Christian beating them in the head with a Bible; they need open arms and an open heart to comfort them because they are hurting.
Another reason I believe Christians don't show grace is because it requires an element of self-cost; theologically speaking.
For example, the cost of God extending forgiveness to us was His Son dying on the Cross.
If you and I choose to extend forgiveness and grace to others, it must cost something from us or it is not truly grace.
It is also easier to condemn others than to extend grace.
But isn't this what Jesus attacked in the Sermon on the Mount; our willingness to accuse others of murder and have anger/hate in our hearts?
You see, grace and understanding for any sin dies when the attitude becomes, 'us verses them.'
When Jesus came to earth, there were Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes; each of these groups teaching various moral methods and rules; each deriving their authority from what we now call the Old Testament.
Jesus began to minister and He then reduced the mark of a true believer down to one, single, solitary word - Love.
John 13:35
If we could obey that command, we would conquer all bigotry and all logic of other religions in the world.
You see, the Christian is to be different than any other type of person in the world; just as December is different than any other time of the year.
People who have money or power tend to draw up lists of 'friends' and 'enemies.'
The Christian is to do the exact opposite, we are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us and pray for those who seek to harm us.
The truth is that power without Godly love can become reckless and abusive.
Love without boundaries and grace can lessen the meaning of Godly love altogether and become a charity rather than a ministry.
The Christian, above all other people, knows in his/her heart to serve others who are different than we are; different spiritually, materially and even ethically.
We are to do this, not because they deserve it but because they do not deserve it.
Is this not what God extended to us in grace; for we are taught, 'While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'
Hospice, AA, and Mother Teresa - the founders of these ministries and the people associated with these ministries faced a life-changing decision.
They could either spout out a Christian doctrine and talk a good fight; or, they could base something on Godly, Christian principles that was needed to those who were hurting and disperse grace.
Today, very few people can tell me who preached the sermon, 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.'
Yet, very few can be found who have not been touched by either Hospice or Alcoholics Anonymous or the Ministry to the Sick and Dying that Mother Teresa founded.
The message is that those who have been rejected by the world, hurt by others and been sidelined by society; it is these to whom we are to extend our grace God has given us.
If you want to make a difference for the Lord this Christmas, don't simply decorate a tree or a house; decorate your life with trophies of grace.
And that grace is to be given to those who need it most.
Simply, in the words of our Lord, 'What you do unto the least of these, you have done unto me.'
Until next time, win one for the good guys.
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