Extension of Grace

Ignorant. Stupid. Pointless. Badgering.

This is what many people think of Christians and of their God when we insert Scripture into our conversations.
We tend to use verses as a weapon, as a solution to problems that they believe nobody has experienced or can possibly understand.

Maybe that's why Jesus called us to be 'Living Stones' rather than stone-faced rocks without expression or emotion.

As Christians, we are to be full of the grace and compassion Jesus has shown to us in His mercy; that means it requires mercy on our part to be extended to those who are not like us.

In doing so, we should never treat a person like they are a blank slate that we can mold, but rather, a corrupted, broken slate - in short, a slate like you and me.
Because that's what we are without Christ, broken, corrupted, incomplete.

The reality of life in America is that society's majority is truly right of center.
This means many who are unchurched or post-church will share our values; but if you and I never shine the light and pour out the salt God has given us, those same people will never discover the source of their convictions and their hearts will never awaken to God's Holy Spirit. 

So, how do we do it?

Well, today in America there are literally thousands upon thousands of churches; they use various techniques and programs trying to gain members.
Therein lies the problem.

As the Body of Christ, we're not to seek to gain members but rather to be servants of God attempting to build His Kingdom
And if we are faithful in that endeavor, God will bless our churches because it will be a true Body seeking the Lord's will and heart to be exposed in the world.
We are not to seek to gain members, but we are to seek serving the Lord.

When Jesus was on earth, He didn't use techniques and programs which originated from a think-tank of denominational backing.
Instead, Jesus did it through His Spirit and in example.

Jesus took people seriously when they had a complaint or concern in their life.
Jesus had compassion on the hurting and the sick; even when those sicknesses were self-inflicted or deemed them 'unclean.'

As the Body of Christ, we need to forget about the choices people have made that have brought them to 'this' place in their life; instead, we should concentrate on that underlying thirst of their spirit which is in search....for something.
Although, they may not know what that 'something' is.

But we must remember, every human being is faced with thousands of choices during their lifetime. 
Many of those choices will result in pain.

That pain they experience, will tragic and will never entirely go away; yet, it can be redeemed through grace.
And that is a lesson we must learn and re-learn, for we are all in need of daily grace.

I am a student of history; for that blessing, I credit my father.
When looking over the annuls of history, there are times when it is clear that humanity has come face-to-face with pure evil.
In my mind, immediately the Holocaust comes to mind as the premier example.

In reading the account of Creation from Scripture, I know man was created in the image of God.
And we retain that status as 'image-bearers' which is why God puts such a barrier around our lives and our families.

Yet, I wonder in reading of Creation and of the Holocaust how in the world did humanity descend from being the sacred image-bearer of God to nearly destroying an entire race of people.
We need not look even as far back as the Holocaust; that same beast in the heart of Hitler and Himmler can be found on the campus of Virginia Tech, in the town of Jonesboro, Arkansas; it rose from the ashes of Columbine and found itself in Newtown as well.

In remembering each of these, millions wonder why God allows such things.
Others wonder why God doesn't do something about it; why won't He stop the evil which permeates throughout history?

But I wonder, 'Why doesn't we do something as Christians that God would want us to do?'
Maybe then, tragedies like those mentioned above would come to an end.

The truth is that we live on a planet which has been invaded and is now occupied by evil.

Christ's followers, His true followers, are called to be part of the solution.

In the last three years, I have spent an untold amount of time thinking, exploring and writing about the problem of evil, about God's relationship to it and us and about suffering and pain.
It has been a good three years; productive, while painful.
Yet, I must wonder what would have happened if a true Christian had befriended a young Adolph Hitler. Would he have been on of the greatest leaders Europe had ever known?
Or would he had faded into obscurity without even a footnote in the pages of history?

We will never know.

We can do nothing about the past; nor should we try to do anything with it other than learn honest lessons for the service of God in the future.
You and I may never come into contact with a person like Hitler or even a benevolent soul like Mother Teresa; and we may never change the course of history.
But you and I can make a difference in one person who needs grace and change the course of their life.

And I believe that is what God would have each Christian do today; without judgment, without wanting something from them; just serving them as lost-children of the King in grace and mercy.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.