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| Pray for Paris |
Three years ago, I had my first PET Scan in which my internal organs lit up 'like a Christmas Tree,' signifying that I had Cancer; the plague of the Twenty-first Century which knows no boundaries as to race, religion, gender or age.
Time passed and I lost half a lung, an adrenal gland, some lymph nodes, one huge tumor on my kidney and a spleen.
Yet, Cancer did not claim me as its victim; God had other plans and delivered me through to this point tonight.
And it is at this moment that my friends of the Medical World in Cleveland tell me that another 'hot' spot has been detected in my left lung.
My faith is as strong today as it has ever been; yet, I cannot help marveling at the insanity of the world.
I thought we were supposed to be progressing; but it seems just the opposite.
Tonight, we mourn with those who lost loved ones in Paris, regardless of faith, gender, sexual orientation or race.
And we trust the justice and mercy of God as we mourn the victims of the terrorist attack.
It evades my understanding as to how literally thousands upon thousands of so-called 'refugees' could be allowed into Western Europe, with government approval, without security checks, passports or identification, all originating from the Middle East, knowing radical Islamists seek
It also boggles my mind knowing that in all the pictures of these 'refugees' entering Europe, there was no women or children; only young, war-fighting age men.
I recently read the following quote by Pervez Musharraf:
"Islam teaches tolerance, not hatred; universal brotherhood, not enmity; peace, and not violence."
I wonder, then, why it is that Muslims are not known for tolerance but hatred, enmity instead of brotherhood and violence rather than peace.
Truthfully, I wonder how long it will be before we are called on by our NATO Allies to Aid Europe once again and exterminate evil, like our forefathers.
But I digress.
One thing I do believe I can accurately speak on is the spiritual nature of current events.
As Paris bleeds tonight, perhaps the Church will become a Beacon, a Light for the hurting masses.
Perhaps...but I don't think so.
Do you know why?
Because, in the United States, Christians are too busy arguing about a Red Cup with coffee in it.
Honestly, this has to be the dumbest thing I've seen in a long, long time.
I mean, seriously, if you are so offended over a coffee cup - why don't you take that outrage down to a homeless shelter or a food bank and put that pent up energy to good use.
At either place, you may write anything you'd like on the merchandise because those receiving it are just happy to have it.
In short, quit looking down your nose at a secular company in a post-Christian society because they don't share our religious views.
They aren't in business to share our Christianity; they are in business to sell coffee → which they do well.
And honestly, I enjoyed a cup from them on Veteran's Day and I appreciated the gesture.
But again, I digress.
You see, as long as Christians pick these battles, they will die on all the wrong hills and not advance the cause of Christ one inch.
Red Coffee Cups are not a hill on which I choose to die.
The Christian life is not about coffee cups, it's about Jesus.
As followers of Jesus, we should be dispensing His grace; if we would do this one thing and do it well, there would be little time for frivolous protests.
The reason so many have rejected the Church is because they are reacting against a faith that no longer sounds like 'Good News,' as the Gospel is supposed to be.
The current generation of people who do not identify with any faith, the so-called 'Nones,' most don't claim to be atheists; which means that at some level in their life, they are on a spiritual search.
While looking for this spiritual home, if Christians are not emblematic of Christ, and instead place our own rules and thoughts in the mix, the 'Nones' will look past the Kingdom of God.
By His own testimony, Jesus came, 'Full of Grace and Truth.'
For the most part, the Church has got the 'Truth' part of the equation right.
Where we lose the battle, regardless of denomination, is when it come to grace.
The Apostle Paul called the concept of grace, 'incomparable riches.'
He was right.
Sadly, we find many within the Body of Christ who have received this wealth of God's grace and remain poverty stricken.
Many years ago, Jesus of Nazareth was in Samaria and met who is now known as 'the Woman at the Well.'
We don't know her name, the circumstances weren't even right for Jesus to be at the well to meet this woman; most self-respecting Jews went around the entire country because of prejudice.
The Woman at the Well had been with many men, married several times and 'shacking up' with
Jesus met her where she was at in life, offered her grace through the invitation of 'Living Water' because He knew she was spiritually thirsty.
Like the Samaritan woman, people do not need a judgment from a Christian about how they live their life.
What they need, is what everybody needs at some point; something which will quench the thirst of their soul.
Every person needs a solution to the guilt which is in our hearts.
When the Woman at the Well received the 'Living Water' of Grace from Jesus, she was ecstatic; nothing like what she experienced had ever been experienced before.
The result → Grace so welcoming and powerful that for two days it attracted followers to Jesus.
The Woman became a dispenser of grace, wanting others to know how they too could have their spiritual thirst quenched and the guilt eradicated.
Society today is called 'Post-Modern,' and at some level, many places are also 'Post-Christian' although no Christian wants to accept it.
To accept society as 'Post-Christian' some believe they would be admitting defeat.
I don't believe that is accurate because you and I need to be honest and accurate if we are going to become dispensers of God's grace in the world today.
Quite possibly, the solution begins by you and I not looking at the differences others may have with us; but rather, seeing people through the eye of faith as 'thirsty'.
The only way this works is if you and I seek to see people as Jesus saw them; in need of Living Water.
But you and I also have to come to an understanding about dispensing God's Grace; the fact is that some people will reject it.
Humanity has the same basic needs throughout the world; especially on an individual level.
Secular individuals and Christians are going to disagree as to how to eliminate hunger, homelessness, economic depressions, and every other need.
In our effort to give grace, not everyone is going to choose the Living Water of Jesus.
The Christian isn't responsible for the decisions another person makes about Jesus; you and I are, however, responsible for how you have represented Him in this life and how you have lived.
In other words, how you lived, acted and spoke → Did it make anyone 'thirsty?'
Until next time, let's make them thirsty and win one for the good guys.
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