Stop to Question

Do you love Obama? Just wondering, because you should. Not just because you agree with him, but even more if you don't agree. Why? Because that's who we are and that's who God is. Too often lately I've heard conviction used as an excuse for hate, passion as an excuse for bitterness and God as an excuse to be judgemental and angry. That's not the God I serve.

I find it confusing to hear peoples anger at not having Christianity highlighted above other religions. Don't get me wrong - I know the truth and that the truth sets people free. I know that I have an extreme desire to see people come to the Lord and be set free. I however happen to be extremely positive this freedom never stemmed from "control". Not in the garden, not now. We can't control our country or people's decisions, loyalty or convictions. But thank God we have the freedom to choose for ourselves! People did not come to our country originally to exert more control! They came to have freedom to choose.

A true relationship comes from desire. It comes from passionate pursuit, and a very real interaction with the Father of all. When we choose as Christians to operate through control and anger - so frustrated and offended that others do not agree with us...do you know what we do?
Instead of showing Jesus to the world we show something very different. We display something that absolutely everyone in there right mind hates. Malachi hates it at two years old! The belief that we should be able to control and force other to agree with us. Nothing real about that. Unfortunately, when that is done we turn what could of been romance into something that has the attraction level of a prison cell.

I have to be honest. I'm a little embarrassed, even ashamed at what we Christians are known for right now. Anti-homosexual rights. Anti health care for the poor. Really? I mean, really?I'm not saying there aren't a thousand and a half reasons for these convictions. BUT. But I must say, I've heard them way to many times and I just want to be the one to wonder. To stop and realize that I'm not entirely sure that this is what "Jesus would do".

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.'

^37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'"

(Matthew 25)

I heard a message recently where the pastor encouraged, "look for the unloved, and love them."

I wanted to post a link to an article I thought was challenging and very valid. http://kathyescobar.com/2009/08/31/its-easy-to-be-against-health-care-reform-when-you-have-insurance/

I just want to gently challenge my friends and family to remember that we are called to honor and to love. Let's honor and love our president, our friends, our acquaintances...and most especially those we don't agree with.