But...what will they think?

There comes a time when we have the perfect time to acknowledge our faith in Jesus, only to become timid and almost 'embarrassed' to do so simply because our 'social group' would think us 'odd' or reject us because of our 'stand'? There are times we think more about our 'social standing' within the group than we do our opportunity to be light and life in a very, very dark world. The leaders believed, yet their 'fear' of the impact on their 'social standing' as 'leaders' actually caused them to keep silent about Jesus. It is a sad day when we care more about what others think about us than we do about drawing closer to Jesus, allowing him to use us in whatever 'social grouping' we have been placed.

Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God. Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.” (John 12:42-47)

To think more about human praise or status than the praise of God is to walk a very slippery slope. We might think our 'status' in Christ will make others uncomfortable, but sometimes we worry more that is a 'bit threatening' to our own social status in the group! Yes, Jesus made people uncomfortable - but that was because they were more concerned with the way they were seen by the masses than they were in drawing closer to him. They didn't want to be identified as sinners in need of a Savior. They didn't want to be 'shy' with their faith, they just didn't really know how to be 'bold' in their beliefs.

The good news is that when Christ died, was raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to reside within his followers. There is no need to be timid or shy with our faith any longer - for the Spirit of God will not only show us how to live 'above' the crowd's opinion of us but will give us the boldness to actually live consistently without fear of human opinion. There is no 'position' on this earth, or social standing that is better than standing 'in Christ'. So how is it we get all caught up in human opinion of us? I think a little thing called pride gets us all messed up in this matter.

We 'like' being accepted and we 'appreciate' being noticed in a positive manner. Whenever the attention turns from us being liked or appreciated to a place of being a threat or someone others take issue with because of our beliefs, we almost want to hide. The line between being 'bold for Christ' and 'not being a light' in this earth is a very fine line. It is quite easy to cross over it when the opinion of the social group we 'admire' becomes the focus instead of keeping Jesus first in our lives. The more influence we give human opinion in our lives, the less bold we become for Christ. 

Salt isn't savory when it is diluted to the point of only giving a 'hint' of that salty taste. Dilute your 'faith' or 'beliefs' too much and you lose your 'savor' in this world. When we are willing to be salt and light, we are making a determination to live above human opinion because the only 'opinion' that matters to us is that of our Lord! Just sayin!

Just as I am

So accept one another in the same way the Anointed has accepted you so that God will get the praise He is due.  (Romans 15:7 VOICE)

Mother Teresa always reminded us of the power of a smile: "Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." She also said we are responsible to ensure no one ever leaves our presence without being just a little bit happier - how? Through the spreading of love wherever we go!  There is something powerful in accepting the other person - complete with their quirks and hangups, their good intentions and their not so "holy" ones, their wisdom and their foolishness. My dad used to remind me that the things happening in my life might just pale in comparison to the other person's life's events, so I shouldn't judge based on what I see on the surface.  It was that old adage of "there for the grace of God go I" kind of moment.

Acceptance involves approval - not so much of the actions of the other person as the person themselves. Too many times I think we confuse this - thinking when we accept another individual for who they are, we are somehow condoning the not so good parts of their actions, character, or choices. This isn't exactly the way God sees it, because the example he set for us was one of accepting us exactly as we are - not because he enjoys or condones our sin, but because he loves us. When we accept another, we are receiving them "willingly" into our lives - with no strings attached, no sense of obligation to perform or be a certain way in order to be "in our circle".  I think Mother Teresa may have had this down to an "art" in her life, for she could reach out to the lame, dying, crippled, and maimed as easily as she could the "whole".

When we accept another, we are taking them into our lives - we are holding them in a place of value which others may not always see or appreciate. I am fortunate to have been "accepted" by some pretty awesome people in my life. I have been blessed to be loved just as I am, not as I could be. The ones who embrace me in this manner aren't busy trying to "make me" a certain way, but are willing to be with me exactly as I am, allowing God to do the work of changing anything in me that might not be as it should be in my life. In so doing, we find ourselves able to grow together - no one being anymore "perfect" than the other - for we are pretty much equally in need of change - maybe just not in the same places.

God's acceptance is sometimes modeled to us in the lives of those who leave our lives just a little bit happier by just being with them. We don't know the power acceptance holds in the lives of those we meet each day - for nothing may display the love of Christ more completely as just allowing a person to be exactly who they are. Just sayin!

What if....

What if...the church really started accepting people who were genuine as the only "members" of the church?  Would you be among that number?  Would you be free to be exactly who you are right there in the midst of others who are being just who they are?  In most churches today, we aren't too excited about others being very "human" in our midst.  If we were totally honest here, we aren't too comfortable being "human" around a whole bunch of people we may feel a little "judged" by - right?  So, I wonder how much we are willing to rise up to the challenge to "get real" in our local church - to actually stop being the hypocrites we can all be (me included) and just get real with God, self, and others?  Quite a challenge - but one which may just have advantages unrealized by a great multitude!

We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. (Romans 12:4-5 CEB)

We are all many different individuals, complete with our own individual backgrounds.  We were raised differently, in different regions of the world, and even under different rules by which we were to live our lives.  We might have had parents who did a good job helping us grow up into maturity, while others of us hopped around from foster home to foster home, barely keeping ourselves intact emotionally through it all.  Some of us might have chosen wise paths and friendships, growing stronger and more like a pillar in the community; while others may have "hung with the wrong crowd" or been forced into choices they didn't know would end up in such desperate states.  Regardless of where we have been, we are all going to need to be accepted for where we were on our journey to where we are heading in Christ Jesus.

Now, if we were free to be "human" in our churches, I imagine:

- The prostitute could arrive on our doorstep, attired in her "Sunday best", and find a seat next to the little older lady with the blue hair.  I see her gnarled aging hand reaching out and wrapping itself around the brightly colored salon nails of the woman next to her.  In quite acceptance, they sit there at peace for what may have been the first time in quite a long time for that "woman of the night" who is just hungering for someone to love her enough to "touch her" in a way which wasn't threatening, demeaning, or judging.

- The Down's Syndrome adult who may not always say the appropriate thing, might make a few noises during the sermon, or clap totally off-beat to the worship songs would be encouraged to stay and even become a "contributing part" of the congregation.  Their smile might welcome the newest visitor of the day, or their worshipful dance invigorate the sullen soul whose week was long and quite draining of emotional energies.

- The drug addicted, skin-pocked, and colorfully-spoken young adult might perhaps realize his first real "guy hug" and a few slaps on the back to let him know he is not a rejected member of society, but a welcomed member of those who have their own hang-ups, addictions, and not so "perfect" language quirks. He might not know what he desires, having given into his one desire for that "fix" for the longest time, but he will realize it is safe to be "in need" and not be criticized for his "lack of control" over his life.

Imagine what it would be like if you and I could come into church and be who we are - not what we put on display on Sunday morning, but what we are right now, in the safety and sanctity of our own home.  Why do we feel it is so necessary to come to church "cleaned up" when all Christ ever did was welcome into his midst those who weren't clean at all?  We might do well to consider his example in our churches today.  We might just welcome those who dress differently than we do, sport a few or more tattooed images and piercings, or just plain "act" different than us.  We might just embrace those whose heart is crying out for acceptance and belonging - lonely beyond measure, but so scared to be "real" with anyone because everyone in their lives have left them scarred and torn.  We might just recognize Christ in our midst - in the handhold of the prostitute, the smile of the Down's woman, or the hurting glance of the addict. What if we adopted the standard of "no hypocrites allowed" within our churches? We might just experience a whole different side of Jesus than we had ever seen before!  Just sayin!

Taken in by his embrace

We all run - either toward something or away from it.  In every decision of life, we make a choice to draw near, or to cautiously pull away.  Throughout our daily lives, we resist some things and gladly partake of others.  The pear is eaten - the candy bar avoided.  The tough conversation is had - the relationship rift is avoided.  We all have a response to Jesus, as well - either to be embraced by him or to rely upon our own strength.  

Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.  This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time."  (John 6:35-40 The Message)  

Look again at the passage and you will see something quite revealing.  Jesus tells us we may do the running (into his arms), but he does the embracing.  I think we sometimes get this wrong - we somehow believe we are exerting the effort to be "held" in his arms.  By our efforts of prayer, Bible reading, and church attendance, we somehow think we are "holding onto" Jesus.  The exact opposite is true!  Jesus tells us prayer is a two-way communication - it is the opportunity to align our lives with his.  He also reminds us that getting to know his Word really matters very little - if all we do is learn it without the corresponding understanding which he gives.  As a matter of fact, he had just chastised the religious leaders for spending too much time in their Bibles, and not enough time in the presence of God!

Some things we should not miss in our passage:

- Alignment is necessary.  If you have ever driven a car with an "alignment" problem, you know it "pulls" to one side or the other.  The "ride" is not the easiest.  You have to constantly fight to keep the vehicle centered on the road.  This mis-alignment actually wreaks havoc on the car - wearing out tires, putting undue stress on all the working parts of the steering system, and making the driver a little irritated in the process.  The same can be said of our "alignment" with Jesus.  When we are not in correct "alignment", we have a tendency to "pull" in a direction which gets us into oncoming traffic!  We have the danger of veering off-course and into danger zones we'd rather avoid.  Therefore, getting aligned is the first step - staying aligned is a life-long process!

- We are a gift from the Father.  Jesus was explicit in the words he chose to use here:  "Every person the Father gives me..."  There have been times in my life when I have just gone to the store to buy a gift for someone - kind of aimlessly wandering the aisles until something caught my eye.  Then there have been others when I know exactly what I want to give to them.  I have found the gift I knew I wanted to give had much more impact in the life of the one I gifted it to than the one I merely picked up without any thought.  The important fact in this passage is we are each hand-selected, with a special thought in mind, by God!  He gifts us to his Son!  With intent!

- We run to Jesus.  We may try a whole lot of other things in life before we ever turn to him, but when we realize our need is never met in any other thing or person, we find ourselves running - straight into his arms!  I read a post by a friend this morning.  The words were simple:  Being a Christian doesn't mean I won't fall . . . it just means Jesus will catch me when I do.  It seems to me this hits the nail on the head.  Jesus "catches" every runner - not because he snags them as they are running by - but because he is kind of like their safety net.  When all else has failed, his arms are still wide open!  When we are embraced, we are received gladly - there is no regret on Jesus' part - he receives us gladly and with eagerness.  

- We are secure in his embrace.  Jesus was quite explicit - he holds onto us and he never lets go.  We are used to temporary embraces - those given by others.  They don't last - although the memory of their embrace may linger, the true embrace ends at some point.  Jesus was emphatic - he never lets go.  His embrace is lasting, sure, and tight!  We have no idea what his embrace will do in our lives until we "settle into it".  Think of the last time you were embraced by someone here on this earth.  When you "settled into it" what did it do for your emotions?  Now, this was just a small glimpse of the reality of what it is liked to be embraced by Jesus - a very small glimpse!  It is only when we learn to "settle into" the embrace of Jesus that he is free to begin to soothe the fragile emotions, open our eyes to new experiences, and melt away the tension of the frazzled busy-ness of our day.

- We can count on Jesus completing what he began in us.  In closing this morning, I don't want us to miss this important fact.  We "begin" a whole lot of things in life which we often never intend to finish.  The Father gifted each of us to Jesus - it is his intention to see each of us "finished" by the hand of a loving Savior.  We all need "work" - it is his joy to complete this work in us!  None of us is without exception - we all need his "putting together".  Nothing in us will be left incomplete.  This should give us a sense of hope - especially when we have struggled with the same old stuff over and over again in our lives.  The promise is sure:  Not a single detail will be missed!  Everything will be put together and whole!  Everything!

Just sayin....