Confusion...my constant companion as of late. I've felt so torn recently about how to act out my faith and how I see so many others act out theirs. Or maybe, "act out" is the wrong phrase...how about just "talk about" their faith on social media. The social media battleground has been so disheartening lately that I'm thisclose to deleting my Facebook account. Partly because oh my word, I waste so. much. time. on there, but mainly because of all the hate I see spewed from so many Christians...people who are commanded by the One they follow to love others.
When Jesus is asked what is the greatest commandment, do you know what he says? He says, the first is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. But he didn't stop there. He goes on to say that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. To me that means everything else...your views, their opinions, whatever...is secondary. If you are not loving people, ALL people, first, then you are breaking that commandment.
And, let's be honest, how many of us, myself included, really love our neighbors as ourselves? Are you making sure your neighbor is happy, or well-fed, or comfortable? Because we all attempt to do those things for ourselves. Seeing how approximately 30,000 people die from starvation every day, my best guess is probably not. (I know I'm using a broad version of the word "neighbor" here, but I'm pretty sure Jesus would qualify all of us as neighbors.)
So, here's where the confusion comes in. If these two commandments are the greatest and the majority of us aren't keeping them, then what right do we have to call anyone else out? Most of us are not doing the best job of following Jesus' teachings, so why do we think it's OK to highlight someone else's sin and ignore our own? It reminds me of what Jesus said about pointing out the speck in someone else's eye but not noticing the log in your own. Why are we pointing fingers and spreading hate when Jesus commanded us to love?
I really hope this doesn't read as some self-righteous holier-than-thou Christian chick who thinks she knows better than everyone. That is SOOOO not the case. I have more sin that needs to be worked on than I care to mention in a public forum. But I am concerned about a church that is told the world will know us by our love but has so many loud voices that seem to be doing the opposite.
My hope and prayer is that we can raise some new, even louder voices that will give everyone the message that they are loved by a God and a savior who calls them His chosen children, wanted, and forgiven. And that we can love those people with the same type of love that Jesus has shown us.
**Update**
The same week I wrote this, Christian author Jennie Allen wrote a post on this same issue. It really made me think and brought some new perspective...plus is written so much better than anything that will ever be on this blog. It is well worth the read.
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