SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Category: Love

  • Have you heard? Did you know? And other phrases to avoid…

    Why is it that people are often more attracted to gossip than to encouragement?  Why is it that someone gossiping seems to bring a whole group together?  It makes people want to know more…it makes them curious about exactly what’s been going on…it makes their imagination go wild with possibilities of what the situation really could have been like.  If someone doesn’t have much going on, they are considered boring…but take someone who is struggling or there is trouble and people swarm like bees.  It seems to be almost addictive.  Have you heard?  Did you know?  Someone told me something the other day…I’m not sure if it is true or not, but… And we are off to the races trying to figure out what might be going on…or at least what the latest is.

    When will we learn that gossip hurts?  When will we figure out that it divides?  When will we discover that what we say…even if it is true has the power to build up or to tear down?  And when will it become evident that we spend way too much time tearing down?! All the way back in the time the Book of James was written, this was addressed.  In the Book of James, Chapter 3, it reads:

    “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (NIV Version)

    So James says the tongue cannot be tamed and is full of deadly poison.  Does that mean that we just give up and keep on gossiping?  Does it mean we wallow in the poison and spread it on?  Does it mean we take great pride in spreading the most poison?

    As Christians, it seems to me that we are called to live differently.  And that doesn’t mean to gossip more than anyone else.  It seems to me that our differences should be based on living by the Holy Spirit.  Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday.  It is the time that the church celebrates and remembers the coming of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit lives in believers, leading and guiding them in obedience to follow Christ.  The Holy Spirit provides comfort and conviction.  And, the Holy Spirit can help us to keep our mouth shut when that is the best thing to do. The problem is that we listen to what is going on around us rather than listening to the leading of the Lord that is within us.

    If we, as Christians, are going to really make a difference…if we are going to show real love…if we are going to come together as the Children of God…we must learn to watch our words.  We have to find out that real love means that we don’t participate in gossip.  We must learn that there is not a place for judgment among believers (that’s God’s place) but a whole lot of room for love.  Love and gossip cannot exist together.  Following Christ means we hop off the gossip train and join those who stand firm in service.  We can never be united when we spend our time talking about our brothers and sisters.  May we learn to keep our mouths shut, our ears open to the leading of the Lord, our hearts full of his love, and our hands open to serve.

    Imagine what might happen if we started praising instead of criticizing.  What might happen if we started encouraging rather than hurting?  What might it be like if our words were filled with love for God and love for one another?  It just might change the world.  May it begin with me.

  • Hatred is NEVER okay

    Hearing the news of the people who were killed in prayer meeting is disturbing to say the least. As we remember them…let us not remember that 9 people were killed. Let us remember these people…individuals…people who were in the house of God. These were preachers and coaches and young people. These were people who had families and lives and made a difference in their community.

    As we remember them and pray for their families and their loved ones, it is a reminder that hatred is never okay. It is NEVER okay to hate someone regardless. Not once does Jesus condone hatred. The OT speaks of God’s hatred but in a manner of disdain for sin. We are not God. And, we are all sinners. Hatred is never okay.

    Jesus said that his disciples would be known by the way that they LOVE. Of all of the characteristics, it is that they will be known by their love. Loving is not easy. Loving takes work. Loving takes effort. Love is difficult and trying and painful at times. Love is messy and confusing. But hatred is never the answer. I think of how Jesus told us to love God and love others. I think of how he reached beyond the ethic boundaries of his day to show love. I think of how he told the parable of the Good Samaritan. I think of Paul reminding us in Romans to transform and renew our minds.

    It is also never okay for us to think more of ourselves that we think of others. We are superior to no one. We are the church. We are servants. Our Lord and Savior washed feet. Our Lord and Savior never owned anything and never had a place to lay his head. Our Lord and Savior spent years with the man that would betray him. And, we are reminded in Philippians that Jesus humbled himself in the ultimate humility. If Jesus did not think of himself as better…how can we?

    The question then is how we as a church show love in our community. How do we show radical love that shakes the foundations of the institutions of our world with a love so intense and driven by the love of God that it changes things? How do we so love with the love that God has poured out in us that we stand for justice and peace…but not in violence, rather in love?

    Love does not mean that we sit by and watch things happen. Love does not mean we let people run over us. Love means we take a stand for what is right. Love means we don’t accept hatred. Love means that we are willing to stand united to show what it means to follow God in a way that transforms. Love does not go with the mainstream. Love is different. The love of God reminds us that hatred and superiority are NEVER OKAY. What can do you with the love that God has given you? What can we do as the church with the love that God has poured out in our hearts? How can we truly love like never before?