Saturday, October 15, 2011

Tags & Labels

I am deeply disturbed by the tags and labels I see being bandied about by Christians toward one another and toward unbelievers. Some say I should be disturbed because Christians are being called the same. However, the fact is the unbeliever is not under the instruction of Christ, therefore I cannot expect them to not do or say things that Christians are doing/saying. The saddest part is that as Christians we're getting defensive when someone points out our failings to us. If we have to go on the defensive when someone brings up something, that should be a very large clue that we are not walking where we should be.

We have become a very judgmental, extremely hostile group of people. We're not showing the love of Christ to a lost and dying world, we're showing condemnation and judgment. We're heaping accusations and hatred on people. We exclude people and claim we're doing so in the name of Christ. We're justifying our actions instead of looking for ways to show compassion, love and God's grace and mercy to everyone around us. If you don't agree with the way someone else believes, you do not have the right to forbid them to believe. And you do not have the right to declare them unfit to be called a believer. And you most definitely do not have the right to say they are not saved. Only Jesus can judge. Period.

If you don't agree with how someone else believes, then pray for them; but also pray for yourself, at the same time: pray that both of you will receive God's wisdom and understanding. Yes, one of you is probably wrong, but you could be the one who is, and if you pray for both of you to receive God's enlightenment, then you've fulfilled your responsibility. But please do not judge that person as lost and condemn them, because then you have committed sin and missed the mark in your own life.

The only label or tag we should throw at anyone is "brother/sister" or "loved by God". Even in sin, each and every person is loved by God, just as we were before we accepted Christ as our savior. If you believe someone to be living in sin, pray for them. Deliver them over to God in your prayers, but do not ostracize, antagonize or exile them. How can they see the light and love of Christ if you do that?

In the last few days I've heard the word/label "intolerant" thrown at the church and by the church several times. Many Christians I know have angrily reacted to being called intolerant and have used some very hateful language in retaliation while throwing the accusation back at their accusers. The truth of the matter is, we have become intolerant. All we have to do is look at the facts to realize this. We are actively working to strip the rights of people who do not believe the way we do from them. That's the definition of intolerance. We want to prevent those who behave in ways we don't agree with from being able to speak or act or behave the way they choose because we don't believe their behaviors or words are acceptable because we're Christians. That's the definition of intolerance. Because we believe them to be living in sin does not give us the right to forbid them to live in sin. We cannot legislate their sin away. The Law of Moses tried that and it was an utter failure. Jesus came to give us a better way, so why are we now trying to go back to the old way? If you believe something is a sin, don't do it, but you cannot prevent someone else from doing it. That's intolerance.

We need to get back to that "better Way" that Christ came to establish. His truth, His grace, His mercy. He is the light and we must let that light shine, and we cannot do that by not tolerating the choices of others. They do have the free will to make that choice, just as you have the free will to make the choice you make to follow Him.

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