Second Guessing God ~ Chap 9

"...there is one wedding that I am positive I will never forget."

What do you say after reading a chapter like this one?

All of us, no matter our personality style, background, family tree, church affiliation, or any other identifying category, want what was at the biker wedding.

We want someone we love, who we look up to, who we are friends with, to know our name and value us as part of their life.

That is what Brian contends in this chapter, the "I want to be loved" factor among people who come in contact with the fellowship of beleivers.

Someone once said, "animals eat their own...and so do Christians."

I know what they are trying to say, but for a moment, let's allow ourselves to take a step back.

All humans, not just believers, are guilty of ugly relational dynamics.

But the truth of the matter is that as followers of Christ, we've been called to express our obedience in our faith through love, which will testify to others that we are believers/followers (John 13:35).

Yet, there are days when I don't feel like being "loving". Other days I have people who I believe are not "lovable." I'm sure you're not as guilty as I am of this offense, right?

BUT I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE THE BEST THING I CAN SAY IN THIS ENTIRE BLOG POST...

Put aside your righteous disdain for those who are not "living up to the mark" and do something we rarely do, but is taught very clearly by Jesus...

..."And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."

Jesus isn't saying don't help the other person, he is advocating that we do the bigger work of self-examination before we head out to "fix" the inequities we feel everyone else is guilty of.

With that said, let's all play this little game together using Brian's list of "Healthy Church" ideas.

1. Do I rally around others when they succeed or fail?

2. Do I inspire others by the way I interact and love others?

3. Am I willing to risk being close to someone others might not see as appropriate?

4. How can I "start small?" Cards? Phone calls? Kind words?

5. This is the hardest one of all... Am I willing to stick to one church?"

Wow...that's a full plate!

So, how did you do?

How are you doing?

Take the time...

Examine yourself...

Talk to God honestly...

Understand he is working in your life upstream..

Ask God to help you live through the trials in a way that shines your trust in Jesus and helps others come to him...

Be honest about your doubt...

Ask God to give you compassion for the hurting you have around you...

If you're feeling far from God, tell someone you trust and ask them to walk the lonely miles of struggle with you.

Whew...

I'm wore out...

Till next week...