I used to have a dichotomy in my mind of
those people who are Christians and those who are non-Christians, heathens,
pagans, whatever you want to call them. In as much as I hate to lump
people into two groups that's what I did in my mind subconsciously. I
would even shuffle under the radar those people who are most often unwanted,
the poor, the homeless, the hurting, the unhealthy, the ugly....
Why?
Because I was afraid of looking in the
mirror and realizing that I was just like them... or rather I believed that I
was like them and that they were all the horrible things I thought they
were...
In my life I lived separate and was
extremely bothered when the real world interfered with my delicate artificial
life that I was trying to hold together through deliberate ignorance,
arrogance, laziness, and a desire to create a better world, one where I was in
control and there was no pain, hurting, or death...
I wanted my own heaven... the one where I
was in charge, yet sort of paid homage to God... sort of like tipping my hat at
the "Big Guy in the Sky" and saying in my mind and sometimes publicly
all the right things and all the things that made me feel better about
myself... You know what I mean... the sort of knee jerk reaction that happens
when you are in trouble or when someone asks how you are doing... we whisper
"God help" or "I'm fine" Which isn't to down play a
desperate prayer or even frank brief responses, but for most of my interactions
with others it is much easier to just blurt out responses that distance myself
from them, or don't require a lot of effort...
Yet I hear God whispering to me in my
heart when I am silent and when chaos is swirling all around that I am loved...
a love that is controlled by God, not by me...
In my version of God's love, I get what I
want when I want it... I want to be a success, I want to have no debt, I want a
wife, I want my family to be healed physically, emotionally, and spiritually, I
want to have six pack abs without the work (just kidding). It is a very
lonely, desperate, and selfish love...
God's in control... of everything, all the
time... with no exceptions and the only rules are the ones He created since the
beginning of time...
Life isn't even about rule following...
sure we are to follow God's commandments, but our obedience is born of a
genuine relationship... a relationship where God literally loves us in
His own way that connects with us perfectly... as long as we give up control...
Side note: (God
loves us even when we are battling to have control... He even loves us so much
that He allows us to make decisions on our own and endure the consequences of
our decisions... all the while having complete control, even when we think we
are the ones calling the shots)
God has sometimes been explained as having
a dichotomy or separation between those who follow Him and those who don't.
This is true in the broadest sense... but the nature of humanity is to
desire control and what fulfills us without much effort... you know... like the
path of least resistance...
For me I know that there is a God who
loves me and I am forgiven... I am living a life that is restoring everything
about me... but sometimes I believe it is taking too long and it is going in
direction I don't want it to go... so I try to take control and that usually
leads to unhealthy choices or false joy...
I am just like everyone else... no better
or worse... just me... and I don't like that... I want to be better... to be
special... to be unique, to be an individual...
All of that is true... but it is equally
true about everyone...
It is not a magical formula... or
something that can be grasped or collected... something that can be
earned... it is just true...
What does it mean to be made in the image
of God? Some people believe we were created to be like God… or
created in a way that we can portray the attributes of God while being fully
submitted to His sovereignty and Lordship…
That might be true… or at least I believe
it to be true… So why is there a thought process or a movement within the
church and in my own worldview that separates Christians from Non-Christians…
sort of like the good guys vs. the bad guys…
I don’t know… but what I do know is that
when it comes to the application of God’s love… His love… not mine… I can’t
possibly see others as the enemy… but rather with a heart full of love longing
to be in relationship with them because they are just like me…
This is not pluralism… like everyone is
going to be forgiven, or all roads and religions lead to a “higher power and
transcendence…” Rather it is a recognition that as soon as I stop
battling against others or ignoring them passively (as well as myself) and give
up control I can begin to love as God loves…
I am like you… genuinely beautiful,
specifically loved, with the origins of perfection “in Christ” but completely
flawed because of sin… The only difference is that I am living a life
that gives God control… (to the best of my ability)… and in Him there is
complete forgiveness… complete love, and complete restoration…
Maybe you already realized this... or
maybe you believe something completely different, or maybe something similar...
I invite your response... your opinions... your life stories...
Until next time... Be love...
