Bandwagon Agenda's

This is going to be a little "ranty" but I have no intention of causing more discord! I only ask that you to take a break from the doctrines of man (those things we are so sure God has called us to, come hell or high water) and with an open mind, consider what I'm saying...

I'm sick and tired of The Church being called to battle over ideas, movements and "bandwagon" agenda's...

We've got the super hot button topic of "traditional marriage". Number two is probably "save the animals". Coming at number three is "stop abortion" (which honestly, if I was going to pick what should be at the top of the list - human life would certainly win, just say'n).

The list goes on and if I didn't hit your hot button, it wasn't intentional (no need to straighten me out).

CHRISTIAN! If there is anything we have been "called to", anything the bible tells to "be about"... Here's a couple of things Jesus seemed to feel pretty strongly about:

Matthew 22:36-40   "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37   And He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38   This is the great and first commandment. 39   And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40   On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19   Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20   teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Seems to me that it becomes almost impossible to "love" when we are disgusted and distracted by certain behavior. And if we can't "love" from a genuine heart, we most certainly won't care enough to introduce our "enemy" to the greatest of lovers!

A lover who has loved each and every one of us since before the foundation of time and creation. A lover who so willingly laid down His life for the rescue of all men (straight, gay, flesh eater, garden grazer, dog lover, cat hater, tattooed, body pierced, unwed mother, drug user, alcohol abuser, professional business man, adulterer - insert your pet peeve, you know, the one you can't stand and don't care whether or not ever finds peace with God...).

I'm not sure how to land this plane but I am sure that what we (Christians) are known for is most certainly not our "love of our fellow man"! What we hate is what we strive to legislate (while claiming to be led by God), I'm convinced that the motivation is not God driven but birthed by our own disgust and/or prejudices...

Each one of us has come "from" some lifestyle that was contrary to God's heart for us, but came we did and we found great love and unhindered acceptance - we must never forget this!

I will close with a few more words from our sponsor...

Matthew 11:25-30

25-26 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed Your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way You like to work.”

27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given Me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

His Grace Is Enough!

Wag