Straight vs. Gay… Black vs. White… Liberals vs. Conservatives… Blah Blah Blah, Waah Waah Waah. ME ME ME! Our enemy has turned the “Me Monster” loose on humanity, and we’re all playing right along with it. Wake up. Straighten up. Get a grip, Church (and that includes ME).
If you are a Christian, your identity is in CHRIST ALONE… and HIS identity is PEACE, LOVE, RESTORATION, REDEMPTION, JOY.
“By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world” ~ 1 John 4:17
Clinging to any other identity while you are on this earth is STEALING YOUR OWN HEART from God, and hiding your light under a basket. We’re supposed to be lights in the darkness… right now I see way too much hiding our candles under baskets. Baskets of pride.. baskets of opinion… baskets of stubbornness.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ~ Matthew 5:14-16
The enemy is roaming about the earth like a roaring lion, seeking whom he will devour. (See 1 Peter 5:8) This is a fact, and is going on everywhere, all the time. Chasing him with a holy fire hose is only going to exhaust and devalue you… and believe me when I say, he’s counting on that. It’s actually an incredibly effective war strategy: tire out your targets so they become weak.
If you CHOOSE to make a paradigm shift – NOW, Christian – and refuse to respond to hate with anything but LOVE… we will see stunning, amazing, impactful change. You see, genuine love is our enemy’s kryptonite… he cannot even be in the same room with it.
Yes, you CAN – AND SHOULD – change your personal identity from the color of your skin, or your political views, etc. to simply being ONE IN CHRIST JESUS. It’s a decision… a day by day, minute by minute decision. If you are a believer, you are now a citizen of the Kingdom of God, and that is all that should matter.
The Apostle Paul put it this way:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” ~ Galatians 2:20
What does that mean?
When there is inflammatory discussion of race, politics, etc. – DO NOT ENGAGE, DO NOT FORWARD, DO NOT PERPETUATE. See it for what it is: an attempt by your enemy to drain your spirit, and in the process, damage others.
Stop asking God to bless your plans, and start stepping into God’s Plan, where the blessing actually LIVES:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” ~ Matthew 5:9
Also, let’s be very careful not to make the same error the accusers of Jesus made: Loving someone in spite of sin is NOT the same as condoning the sin. Note, also, that Jesus didn’t seem to feel the need to voice His stance on each and every sin He encountered. Other people’s sins had no bearing on His own value. He just overcame them with Love.
With God’s help, my standard-issue response, from today forward, to all inflammatory discussion is simply this:
“God loves you and because of the amazing power of His Love, so do I.”
It is the only truth that remains steadfast in the world today.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” ~ Philippians 2:1-18
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