I was talking with a friend recently who expressed fear over
telling someone that she loved something very deep and personal. She feared rejection
and judgement from her close Christian friend. What if her friend chose to end the friendship with her. I hurt for her that she had to experience this fear during a desire to
be real, open, and honest with her friend about who she is.
I’ve been contemplating this conversation a lot. I’ve been there. More than one time and for a variety of reasons. Some, as I look back, weren’t even really big life issues. Some were. I’m 40 now, and the more I ponder this the more unsettled I am. With myself. With the human race.With fellow believers. With the church. With the world.
What have we come to?
I guess most people would be asking that question in the context of, “what has the world come to?”
It’s fair question –and it deserves its time and place. It’s a question that’s has been asked many
times over, and debated amongest philopophers and theologians. But it’s not the
context I’m after.
What have we come to? Believers. Christians.
Why are we so judgemental of each other? Why are we not moreloving, forgiving, accepting of one another. Understanding. Compassionate. Sympathetic. Empathetic. Merciful. Gracious. Kind.
Is this not the model our Savior has set for us?
Yes, there is a time and a place for judgement. There is a time and place for chastisement. But how much further might we get when a friend comes to us with something deeply private and personal to share with us that we meet them where they are. Jesus meets us where we are. In the middle of our sin. He greets us with open, loving arms – often when our hearts and lives are at the blackest, ugliest, most depraved state of our life. He doesn’t look at us and send us away or turn His back on us. Where would you be right now if He had?
He says, “Child, welcome Home. I love you. Come on in. Rest here. Be redeemed here. Be safe here. Be accepted here.” He says, “For you, for this very situation you are in right now, I died. Be not ashamed anymore. Be not afraid anymore.”
It gives me reason to pause. It should give us all reason to pause. The next time a friend tells us they want to share something what will our response be? Brace yourself. Brace yourself, Christian. Are you really ready to hear what they want to share? They want to be real. What will your response be? Your heart is racing. There’s a lump in your throat. Your head is spinning with possibilities. Maybe they got a tattoo. How dare they defame their body like that! Gasp! Maybe they drank wine. How gasthly. Maybe they havean addiction. Maybe they are living in
sin. Gay. How despicable. Committed a crime, maybe even a heinous one? You might have to purge them from your life forever.
Wait! Who ARE we to judge? Who are WE to turn them away. Would Jesus? Do we not risk losing something far greater in our human reaction?
What?
A relationship? A friend? A brother or sister in the Lord? A soul to the depths of hell.
Is it worth our human response?
Would Christ expect more of us, Christians?
Who did He walk among? Who did he call as his disciples? Who did he die on the cross next too? For Whom did He die? For what purpose was His body beaten, bruised, and crucified?
There but for the GRACE of God go I.
For there is NONE righteous no. Not ONE.
For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Christ died for us WHILE we were still yet sinners.
His mercies are new every morning.
His love endures forever.
Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me.
Be ye kind, one to another – tenderhearted, loving. Forgiving one another. Even as Christ forgives you.
I challenge you these things. First, if we cannot be ourselves with someone then what is the point of the friendship or relationship? If we can be real with Christ about who we are, what we’ve done, where we come from, what we are going through – then why cannot we not be real
with those in our life. Is it time for us to be a better friend? Find better friends? Who in your life needs you to allow them to be real? Who in your life do you need to be real with? Who needs your love, forgiveness, acceptance, compassion, understanding? Who do you need it from? Lastly, Jesus IS the One Who will never fail you. He is calling you. “Come.” He is waiting. Unconditionally.
We can never be too kind too soon.
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love endures all. Believes all. Hopes all.
Love.
It held Him there, on that cross. For me. For you. For all.
