The Way They See Us
"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
- James 2: 12-13
"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
- Romans 13:10
I was unexpectedly spending the evening at the hospital with our grandson. I knew he would be watching television, and I always have to have something to do when I'm sitting. Can't just sit there....not made like that. Anyway, I went to the gift shop to look for a book. I found an author I had read before, the only author I recognized, and decided that was the safest bet. I had no time to look and see what the book was about, but I knew this author wrote about issues of the day in a novel form. And I knew she was a compelling writer. The book was "Sing Me Home" by Jodi Piccoult. It was a perspective on gay marriage from the point of view of a husband and wife who divorce. The man becomes a born again Christian, and the wife becomes involved in a relationship with another woman. Eventually, the battle lines are drawn regarding who should have access to the frozen embryos done by in vitro when the couple was married.
The second thing I saw was a movie called " The Perfect Family" . In this movie, the mother is going after the Catholic woman of the year award...at any cost. Finally, my family went to see the production of "Jonah" by Sight and Sound Theatres in Branson.
I mention all of these events, because I began to see a very clear correlation between all of
them. Usually when that happens to me, God is trying very hard to make me see something. So, this
post is my attempt to figure that out.
In each of these, I got a glimpse of Christians as we are seen by the world. In the book, I initially
thought the Christians were going to be portrayed well. Eventually in the story, however, the evangelical Christians were seen as cruel people willing to do anything to attain their agenda. Legalism was foremost in their behavior, and although the author did include some of the good qualities we hope we have, the overriding theme was legalism.
In the movie, the mom was under great pressure to show her family as perfect to win the church award. Her husband was a sober alcoholic, and she was more concerned about people finding out he
used to drink than celebrating his efforts in recovery. She belittled him at every turn. Her daughter
was a married lesbian, and her son was leaving the marriage started as a teen with a pregnant girlfriend. Basically throughout the whole movie this mom's only concern was "saving face"
Legalism again.
You know I struggle with the difference between standing for what is right and loving the sinner
but hating the sin. I think we all do. But Jesus didn't. Did He compromise? No. Did He carry signs
or demean others who were involved in sin? Not that either. He gave us a perfect example of the balance of love and commitment to truth. In the story in Luke 7, Jesus was being attended by a
"sinful woman". The Pharisees and even the disciples were shocked that Jesus would let a woman of this reputation touch him. In fact, the Pharisee even used that as an example that Jesus really wasn't
who He said He was, saying a real prophet would know the woman touching him was a sinner. But
Jesus knew...that wasn't the point. What about the stoning of the adulterous woman in John 8? Jesus
didn't yell at her, quote scripture to her, demean her. In fact, He pointed the issue back to those accusing her, telling those without sin to throw the first stone. I would really love to know what He was writing on the ground in this story wouldn't you?
The story of Jonah is a little different, but I think it also fits. At the end of the book of Jonah,we
find him angry at Gods compassion toward a people Jonah disliked greatly. Many writers point out
that although Jonah wanted God's compassion for himself, he did not really want it for those he
considered evil. Hmmmmm. Sound familiar?
Is this how the world sees us......legalistic, without compassion, mean? Will they want what we have when they see us like that? The fact of the matter is that God doesn't limit His compassion to
the perfectly behaved. Good thing for me.... For all of us. And He doesn't want us to either. He sent His Son to show us example
of how we are to behave toward others....all others. The adulterers, the homosexuals, the gossips, the liars. It's all the same. I can't cast the first stone....the plank in my eye is too big. But I can show
them the example my Lord gave me.....love and compassion. In a sermon I heard a couple of weeks ago, the pastor gave the following quote from D.L. Moody:
"Out of 100 men, 5% will read the Bible, the other 95% will read the Chistian."
Hmmm,....what are others reading through me? Condemnation or love? Legalism or freedom? Is the world seeing Him through my attitude?? I'm going to try to look at myself the way the world sees me...I want to be a book that points straight to Him, because that's the only 'book' that matters.
- James 2: 12-13
"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
- Romans 13:10
I was unexpectedly spending the evening at the hospital with our grandson. I knew he would be watching television, and I always have to have something to do when I'm sitting. Can't just sit there....not made like that. Anyway, I went to the gift shop to look for a book. I found an author I had read before, the only author I recognized, and decided that was the safest bet. I had no time to look and see what the book was about, but I knew this author wrote about issues of the day in a novel form. And I knew she was a compelling writer. The book was "Sing Me Home" by Jodi Piccoult. It was a perspective on gay marriage from the point of view of a husband and wife who divorce. The man becomes a born again Christian, and the wife becomes involved in a relationship with another woman. Eventually, the battle lines are drawn regarding who should have access to the frozen embryos done by in vitro when the couple was married.
The second thing I saw was a movie called " The Perfect Family" . In this movie, the mother is going after the Catholic woman of the year award...at any cost. Finally, my family went to see the production of "Jonah" by Sight and Sound Theatres in Branson.
I mention all of these events, because I began to see a very clear correlation between all of
them. Usually when that happens to me, God is trying very hard to make me see something. So, this
post is my attempt to figure that out.
In each of these, I got a glimpse of Christians as we are seen by the world. In the book, I initially
thought the Christians were going to be portrayed well. Eventually in the story, however, the evangelical Christians were seen as cruel people willing to do anything to attain their agenda. Legalism was foremost in their behavior, and although the author did include some of the good qualities we hope we have, the overriding theme was legalism.
In the movie, the mom was under great pressure to show her family as perfect to win the church award. Her husband was a sober alcoholic, and she was more concerned about people finding out he
used to drink than celebrating his efforts in recovery. She belittled him at every turn. Her daughter
was a married lesbian, and her son was leaving the marriage started as a teen with a pregnant girlfriend. Basically throughout the whole movie this mom's only concern was "saving face"
Legalism again.
You know I struggle with the difference between standing for what is right and loving the sinner
but hating the sin. I think we all do. But Jesus didn't. Did He compromise? No. Did He carry signs
or demean others who were involved in sin? Not that either. He gave us a perfect example of the balance of love and commitment to truth. In the story in Luke 7, Jesus was being attended by a
"sinful woman". The Pharisees and even the disciples were shocked that Jesus would let a woman of this reputation touch him. In fact, the Pharisee even used that as an example that Jesus really wasn't
who He said He was, saying a real prophet would know the woman touching him was a sinner. But
Jesus knew...that wasn't the point. What about the stoning of the adulterous woman in John 8? Jesus
didn't yell at her, quote scripture to her, demean her. In fact, He pointed the issue back to those accusing her, telling those without sin to throw the first stone. I would really love to know what He was writing on the ground in this story wouldn't you?
The story of Jonah is a little different, but I think it also fits. At the end of the book of Jonah,we
find him angry at Gods compassion toward a people Jonah disliked greatly. Many writers point out
that although Jonah wanted God's compassion for himself, he did not really want it for those he
considered evil. Hmmmmm. Sound familiar?
Is this how the world sees us......legalistic, without compassion, mean? Will they want what we have when they see us like that? The fact of the matter is that God doesn't limit His compassion to
the perfectly behaved. Good thing for me.... For all of us. And He doesn't want us to either. He sent His Son to show us example
of how we are to behave toward others....all others. The adulterers, the homosexuals, the gossips, the liars. It's all the same. I can't cast the first stone....the plank in my eye is too big. But I can show
them the example my Lord gave me.....love and compassion. In a sermon I heard a couple of weeks ago, the pastor gave the following quote from D.L. Moody:
"Out of 100 men, 5% will read the Bible, the other 95% will read the Chistian."
Hmmm,....what are others reading through me? Condemnation or love? Legalism or freedom? Is the world seeing Him through my attitude?? I'm going to try to look at myself the way the world sees me...I want to be a book that points straight to Him, because that's the only 'book' that matters.
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