Sometimes, the problem with us Christians is that we put ourselves in a certain position. We mistake criticism for sympathy; to be judged by love; pride in trusting God; and compassionate abandonment.
We walk with our heads held high because of what we can do and who we are BEYOND what God is in us and what He has done.
Christianity is not a license to live in pride. Christianity is humility and compassion. Since i Christians we say we are, we must – above all – humble ourselves and remove all pride and realize that our life – what we have achieved, what we are – is NOT our doing, but only the glory of God.
Christianity is knowing how imperfect we are, how we fail and let God down in more ways than one, and yet, He is there, unchanging, working continuously in us, creating our best testimony.
Christianity is something and should be intimate. By being close, I don’t mean that we don’t share with others, or let’s share their fire with God, because of course, we will always need their encouragement, their push and their love for God to encourage us. By intimacy, I don’t mean that we will be stubborn and won’t listen to anyone but ourselves. By intimacy, I mean our connection with God, the way He handles our heart, where He leads us all as human beings. It is spoken directly to our hearts by God alone.
And that relationship – no one has the right to judge that. No one has the right to say that that is not good enough or that it is missing anything else. Only God can see that and judge that. Just like us, we would never judge other people’s personal relationship with God. We will not judge anyone’s faith.
We are totally flawed, unworthy, totally unworthy – but hey, He loved us and loved us endlessly.
Therefore, if this love overshadows and consumes all of our lives as imperfect Christians, where does our suspicion and prejudice against other people come from? Because it certainly does not come from our Christ.
God does not call the worthy, he makes them worthy of the called.
He didn’t choose you because you raise your hand during the service or because you worship every Sunday, he chooses you because he loves you, despite your sins.
Christians like us, should realize that we are not worthy. Christianity does not give us the right to walk around thinking we are better than people, we think we have the right to live a better life. Because Christianity is not sunshine and rainbows, it is storms and temptations and broken mirrors and it will overcome that. It walks battered, bloody and scarred but still very happy, because our joy is not in material things, not in riches, not in quiet waters, not in fame but in Christ. Only in Christ.
To all Christians reading this, to all of us – may we stop thinking as if we know everything, as if nothing can change in our lives, because God changes us day by day, glory to glory. Let us live humbly knowing that God works in us despite our shortcomings and shortcomings, he does not give up and does not abandon us. And we should live like that too – let’s stop scaring people, stop prejudice, discrimination. Let’s change the way we think, the way we see people and the world. We are not better than anyone. We are all human. We are not here to divide, judge, or criticize people for what they do and what they don’t believe.
We are here to try our best to love people, take care of those in need, invite people and welcome them with open arms. We are here to try hard to tell them that they are not alone in this fight, by reminding them that we have been there, that they too will win. We must try hard to show them the endless love and the sea of grace that drowned us and washed away the filth of the disgusting past, which is in Christ alone.
We are Christians, we have the most powerful and beautiful name. Let’s stop giving him a bad name, he doesn’t deserve it.
Because at the end of the day, if we really are who we say we are, if we are really in God’s love and presence, it will flow into everything we do, to everyone around us.
