Are we offended by what we see around us? Does it make us want to hate and run? Should it?
A common trait I’ve seen in Christians (especially the “righteous” ones) is that the world around them offends them. Obviously to be offended by sin is a good thing, and all Christians should feel that way, but I think we’re taking it too far, to the point of becoming hateful towards it.
Should we hate sin? Of course, but I believe we’re also hating the ones who are committing it.
We’re taught to live in purity, but if we run down those who aren’t living the same way, regardless of their faith, we’re just as guilty. I’ve been there myself, I’m sure we all have at one point, but when we really look at ourselves, and the way Jesus was, we’re handing them a death penalty Christ already paid. We’re crucifying them to the cross, when our call is no longer to put down and condemn those in sin, but to love and serve humbly and in holiness as Christ did. To wash their feet.
If I’m real honest, we aren’t seeing things the way Jesus does. We’re constantly looking for sin and the enemy’s works. And here’s where a thought hit me: are we doing it to lift our own righteousness? When we run down those who aren’t living in holiness, maybe that’s the whole reason. Honestly, that’s why I used to do it. It made me feel secure in my walk with Christ, believing I’d never fall into the hole those sinners are living in. By shaking my head to pictures of women in revealing clothing instead of looking away without acknowledgment, to calling people with tattoos and black makeup evil, to pointing to movies that promote sin instead of ignoring them.
The funny thing was, I eventually had to admit I was worse than all those things.
Everyone, we need to stop this. We need to stop asking, “Who can I save today?” and start saying, “Who can I love today?” It was love that brought us salvation, so how has it turned to condemnation and to us acknowledging how bad they are instead of themselves? When the love of Jesus consumes us, we realize we were wrong all along. So how has it become: when the words of Lucas consumes them, they’ll realize how bad they are? I don’t know, and sadly I don’t have an answer. All I can tell you is what Christ did to me. He saved the man who ran down the criminal on the cross. His name was Jesus.
Our Certain Joy 