I was just on Twitter and realized that I tweet a lot when I really should blog more. So instead of tweeting folks to death tonight (er, um this morning), I figured I'd actually make use of this blog domain that I purchased.
Two weeks ago I went to see the release of Hillsong's The I Heart Revolution: We're All In This Together film. The documentary was so moving and overwhelming and yet so simple and to the point in its message. One of the last parts of the film said across the screen, "Jesus did not come to start a religion. He came to share love" (it may not have been that wording exactly, but that is how I remember it). That statement was so plain and simple yet said so much to me and I put it on my Facebook status that night when I got home. There was one comment on it from one of my fraternity sisters whom I actually pledged and was on line with and she said, "I see you're still the controversial one." Immediately when I read this, I was taken aback. It really irritated me that this particular individual responded in this way, yet was not a surprise because during my time in college I was always seen as the "outside the box" type of person because I am a Christian, I love God, but I am very much so not "religious" and not easily understood by anyone. I simply responded by saying that it was a line from Hillsong's movie and she said that it just sounded like something I would say.
So tonight I was looking through some of my church notes (which are all typed in Word and many are on one of my other blogs at www.lolamarya-churchnotes.blogspot.com) and read something that my Pastor said a few months ago; "Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. He came to establish His kingdom." When I saw that, I chuckled to myself. See I may seem "controversial" to some, but it is only because they come from a background and upbringing spiritually that is different than mine. I am seeing how blessed I am to have been brought up and raised in a church that is Kingdom-minded, Bible believing, no-holds-bar, truth teaching and just down to earth. So some may feel that I am so different, but in reality I feel that I am the standard.
See, I am the type of person who can relate with people who need God in their lives. I don't look down my nose at people who do not believe as I believe or whose lifestyle is different from mine. Jesus did not come to save the saved people. He came to set the captives free. So if I am created in the image of God, profess to be a follower of Christ and call myself a Christian (one whom is striving to be more like Jesus everyday), then I will try and live as He lived and see people the way that He saw them.
Jesus showed people love. He did not judge those who lived outside of God's will. He showed them that He knew their sin, but that God loved them and showed them compassion. That is how He won people over to the Father. I have learned over the years that many "church folks" are very judgmental and a lot of them try to pretend as if they do not understand how people can sin and look down their noses at people who are in the very situation that they would be in had it not been for the grace of God.
In the past I suppose I have had harsh criticisms in my views towards those I refer to as "church folks," but that is not what I wish to convey. I just really wish that the body of Christ, as a whole, would become less judgmental. We cannot win souls to Christ if we do not show, share and express God's love upon people. I mean, isn't that the whole purpose of this thing. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son..." John 3:16. If God had not loved us while we were in our fallen state, there would be no Jesus on the cross and going to hell for us, in our place, so that we can have an eternity in heaven with God. If God did that for us because of His love, how much more are we to show His love to those who do not yet understand it?
