We are all SO MESSED UP!

Let me start by saying I don’t even know how to properly define the groups, but if I call it the “Christian Right” and the “Christian Left” will that suffice? I’m not sure those are very accurate terms at all but I think most of us get the gist of what I’m trying to describe.

I sit here and just have to ask myself “what in the h— are we all being taught?” “Where are we learning this?” “What or who are we listening to that makes us ignore all the evil (and what evil has wrought) in the world that instead we turn on each other, as if to prove “we’re God’s favorite”, that “we’ve got it right – you don’t.” I’m sure our very own pastors, on either side would be appalled at what some of their own flock is posting.

I can see how this may become a tiring theme of my posts, and I guess I should apologize in advance, but Good Lord! I PRAY for the day (actually I do) that a post like this will be completely unnecessary.

If I had to describe it in two BIG buckets, I suppose you would describe the Christian “right” as being ruled by “laws” and the Christian “left” as being ruled by “grace” (perhaps on the extremes in both cases). But here are my observations….

James 4:1 says “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves.” (The Message)  Yes, you on the “right” can be very rigid, and can at times apply a LITERAL and legalistic  meaning to what you read in an English translation without the knowledge of the context of the day or the variations of the meaning of the words in the original texts (or to be more accurate the most RECENT copies of the original texts available to us.) BUT, before you on the “left” go “yeah, you tell ‘em Laurie”, so very often you are just as judgmental and critical of the “right” for doing what you yourselves are DOING. You accuse the “right” of being HATEFUL or UNLOVING or UNCARING and in doing so are being just that without really knowing what’s on their hearts. You won’t talk to them, you won’t approach them and have a civil conversation as to WHY they feel the way they do, you’ll just know they’re wrong, stick to your side of the line and keep firing shots at the BAD Christians on the other side.  The enemy on BOTH sides here is pride.  You want to be right and your (arrogant) pride won’t entertain the idea of a compromise.  1 John 2:16 tells us “For everything that is in the world—the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (ISV)

Here’s a good example, Syrian refugees.  The right will say “you’re letting terrorists sneak into the country” and the left will say “these people need our help and you’re cold and uncaring to not want to help them”.  Both side have a point.  NEITHER side seems interested in working with the other to find a solution that satisfies everyone AND meets the needs of the refugees.  And if you just now are thinking “it can’t be done”, well that’s EXACTLY the kind of thinking that keeps us fighting with each other.

Look, don’t take it up with me. All of this is SO EASY TO SEE anywhere you look online and on television. I only have 85 Facebook friends and I see it in my own newsfeed. Perhaps this doesn’t apply to you. Wonderful! Praise God! I’m not writing this to you. But if you think you’re criticism of other Christians is somehow justified and that somehow God is on your side – I ask that you stop, and in a quiet moment dare to sincerely ask God to reveal to you any areas in your life that may need a second look.

When I was a kid (and that was some time ago)  I remember someone saying that the Christian army is the ONLY army that shoots its own. It seems to be even MORE true today than ever, because it’s so much EASIER than ever – we can do it with just our fingers. That doesn’t make it RIGHT, nor does it make it blessed by God. Let’s put down our guns (metaphorically speaking), pray (literally) and TALK to each other and CROSS that line that separates us. We are ALL part of Christ’s body doing our part, performing our particular function WITHIN the body. Don’t get angry because the eye can’t jump or the foot can’t sing. There’s a reason we all don’t think alike, look alike, talk alike nor serve alike. God is blessing it all.  The world needs us out there showing them Jesus  – so CHILL!  Put your pride back in your pocket and sit down with your Christian brothers and sisters and lets figure out how we can as ONE BODY be Jesus to the world.