Oh Ye of Little Faith

I grew up listening to stories of the Civil Rights era and made a vow that I would be different. I wouldn't let ignorance blind me. I would fight for the worth of all those living. I never could understand how believers couldn't see that all of humanity was created in the image of God. I always said if I  ever lived in an area where this was happening I would sit at the counter, ride the bus, march the march. I never thought I would get that chance. I thought surely we would be much more advanced in 2014 than it was in 1814. If we as a people have achieved such radical growth in industry, how have we not also grown ethically? I genuinely don't understand. Humanity. There is an inherent value just for being human.

While I truly believe that, nevertheless, there are still issues that feel like they threaten my faith. The choice between defending the truth and walking in compassion seem to be at odds. How did Jesus so perfectly balance Mercy and Justice? For me the issue has never been about pigments. That's a no-brainer. However when the recipe shifts to the sinful choices of other humans, I all to easily forget that I too am saved by grace.  I flop like a fish out of water. There sin deserves punishment, where mine deserves grace. Ten minutes later. My sin deserves punishment, while there's deserves grace. Love, Holiness, Grace, Truth, Militants, Pacifism. A thousand opinions fill social media, but I see no white man/woman, laying down their life. Thousands of  Atticus Finch's encouraging us to walk a mile in their shoes, but no one doing it. How is it lived out? I don't have the slightest idea. I am terrified of the conversations that desperately need to happen. I'm afraid the conversation will open closet doors that have ancestral skeletons, which will reveal that I am not as altruistic as I would like to believe I am.

I'm reminded of a quote by Mike Mason in his book "The Mystery of Marriage" that says something like, "You can stare at a starry sky and say that you feel closer to God, but the reality is that humans are created in His image. Therefore when you look in the face of the most despicable of humans, you are still closer to God than you are when you look at a sunset."  Or I think Mother Teresa said that each time she cared for a leper, she was ministering to Jesus directly.

As believers, if we don't see that the same is true when we look into the face of anyone who has different color of skin than we do, bears a different sexual orientation, worships differently (including not just denominational differences, but yes even Muslims), then we have clearly not fully understood the message of the Cross and how far the divide was that separated us from God before it. There is no one that has come anywhere near the enmity that the entire human race had against God. "Greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13. Until each one of us that calls ourselves by His name, picks up our cross and lays down our life for our fellow human beings, thereby walking out the highest form of love, we will continue to miss the message of the Gospel.

I know so many who want to take up arms and fight those that are different from us. Fight to defend the truth. Fight for God. In the story found in Matthew 8, we see a group of disciples that are panicked because they fear they will die at the hands of the storm. Jesus rebukes them for having little faith. I propose that if they had truly believed in the full revelation of Jesus, then they would have known that even in dying, God can raise the dead. When it comes to God, Life Always Wins. If your house and home are faced with a storm called Hate and you feel like you (and your opinions, beliefs, etc) are going to die, instead of panicking I encourage you to go ahead and die to self. Lay down your life for your friend. Walk in love and let Hate kill you. I know what happens on the 3rd day. Resurrection. Choose love. CHOOSE LOVE!