Christianity Based on Perception

Luke 6:32-36 NIV

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

The homeless beggar on the street

The coworker who is always on time and helpful
The coworker who is always late and surly
The coworker who doesn't deserve the position he is in
The head of the company, CEO
The salesman who sold me a lemon car
The checker with a long line at the grocery store
The guy who holds the door for me
The lady who cuts in line in front of me
Those who have a lifestyle that is different from mine
Those who campaign against abortion
Those who campaign for a woman’s right to abortion
Drug addicts

Drug dealer

Guy who broke into my house

Policemen
Firemen

My ex-husband

My boss

Those who are swindling the welfare system 

My elderly parents

The nurse caring for the elderly

The coworker who snitches on everyone

My pastor

That argumentative atheist on Facebook

My child’s teacher who obviously hates my child

The coach who won’t let my child off of the bench

The kind, hardworking custodian

Wife-beaters

Neo-Nazis

Left extremists

Nancy Pelosi

Donald Trump

I need to spend a little time thinking about treating everyone as God’s child, and not just those who I deem worthy. Treating “good” people well and “bad” people poorly is a worldly point of view and not at all like Christ. I should treat all of those on the list above with kindness and equity. This is what Jesus called me to do.  He loves them all and as his child, he expects me to do the same.  I am not called to judge, but to love.  And the main point is “Who am I to judge?”

While watching a popular high school girl helping a fellow student with her homework, I noticed how kind and caring she was to this lonely girl who had a foul odor and shabby clothing. People even commented on what a compassionate heart the popular girl had. Then I watched this same popular girl in a very different situation act hateful to someone that she perceived as a bad guy. 

How many times do I, like this popular high school girl, act kindly to those who I perceive as worthy of my kindness while at the same time, act cold to those who I blame for some circumstance in my life? How many times do I ignore someone who made a decision that I dislike? It seems that we as Christians will stop everything to care for, and talk to those who we deem worthy, but we do not bother to reach out to those who we perceive as a threat or those in whom we disagree. Is there really any difference at all in the way I treat people and the way a non-Christian treats people? 

Image by John Hain from Pixabay 

Lord, please forgive my sin of judging. Help me to be Christ-like to all. Help me see when my judgment gets in the way of my Christian witness. Help me remember that a Christianity based on my perception is not Christianity at all. It is nothing like You called me to be. May I be the light and salt to the world, even on social media. You called me to love and not to judge. And most of all, may my eyes be on You.  

Does God Like Football?

Courtesy AyD Photography

Does God like football? Undoubtedly, this is the most ‘Texas’ question of all time. Does He like sports? For that matter, does He like competition in any form? Well yes, I think He likes competition when it teaches his lessons in a way that no preacher could voice. I believe God uses whatever means necessary to communicate and teach us about him. When the players learn obedience, patience, perseverance, discipline and servitude in the form of teamwork, it is all about His values and not the world’s.

One of the first things we were told when we moved to this little Texas town was that this town was not a ‘football town’. And after 11 years, we've seen more L’s than W’s, confirming this declaration. Year after year, we have watched as our little team rung up more personal fouls than touchdowns. We have seen coaches come and go and we have seen parents move their kids away to an adjacent winning school in hopes of better results. However, slowly, the tables have turned.

Normally when our team was down, the penalties were relentless in play after play. Several years

ago, I noticed an attitude change in the coaching leadership and staff. It was no longer about the wins and losses, but about the kids and sportsmanship. For me, one of the first evidences of this attitude change came on a particular night early this season when we were behind on homecoming and the coaches, and consequently the team, kept their composure and focus. I realized that our team had turned the corner when we came back from behind in the second half of that game.

I believe football is a gift from God, but anything can be made an idol, and for the most part, sports have that place in the USA. Many times I see parents forfeiting their child’s spiritual development in exchange for non-stop games and practices. This is the very definition of idolatry. And idolatry is the big ‘numero uno’ sin against God. This is when we forget who is in charge. 

In my small town, I have unexpectedly been able to see the good side of sports again. Funny how I couldn’t see it until the wins started rolling in. These kids get to see coaches who have many of the qualities of our Father in heaven. And for some, that is the only good father-figure they will ever know. 

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV [28] Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. [29] He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. [30] Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; [31] but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Would You Like Salt with Your Fries?

Psalm 96:3 NIV

[3] Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

[19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

With global access through the Internet, I see our 'nations' today changing.  Today we are not separated so much by geography as by our political party, beliefs, the lifestyle we live, or by the color of our skin. We used to be divided by nations and cultures but today those lines are blurring. Quickly replacing the age-old divisions of geography are new dividing walls that have popped up over the past ten to twenty years.  Our nations are now splintered into factions of society based on beliefs and judgements. If this is true then we must cross these new barriers of race, political affiliation and lifestyle to spread God’s word and be salt.  

A common trick of the enemy is doing the ‘ole switcharoo’ on our thinking.  He relishes leading us to identify Christian behavior as that which is not.  In my neck of the woods in Texas, he uses our natural desire to protect our families to justify separating ourselves from this world. Many Christians have seen the shift in thinking of this world and out of fear, have chosen to isolate their family from the outside world as much a humanly possible. I will be the first to admit, this world today is scary for raising children, and I am glad mine are grown. But never forget that God loves your children more than you can ever love them.  Be a wise parent, teach them well, pray unceasingly for them, then trust God. They just might be the influence that is missing in our world.  

Matthew 5:13 NIV

[13] “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Salt has an amazing power over food.  Any cook on the food channel will tell you that it enhances the flavor in food.  It also preserves it by fending off bacteria. But to be effective, it must leave the salt shaker and spread out evenly. In the hands of a chef, it is the most important seasoning. It is only effective when it is spread out and stirred in.  The power of salt is released when it is dispersed. It has no power in the salt shaker.  If it stays in the sterile environment of the salt shaker, it has lost its power or it could be said that it has lost the action of 'saltiness'. By the way, the opposite of saltiness is bland.  Jesus was instructing his followers in this passage. Obviously, he was not telling us to rope ourselves off from the world. I think he was telling us to get out there and mix it up in our world just as he did. This prevents us from being bland, unpalatable Christians.

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

[24] And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, [25] not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

These words are written to Christians. Why would God tell us to meet together if Christians never separated and spread out? This passage contains an assumption that we spread out and mix with the world daily.  

In my job, I have the privilege to see Christian teachers nurturing children from dysfunctional and broken families. I see kind children from Christian homes learning side-by-side with those without hope, showing them what life is like on the other side. On network television this week, I heard a Christian artist proclaiming the power of our risen Savior. I see these Christians boldly spreading his word in the face of the lies of the enemy. This gives me hope.  

If you call yourself a Christian, please prayerfully consider your role in this world in light of what Christ called us to be.