It is quite evident that as the days go by, our nation is in distress. Now more than ever before
Death tolls are rising. Families are being torn apart, their lives forever changed.
Children are being robbed of their father, mother, brother sister or even worse: they are being robbed of their own chance at life.
Those who stand in the line of duty, to protect the "just and the unjust" are being murdered-YES, I said it: MURDERED in the name of hate; and those who use their voice for any reason are being persecuted as well.
I have seen, read, heard and argued with a few as to why this is all happening and to spare time and argument... I will not list those reasons. We all have seen the news, read the headlines, asked ourselves why this is all happening.
In the midst of this chaos, bloodshed and heartache: I would hope that those who profess and know God would be the first ones to reach out a helping hand, say a prayer, take action, get on their knees before the Lord and believe for a miracle, believe for healing, believe for justice, believe for PEACE.
Unfortunately, I have seen, read and heard quite the contrary.
I have seen more hate speech, more twisted and perverse scripture, spoken towards the victims and their families than I would like to admit.
I have read the comments and countless articles that applaud the actions of the individuals who have committed these crimes.
I have seen the church point the finger and say: "they did it to themselves for the way they lived, for what they did or did not believe, they did it to themselves for not being like us"
Let me say something,
Did the church ever take the time to realize that maybe God is trying to get our attention? Those in the church, those who claim to share, know and give the love of Christ to a dying and hurting world? Did the church ever think, maybe us saying "God hates gays" is NOT honorable to the very God we serve?! Are we doing something wrong? Are we really living out the Gospel? Are we showing them who Jesus really is, what He has done for us and what He can do?
Let me answer that for you: No. You are not.
I am by no means saying that every believer is being put under the microscope here. In the midst of the hate, I have also seen a lot of love and grieving, hoping and praying on behalf of the hearts of those believers who know better.
But the masses are preaching and living a gospel of hate. They are teaching believers and nonbelievers that these crimes, these murders are what Jesus himself would do.
No. they are not and I can promise you that that is grieving the heart of God himself.
CHURCH: WAKE UP.
Your hate, your judgement your condemnation and misinterpretation of the Gospel is costing people their lives. It is costing a child their parent, it is costing a newly-wed their wife, their husband, it is costing a mother her child. It is costing the life and death of millions, yes millions of people.
Instead of going online and praising these deaths: SEEK THE FACE OF GOD.
I still believe in the power of prayer, I still serve a God who is alive and well and reigning over all the earth.
But what the majority of the church is preaching and teaching is wrong. It is confusing and conflicting the hearts of those seeking the answer. Seeking a savior. They are running from the VERY AND ONLY one who can save them because of the things that the church is saying.
People ask why these events are unfolding, why these people are killing others and it's simple: it's because they're living in a world where the masses are teaching hate instead of love and specifically, that being hateful is justifiable. It's no wonder that things are getting extreme.
I think God is trying to get the attention of the Church, not the world. God is and always will try and pursue this world, that is who He is. He will stop at nothing to save His creation... but it starts with the church. It starts with those who know the message, who believe the message and those who have been called, to share the message with this hurting and dying world.
But enough is enough.
Maybe, we- the church- need to stop and think and ask ourselves: How many more lives? How many more families? How many more tragedies before we step up and do what we are called to do?
We are called to love, be love.
That means putting aside our differences, our judgment, our condemnation. This is not an issue of race-yes I went there. It is not an issue of government, it is not an issue of politics or gun control or terrorism or whatever-have-you.
Many would say, "I can love them but I don't have to agree with their lifestyle choices". That is absolutely correct, but even then, it is not your job to condemn them. Once they see the love of God, through you- God will do the convicting. It was His love that sent Him to the cross, it was love that raised Him from the dead, it was love that said, "I love you too much to let you live and die in sin, my child. let my love rescue you". You are called to love them. God will take care of the rest.
This is an issue that goes hand in hand with the church. We are teaching this world how to hate and not how to love. How do I know this? because the Church is the one doing the hating.
Our jobs, as children of the Most High, is to love. My job, your job, is not to tell someone what they're doing wrong, your job is not to tell someone, "God hates you because of how you live", your job is not to try and take judgment into your own hands and justify it in the name of God.
YOUR JOB IS TO LOVE THEM.
THE WAY CHRIST LOVES US.
What does that look like?
If you don't know, seek God because only He can show you (and what an outstanding example He is, the only example that matters).
When the sick came to ask for healing, he didn't turn them away because they had been living in sin or because they hadn't been following Him.
When the hungry came asking, begging for food, He didn't say no. He didn't leave them empty-handed.
He never, NEVER scolded someone for coming to Him asking for help, healing, food, water, deliverance.
He didn't say: "Oh, now you want me? Now you want my help? Why didn't you come when you were doing this or that?"
Jesus never did that. He was always there, to help, to heal, to hold and to deliver. It filled His heart with love to see one turn to Him. It pleased Him.
That is love.
He never turned anyone away. He never spoke ill to someone in pain, someone in sin.
One woman, the bible says: "with an issue of blood (see Mark 5:21-43) simply touched the hem of his garment and she was healed. He didn't say: "first I need to tell you why I can't or won't heal you, because of the way you have lived" NO. The bible says, instantly she was healed. INSTANTLY.
Jesus was and is, forever, will be filled with compassion, with love towards His creation.
US. That's us.
So in the midst of this, literal, dying and hurting world:
WAKE UP. Do right by God-
stop hating and start loving.
That is what Jesus would do
That is what Jesus is calling us to do.
"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
That repentance starts with us, the church. Asking God to forgive us for giving a message of hate, for not answering the call, for not loving others the way we are called to love them. It starts with me, it starts with you.
Wake up Church. It's time
