I saw this image on FB recently and I immediately thought....
BUT I may have to apologize for our how I and/or how other Christians misrepresent Christ.
What? Yes. As I scroll through social media, I sometimes cringe at what I see other believers posting. These things can be confusing and down right hypocritical to the Message of Christ.
So you want an example? Sure I could think of hundreds, but here's just a few........
Lots of professing Christians are living with their significant others, engaging in pre-martial sex and then posting scripture about the depravity of someone else's sin. For instance. these same folks are blasting aloud or judging quietly (same thing according to Jesus) the gay and lesbian community for their sexual sin, as if somehow they are worse and that being a Christian makes them better.... because their heart is right! This is so confusing. Show me this in the bible?
Lots of Christians believe that abortion is right, despite God's word on Life and Murder and His Purpose for the child HE formed and knit together in his/her Mothers Womb.
These same folks would want a life in prison sentence for someone who harms an animal and no death penalty for someone who murders a child or person outside of the womb...... HUH? Show me this in the Bible?
How does a baby's location (womb or outside the womb) determine its life......and how is an animal put in the same category as a human being aside from the fact that its alive....... Don't send me hate mail, I love animals and rescue them and believe animal cruelty should be punished, but lets make sure our beliefs line up with both The Word of God and is consistency applied.
Lots of Christians believe and promote the idea that you can remove people from your life and your right for doing so under almost any circumstance. That you don't have to take any less than what you deserve, etc etc, blah, blah, blah... The word of God clearly says Love Your Enemies, Bless Them Do Good To Them, Give them your coat, walk the extra mile, pray for them, and let them slap both sides of your face.... Truth is we are letting the secular view of most things infiltrate and water down the Word of God in our hearts!
So now that you have a few highly charged topics to ruminate over, let me reign this back in........ because its really NOT about all of these issues and if we hyper-focus on them right now, we MISS THE POINT!!
Are what you and I doing reflective of what is required of a Christian and consistent with the Word of God? If not, why not? Ok, before you post 25 memes that tell me "I'm a Christian, I'm not perfect, blah, blah" Let me share with you that you have the Spirit of God inside of you, the image of God all over you, the word of God in your heart (if you study the word) and the power that raised Christ from the dead, at your disposal...... So what were you saying again?
I love you and want you and I to walk in the abundant life Christ died to give you. That can only happen if you put as much energy into putting off the weight and sin that so easily ensnares as you do in defending it. Me Too! I've walked and continue to walk, sometimes, many times stumbling this out. One thing is for sure, I am never content with my sin. Most difficult, painful and beautiful thing ever is the act of obedience.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Love,
Tammi