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Recommended Reading
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When Bad Christians Happen to Good People
by Dave Burchett
"Help for those who have been harmed by Christians- and those who have inflicted the wounds. Throughout history, Christians have done considerable damage to others-both independently and in the name of Christ. Each time this occurs, one of God's precious creations is wounded and the church's witness to the world is grievously weakened.
For years, unbelievers and Christians have rejected the church because of damaging encounters with a Christian, a Christian leader, or a group of Christians. No matter how much we wish to reverse the damage, however, we cannot reach the unchurched with the life- changing message of the gospel-nor can we protect those still within the body-unless we insist upon dramatic changes within our church communities.
Targeting every person who has ever been hurt by a Christian-as well as those believers responsible for inflicting such damaging wounds-author Dave Burchett calls for a new way of relating that will bring healing to the church and transform our witness to the world."
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Recommended Viewing
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Nooma - Bullhorn
"God loves everyone, so a Christian should, too. In fact, Jesus said that the most important thing in life is to love God with everything we've got and love others the same way. But it's not always easy to love everyone around us, is it? Sometimes we strongly disagree with other people's political views, religious beliefs, behaviors, or something else, and it makes it hard to love them when we feel like we're right and they're very wrong. But Jesus doesn't separate loving God and loving others. So maybe the best way for us to show our love for God is actually by loving other people no matter how hard it sometimes is. Maybe it's the only way."
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"The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones." - Henry Ward Beecher
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"Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation." - Henry Ward Beecher
While driving through town a few days ago, I was suprised to see the sign in front of All Peoples Church. So surprised that I went home, grabbed my camera and drove back to take a picture. Not many would be able to drive by the church and miss this big, bold message:
If I wanted, I could click on the above picture, link to the church's website and ask them why they posted that sign. I could choose to be offended; I could choose to dismiss it as nothing more than a well-intended play on words. If nothing else, it certainly got me thinking.
I thought of the fellow "Christians" who told my daughter that some friends of hers who are homosexual are going to burn in hell, and wondered whether that helped her friends get any closer to God. While I certainly don't condone their lifestyle, I have no right to judge them or condemn them to hell when I am just as deserving of such a fate. Sin is sin, and we are all guilty.
I thought of my past failures, some quite big and ugly, and how some "Christians" met me with condemnation and some with compassion. I know where I felt the presence of God the most.
I don't doubt that there is a hell, and that it is a place that we all should avoid. However, I do believe that there is a big difference between going to heaven and avoiding hell.
And while I can never claim to fully comprehend God and His character, what I've read in the Bible has convinced me that rather than dangle me over hell as a threat, He would prefer to welcome me with love and compassion.
The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. - Psalm 145:8
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:32
"...And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.
But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began." - Luke 15:20-22
No, reading my Bible doesn't scare the hell out of me. It soothes the heaven into me.
I hope you feel the same way.
Keep running for your prize,
Larry Hehn
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