When I say evangelist, what images come to mind?
A Bible-thumping angry dude in a suit with a shiny fivehead. That's what I see.
Despite whatever you've been told, that is not how you're supposed to share the good news of Jesus.
Let me illustrate why. A charming man knocks on your front door, "Hi sir/ma'am, you seem like a reasonable person, would that be correct?"
"Sure, I would hope so."
"You're going to be married one day, correct?"
"Probably, I mean, I guess, eventually."
"I have your future husband/wife out there sitting in the car for you. Why don't we go ahead and get this over with right here and now, and get you two married?"
"Say what?"
"Now listen here, if you don't get married to your future spouse right here and now, I'm going to shoot you."
The man pulls out a gun, racks the slide, and points it at your forehead. "Your choice, make it a good one."
If you don't see what I mean, let me explain. Evangelists have this reputation of being all for Jesus and shoving him down your throat; they present the truth of the gospel, and demand a decision from you. If you make the wrong one, you're going to burn in hell buddy, have a nice day. If you've got questions, tough luck, you're probably going to hell also.
In the same way you wouldn't want to marry someone you'd never dated (let alone met), you wouldn't want to serve a God you've never really known.
No, "evangelicism" is not how God works. Neither is Catholicism, Presbyterianism, Protestantism, Anglicanism, or Non-Denominationalism.
God works through the individual relationships we have with everyone we know.
The earliest followers of Jesus started following Jesus because they knew someone who followed him. According to the book of John, Jesus walked by John the Baptist one day after his baptism, and John the Baptist pointed him out, "Go talk to that dude! He's God in the flesh!"
So, two of John the Baptist's buddies/followers, Andrew and presumably John went and talked to Jesus. Jesus asked them what they wanted, and they answered they wanted to be friends.
Andrew's brother Simon Peter came to know Jesus because Andrew hung out with him.
Phillip came from the same hometown as Andrew and Simon Peter, and came to know Jesus through them.
Phillip in turn went and told Nathanael about Jesus, and Jesus gave him proof he was who the others said he was.
Don't believe Jesus wants us to be friends with the people in our lives? The greatest commandment is none other than to love the Lord our God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself, right?
If you do that, you're not far off from the kingdom of God.
Those who cannot do that aren't from God.
Showing posts with label 1 John 4:8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 John 4:8. Show all posts
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Friday, July 23, 2010
Love is all you need
If God is love, then it's true, love really is all you need.
Bear in mind, there's a difference between real, biblical love, and the popular definition of love used by today's society, cupid, and highschoolers.
Although Paul's explanation of love covers a lot of what would constitute a happy romance, nowhere in that entire chapter on love, is it specified that love is only for couples. The truth is his words on love can be applied to all circumstances where love is required.
My buddy Jesus taught entire sermons around one statement, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself." The only way we can show we love God is to walk in obedience to his commandments, by a conscious choice. The most important commandment is of course to love the Lord, but the next one echoes what Jesus said about loving your neighbor.
Before you start thinking your neighbor is the shmuck next door (or across the street if you need to gossip), you should understand who else we're told to love. For one, Jesus taught that we need to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us. True, "enemies" is such a strong word, (in this context meaning the Greek word echthros; a foe, adversary, or one who gives reason for enmity or hatred--thanks Emerald! Love the concordance!), and most of us just aren't lucky enough to have any enemies. We can't all know supervillians, unfortunately. So, for those of us sans enemies, there's always the friend or brother or in-law who does something that drives us up the wall. If you love him/her, forgive them.
While we're talking about love, I'd also like to bring up love's superlative, that is, the most love you can ever show and the most love ever shown. If you love someone, you are willing to sacrifice everything for them, be it your social life, your physical strength, your money, or whatever. But, the biggest sacrifice you can make for love is to forfeit your own life for someone's benefit or protection. That's one reason I have such a profound respect for soldiers and sailors, but of course only one reason.
Back to what I was saying, the biggest demonstration of love ever shown was when Jesus died on the cross. Nothing tops that.
It's encouraging to remember what Jesus did for us, isn't it? Nothing can get me down when I'm thinking that, and I pray that for any one who reads this, they might find the same comfort, the same solidarity, the same hope.
Bear in mind, there's a difference between real, biblical love, and the popular definition of love used by today's society, cupid, and highschoolers.
Although Paul's explanation of love covers a lot of what would constitute a happy romance, nowhere in that entire chapter on love, is it specified that love is only for couples. The truth is his words on love can be applied to all circumstances where love is required.
My buddy Jesus taught entire sermons around one statement, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself." The only way we can show we love God is to walk in obedience to his commandments, by a conscious choice. The most important commandment is of course to love the Lord, but the next one echoes what Jesus said about loving your neighbor.
Before you start thinking your neighbor is the shmuck next door (or across the street if you need to gossip), you should understand who else we're told to love. For one, Jesus taught that we need to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us. True, "enemies" is such a strong word, (in this context meaning the Greek word echthros; a foe, adversary, or one who gives reason for enmity or hatred--thanks Emerald! Love the concordance!), and most of us just aren't lucky enough to have any enemies. We can't all know supervillians, unfortunately. So, for those of us sans enemies, there's always the friend or brother or in-law who does something that drives us up the wall. If you love him/her, forgive them.
While we're talking about love, I'd also like to bring up love's superlative, that is, the most love you can ever show and the most love ever shown. If you love someone, you are willing to sacrifice everything for them, be it your social life, your physical strength, your money, or whatever. But, the biggest sacrifice you can make for love is to forfeit your own life for someone's benefit or protection. That's one reason I have such a profound respect for soldiers and sailors, but of course only one reason.
Back to what I was saying, the biggest demonstration of love ever shown was when Jesus died on the cross. Nothing tops that.
It's encouraging to remember what Jesus did for us, isn't it? Nothing can get me down when I'm thinking that, and I pray that for any one who reads this, they might find the same comfort, the same solidarity, the same hope.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Love, Sex, and Marriage, Oh My!
I went to a Bible study last night that talked about sex, a lot.
No, the church I go to isn't full of heretics. Sex isn't just for heathens, and in case you didn't know, the Bible goes pretty in depth. Honestly, the Bible goes so far in depth, I'm kind of wondering why the missionary position is considered plain-jane and uninteresting. Based on last night's conversation, I actually feel the missionary position might be more fun than a night with the most accommodating escort service--but that's another blog post entirely. I promise I'll explain what I mean when I talk about what I learned last night, but tonight, I think I would rather voice my experience with Biblically outlined sexuality.
Because the Bible study focused on the Song of Songs/Solomon, I'm not going to go there tonight. Sorry, no spiritual pr0n this evening.
Love is complex. Jesus said we need to love God with all our heart, and love our neighbor like ourselves. As such, it's possible (and likely) that we love our friends even if we're not in love with them. But, society makes it clear to us that there is another kind of love, one with a certain je ne sais quoi.
Even so, it's not like MTV makes it out to be. Boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, and wives are not supposed to be just that--they're supposed to be best friends too.
If you think about it, it actually makes sense for a couple to be best friends, especially if they're going to get married and spend the rest of their lives together. Ah marriage, it's great, isn't it? I mean, it's at this point the Bible first encourages believers to partake in (-snicker-) intimacy.
Sex is arguably God's second greatest gift to humanity, the first being Jesus to die in our place. Does it surprise you to hear the Bible actually describes some anatomical parts when talking about sex? Just wait until you hear what's in Song of Songs. Then you'll really be blushing.
We're supposed to love others not only because God told us to who knows how many times, but also because in loving others, we become more like God, being that God is love. In fact, it's what distinguishes believers from nonbelievers, their love for one another.
No, the church I go to isn't full of heretics. Sex isn't just for heathens, and in case you didn't know, the Bible goes pretty in depth. Honestly, the Bible goes so far in depth, I'm kind of wondering why the missionary position is considered plain-jane and uninteresting. Based on last night's conversation, I actually feel the missionary position might be more fun than a night with the most accommodating escort service--but that's another blog post entirely. I promise I'll explain what I mean when I talk about what I learned last night, but tonight, I think I would rather voice my experience with Biblically outlined sexuality.
Because the Bible study focused on the Song of Songs/Solomon, I'm not going to go there tonight. Sorry, no spiritual pr0n this evening.
Love is complex. Jesus said we need to love God with all our heart, and love our neighbor like ourselves. As such, it's possible (and likely) that we love our friends even if we're not in love with them. But, society makes it clear to us that there is another kind of love, one with a certain je ne sais quoi.
Even so, it's not like MTV makes it out to be. Boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, and wives are not supposed to be just that--they're supposed to be best friends too.
If you think about it, it actually makes sense for a couple to be best friends, especially if they're going to get married and spend the rest of their lives together. Ah marriage, it's great, isn't it? I mean, it's at this point the Bible first encourages believers to partake in (-snicker-) intimacy.
Sex is arguably God's second greatest gift to humanity, the first being Jesus to die in our place. Does it surprise you to hear the Bible actually describes some anatomical parts when talking about sex? Just wait until you hear what's in Song of Songs. Then you'll really be blushing.
We're supposed to love others not only because God told us to who knows how many times, but also because in loving others, we become more like God, being that God is love. In fact, it's what distinguishes believers from nonbelievers, their love for one another.
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