You know who I identify with a lot? Jeremiah the weeping prophet. He didnt hold back who he was, or the emotion he felt. He was who God made him to be - open, bare to the soul - and He trusted that God made him that way for a reason, AND he lived in obedience to Him. We sing hymns, we quote Scripture , we pray prayers about all these things - and then criticize those who do lay themselves bare. The shortest verse in the new testament is also one of the most powerful. It is simply Jesus wept. He, not only male, but He GOD, not only cried - he sobbed. Out of grief for a friend that He KNEW He not only COULD raise from the dead - but WOULD raise shortly after weeping. Isnt that curious? Why would Jesus waste his time mourning a dead friend He was about to revive? There is only one reason: to give us an example of connected emotion towards others - in a way that didnt hold back and laid Himself bare. He was approving of the grieving process. He was also approving of unashamed tears as the mood struck. They are an expressive mechanism that not only binds up the broken hearted people, but bonds them to each other. He wants us to FEEL WITH others, not merely for them. I grew up in a laughing and crying church. We all would cry in service, at pot lucks and when wed meet at the post office. Wed laugh too. But these days most Christians are uncomfortable with anything outside of the smiles. And THAT is where the imbalance is - not the other way around. Sometimes I think that God puts me in peoples lives to try and get them to see that they need more of the empathy; and you cant empathize with others if you never share the burden of someone elses PAIN. To stop - really listen to the why behind their hurt - and be the healing agent, rather than mere band aid. A quick quote of Scripture, or a token prayer is often the way most modern day Christians handle things - but thats not the example Christ set at all. To me its ironic when people who have been Christians for years, forget that we are to be like Christ towards others. They have the label, but not an actual love for others. Any regard most who claim to be Christians show today, is surface deep, or worse - their own flawed definition of love, instead of Gods. They dismiss without genuine concern, those they consider weak, or different, or not up to their personal taste - and they fail to remember that its God who made us all, and forgives all sinners which they themselves are. The ground is level at the foot of the cross, and all souls are the same height. Money, fame, power, position, beauty - none of that matters or makes them somehow better than anyone else. Its the world that uses that standard of measure, and its the world that puts up walls and abandons when they feel uncomfortable or dont understand someones emotion - but unfortunately the church folk of today have forgotten that, and act much like those they claim to be different from. Many have fallen in with slick marketing of the Gospel - instead of remembering the CALL of the Gospel. Rather than digging deep enough to bring peace to others, focus is on lesser things; things that will not be of any value on the other side like other human souls will be. They forget that it is HE who brings specific people into their sphere to uplift, encourage, heal and support. How is that approach different from the world? Or better put: How is that at all like Jesus? Some even make wounds worse, all while pointing to their Christian label. I guess this is what Jesus meant when He said They have ears, but cannot hear. And eyes, but cannot see. May I always - no matter what Christian church/group I belong to in any given moment - be honest enough to admit that Im flawed, and bold enough to connect emotionally with others - unashamed of who I am - in a way that builds up their spirits, rather than damages, dismisses or criticizes them. May I also never run from such opportunities to support like Jesus did...
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 03:33:02 +0000
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