Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting

If there’s one thing I wish God would keep away from our free will it’d be selective reading. In the context of human behavior it seems to be that part of us that ignores all that causes discomfort or even change. It’s the stuff that’s most of the time is essential, yet we chose to not regard it as such. It’s what makes us almost Christians in the most important of times.For the past few weeks the words of Jesus from Matthew 10 can’t get out of my head. They’re like a mosquito bite – you’ve just thought it’s dealt with and then you accidentally touch it… There it goes again – itches for ages. I figured I must investigate deeper the question of Why do Christians seem to never give up trying to get people into heaven?

It’s a question not so much regarding the continuous carrying out of the mission of spreading the Gospel. It’s the issue of us not taking no as an answer. We go, tell people about Jesus and should we get a negative response, then we don’t move on but get stuck, doing everything possible to sneak the other person into heaven. Funny enough, this doesn’t seem to be our task. It’s not what we’re made for and it’s not what we’re responsible for. Our task is to get the message through as clearly and responsibly as possible – to plant the seed. It’s far beyond our job description to actually grow the plant and harvest the fruits.

As Jesus gives authority over deamons to the twelve and notes some other tips for their journeys, He makes one thing sure: if they accept you, stay and be a blessing to them; if they reject you – leave and leave for good. The shaking off of dust is where the power of the message lays. While Israel was a holy land, the land of the Gentiles wasn’t. This is why Jews would shake the dust off their clothes and shoes on leaving a Gentile area. It was a symbol of disregarding any connection with the pagans. So what Jesus is actually saying to the twelve is: if they welcome you, get in and do well; if they don’t – get away and make sure you let them know you’re not coming back. Outrageous, isn’t it? Paul and Barnabas actually did it, just have a look at Acts 13:51.

Today we seem to be carrying the responsibility for everyone’s salvation. When, in fact, all we’re responsible for is telling them about it. With time the Christian message seems to fade and mingle with culture because we’re trying everything and anything to somehow get them to believe it. How much clearer would the Gospel be if it was proclaimed but not imposed? Because imposing is exactly what we seem to be doing most of the time – through material things, relationships, even through changing our own selves. We just sit there and wait till the dude finally gives in and prays the prayer, quits smoking and starts a home group.

If we only were able to let the seed grow in its own time. If only we were able to make it clear that people who don’t welcome God won’t be welcomed in heaven, but in hell. If only we were able to get out of out market mentality – picking out only the fruits that are sweet and flowers that smell nice. If only we were able to shake the dust off when necessary.

Being actively involved with photography for more than two years now, I’ve realized more than ever before how powerful a visual image can be. Moreover, how much an image can reflect and at the same time direct our perceptions of a certain subject. Take a bottle of Coke, for instance – it’s never advertised static, dry and lukewarm, with dull colors… ‘Cause, frankly, who wants a Coke like that. It more sounds like being British tea at 4pm – boring and a thing from the past (for most people, that is). The energetic and fresh Coke image also makes you wish the Coke be that way – it kind of sets the standard for you.

There’s so much thought going into graphic design when it comes to advertising. Sadly, though, there’s little thought put into the graphics and design accompanying our faith.Most imagery selected for church activities, youth camps, or even publishing is chosen based on a feeling… and quite likely, the direction given by imagery seen in the past. It’s not that it’s never thought about, but it’s hardly ever thought through. As long as it’s got a blue sky and clouds, some fancy bright sunshine and a cross – it’s just gotta fit as a background for the songs. ‘Round Christmas we add some red and green, because it’s the colors of the season, and we’re set again. As Spring comes it’s time to pull up the flowers from the gallery – they seem fitting, don’t they?

I say NO. Most of those images reflect a desire for escape from reality. The truth is, our faith isn’t always shining, nor is it always a sweet smelling flower. Furthermore, what direction are these images leading us to? Closer to what God? The one that just sits up in the clouds and listens to good music?!

Properly selected imagery should be leading us God’s way. The way that Jesus walked, the way that the apostles walked, the way we headed on this one day of our lives… but then started wandering along while being a bit confused.

Does the visual content we expose ourselves and others on Sunday actually show compassion? And how about love, endurance, suffering, victory, needs, tears and prayers… Or is it always polished with the effects that only make life look nicer and more attractive?

I believe that there’s enough talent and brain in every church to be able to select visual content worthy of the event and the God it is meant to lead us to. After all, we claim to be living the principle of giving our best for God – we ought to actually give our best in selecting proper images. The only other option is to show none, but there isn’t space for anything in between.

image by: Davinci | agency: Dreamstime.com

The preacher finished his sermon and before closing the service asked the people before him “Do you want to be with Jesus right now? – Raise your hand if you are.” The multitude raise their hands, except for one man at the back row. The preacher was slightly concerned, so he decided he’d repeat the question. The result was the same. Odd, he thought, maybe the man didn’t hear the question. So he asked a third time, even louder – Do you want to be with Jesus right now? That didn’t do it either.

So after the service was finished he struggled through the crowd to find the man who didn’t raise his hand and ask him what was stopping him from wanting to be with Jesus. When he finally asked, the reply was “Oh, I do want to be with Jesus! But I don’t want to go there right now, I quite like it out here.”

It’s an example I recently heard in a sermon and it bewildered me. So I took a note of it in my mind and gave it some further thought in the days after that. Today, as I think about it again it scares me – because it’s so true.

We have made our world far too comfortable. Well, the areas I’ve lived in, at least. We’ve managed to surround ourselves with far too much stuff that doesn’t challenge us. And yes, unfortunately, as the man from the back row – we quite like it out here. Even with the financial issues much spoken of lately; even with the gloomy weather which we’re only making worse; even with the government officials we don’t quite approve of. One would think that not having to work, not having to pay taxes, not having to deal with expensive heating, not having to worry about food… that all of these will somehow make us eager to move on. Indeed, one would think.

But no. Christians in the (non-Wild) North seem to be indifferent to the image of a heaven waiting arrivals. In fact, the very thought of death freaks us out… When it shouldn’t! That’s because we think of death as it has been portrayed to us by the world we live in. Not as a beginning, but as an end: the end of being with our friends and family; the end of being a football fan; the end of using the Internet; the end of enjoying hot summer days in the freshness of the mountains. The end of the things which contribute to us feeling comfortable and nice, cozy and easy.

Where is apostle Paul to come and kick some butt?! Cause he got it right. He desired to depart and be with Christ, which is, as he says – better by far (see Philippians 1:23). Yes, he did end up hanging in there for a little more as it was God’s will. But we seem to be telling God “Don’t you dare touching my life cause I ain’t done living it just yet!” Way far are we from being “torn” as Paul was.

When I realized the truth about God’s love and decided to surrender my life in His hands, I wasn’t afraid to die. As a matter of fact, I was anticipating the day I’d go and be with Him, because I knew there was so much more to have, to experience, to be up there – where the days are brighter and the nights (if there’s such) – filled with the magnificence of God’s creativity. I was looking forward to being in a place where our breakfast will be peace, our lunch will be joy, and every day for dinner we’ll get God’s delicacy of love. A place where the radio doesn’t get boring with the same songs playing over and over and you don’t have to pay 99cents to iTunes to download something different. A place where having a walk at night doesn’t insist you carrying a gun in your pocket. I so wanted to be in that place where seeing God doesn’t require creatively molded word metaphors, cause He’s just right there – in front of me.

Then, as the years passed by and everyone else was giving me A’s and B’s for knowing God better and better I was waking up in the morning with a strange new and somewhat bothersome feeling – the one of being afraid to die. I’ve gone over this so many times in my mind, analyzed it from so many different angles, that I know today – it’s the feeling of quite liking it out here. That’s how, in the midst of everything else I lost my anticipation to be with Jesus. So without even noticing it, I became the man from the back row, who might raise his hand, but just out of politeness to the preacher.

How do I get my anticipation back? How do I become a fearless believer again? Why does it feel like I’m the only one in the non-Wild North?

They (the believers) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs wede done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47, NIV

The book of Acts is one of the books that come closest to my heart. Probably because the Old Testament is a bit farther from my personal cultural experience and Revelation simply has too many variables when it comes to interpreting its meaning. Acts, however, speaks at a level I seem to understand easier. Well, anyways. These few verses have been on my mind lately because a few weeks back I was sitting at church on a Sunday, I heard an announcement of a conference and suddenly I thought – It appears that only at conferences we come close to living as it’s described in the quote above.

Now, I say “come close” because even at conferences (at least the ones I’ve attended) it would take quite some effort on a visitor’s side to see the sincere fellowship. That one, which comes to be as a consequence of one’s love for Jesus, not so much because we’re having cookies and coffee and it’s odd not to talk to each other. Perhaps what I’ve experienced so far is cultural – not all cultures have that aspect of immediate intimacy with “strangers”. But then I’d argue – why would that matter – we’re brothers and sisters, not strangers… Or is that just Christian slang?!

I won’t even dig into the financial and material aspects of the passage from Acts. I’ll get too controversial. I would like to focus on the attitude towards these events – the conferences, etc. It appears to me that because conferences are such massive events, long spoken of and lots worked on people attending them are different. When compared to a regular Sunday service the conference shines with: more uplifting music (yet, same lyrics!), more devoted prayer times (go figure!), establishment of new friendships (I suppose at church we can’t get closer friends than we are…), better preaching (yet, from the same old Bible)… And the list goes on.

So, we have the same people (personality-wise), same Bible, same lyrics we sing… just a different location and in different numbers. In this case one might as well call the conference/ congress a social gathering and get it over with. But don’t you dare calling Sunday services so… Have we all become so number and outward-driven believers that when we’re small in number and know each other’s glitches and mis-steps “the fellowship” can’t take place?!

Why do we tend to cry and kneel (before our seats) mostly at conferences? Why do we only clap for all songs at the conferences (well, and lift our hands up all the time of the slow ones)? Why is feet-washing so acceptable at an international conference, but not so in the local church? How come everyone’s attentive to the 45min. sermon at the congress, but can’t wait for the 20min. preaching on regular Sundays to end? Lastly, why in the freakin’ world everyone leaving the conference would say they were uplifted and encouraged in their faith… they worshipped at a brand new level… and this is considered “a special” when it occurs on regular Sundays? Then, of course, we have the fact that a regular church attendant is ready to take an odd 4-5 day vacation and travel to another country to go to church, and that same person can’t find time to travel 30min. to prayer meeting on Wednesday?!

Ah, I suppose I can keep asking questions, but what’s the point if they don’t get answered. Awakening doesn’t take place. And we want revival sweeping throughout – duuh, won’t happen!

P.S. As for the title – what’s described in Acts 2:42-47 seems to be everything but a once-in-4-years-event. Maybe cause they didn’t have the time to prepare one… Who knows! It’s more like daily living, driven by an inner change in the person. I suppose it was the only thing they could do back then.

Update: Apparently God decided to surprise me yet again. The sermon was a refreshing lesson for me both while preparing the last bits and seeing the whole thing, and also while preaching it. The feedback from the congregation was very encouraging as well. I have never had such a powerful feedback on a sermon I’ve preached, so it was a very humbling experience on top of all else. I think they believed my message. I actually think I came to believe more than when I started preparing for the sermon and all the questions started popping up.

In the past few weeks I’ve been working on a sermon about God’s mission and our part in it. It’s been a really refreshing thing for me. Especially because in the last several years the direction of my faith has been downwards. More like rolling down a hill actually…

In the midst of all the excitement around that sermon the following thought came about “Will they believe my message if I don’t believe it myself?” It actually led me to reflecting on the way we, Christians, tend to “testify” to the world today… When Christ called us to go and teach the world about Him and make disciples he pointed out two most important details: 1) all authority is given to Him (and that’s all as in ALL), and 2) He is with us as we’re going after this mission.

I know that I myself have very often been the scared Christian, or the too-careful-one. I’ve often decided to keep quiet rather than speak out the truth. I’ve often decided to pray silently, rather than disturb the secular enjoyment of others around me and show what I actually care about. I suppose this won’t change over-night either, but at the moment I’m thinking too much about it and couldn’t keep from sharing it with you all.

So, I’m preparing this sermon which is supposed to challenge the lives of young and old people and help them embrace God’s mission to share the Gospel with non-believers, love Him, and love the other people around. And I keep coming to one key moment – in order for us to carry out the mission successfully we ought to be fearless, full of faith, and entirely determined.

That’s fine, probably I could even defend that theologically better than I think I could, but that seems to be the least proof an unbelieving world cares about. As cheesy and worn-out as it might sound, what the world cares about is whether I do what I’m telling them to do. Which is actually the outward expression of whether I believe my message. If I were to preach to myself I probably wouldn’t be quite convinced at the end of the sermon, because I know my failures, I know my mistakes, and I also remember the times when I could have said something but I didn’t.

Yes, yes, I know God probably doesn’t look at it quite that way, but all this leads to a sad reality – the one of losing the faith I once had. 5-6 years ago, I remember I would pray and I would literally see God’s face before me. Today I couldn’t describe it because I haven’t seen it for so long that I’ve forgotten most of it. But I do have the clear memory that it happened every time I would pray. Back then I also prayed with faith… and I mean the real thing. I remember praying for healing and the thoughts of it not happening, the doubts, and all that – wasn’t there. I also remember praying for things that seemed impossible, yet did happen. I also remember once praying for something, God gave it to me, and a week later I had to give it back… because it wasn’t something I should have. Yet, I prayed with as much faith, as I had when I left it.

Today the case seems to be so that I only have faith when I need to give things up. And that’s not so much faith as in Faith, but rather a hope of one who’s desperate and helpless. Where did the faith go? I have no idea. I know when it started slipping away, but I’m still in the unknown when it comes to its destination. What I know is that I rather not pray for certain things verbally or in my mind, because it would come out as the babbling Jesus talked about. My only hope is that will look deep inside me and somewhere there find a sparkle that will get Him excited again.

So, I’m preparing this sermon which is supposed to challenge the lives of young and old people and I’m wondering Will they believe the message of one with so little faith? I can’t testify of a mission carried out fearlessly. I can’t find a recent example of a full-of-faith mission either. I think I’m still a bit determined, but far from entirely.

Sometimes, in trying to excuse ourselves we tend to call this “maturing faith.” The problem is, for 4 years already I haven’t been able to realize how losing faith can actually be maturing in faith. Perhaps it’s a much bigger problem.

Pray for me. I’m preaching on Sunday, June 8.

And thanks for reading it all… if you’ve gotten that far, that is.

Now, here’s the complete title of the article: Jesus is my Friend, but the unsaved people around me will still go to hell. Got the chills?! Well, if you can’t handle the sentence in bold above, then I’ll rephrase a quote from the movie The Matrix – Take the blue pill (quit reading), and when you wake up tomorrow morning life will go on as normal, and you’ll think of this sentence as just a dream. If you keep reading, hopefully there won’t be a turning back.

Going to hell. John 3:16 – probably each believer’s first favorite verse from the Bible… You know how it goes. Yet, most believers today seem to stop at the period at the end of v.16. Yet, v.18 is not so happy no more: whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. The New Testament is also pretty clear on the future of the ones who are not together with God. My main point here is – there is going to hell… whether it’s boiling hot there, pitch dark, etc. etc… It’s a place you don’t want to be in. Unfortunately, in the past years Christianity seems to has bent under the pressure of culture and as a result of this the emphasis on heaven and hell is all but present. Instead, all we hear is love. Not that love in itself is bad, but I’ve come to believe that more and more people today also need to recognize that they are in need of salvation. Because many are the unsaved who won’t even care about your Jesus love talk.

The Chills. That’s the other problem with the whole heaven and hell deal. You go tell someone “Unless you’re saved you’ll go to hell.” and then watch what happens. You immediately become the disrespectful one, the close-minded one, the old-fashioned one, the overly-religious one, the stupid one… Frankly, I think that’s because anyone who is seriously told that sentence gets the chills. On one hand it’s funny, because it’ll be burning hot in hell, but anyways… that’s another topic for when I get goofy. Now I’m serious. To me it appears that under the influence of the current culture telling anyone anything negative about them is a no-no. Yet, the Bible is also clear that God and our faith in Him should stand above culture when there is a disagreement between these two (God and culture). But why in the world are Christians today so freakin’ afraid?!

The Irony. It is really ironic – we’re afraid to tell the truth in the eyes of non-believers – some because they don’t want to become the disrespectful and stupid ones, etc. etc., and others – because it seems unloving to contradict people. The first reason is actually so dumm that in my opinion it doesn’t even deserve discussion. As for the second – almost on weekly basis we are taught in our churches how the loving thing to do isn’t always the most or at all pleasant thing to do or experience. So either many are just dozed off on Sunday or are easily chickened out when it comes to applying what they’ve heard. The sad irony is that because of that people around us, whom we say we “love” end up dying without knowing God, or even without being challenged to know God. We’re just given a simple message to convey, and so often we fail.

The other option. So what’s then the other option? I firmly believe that there is nothing stronger than the truth. Both – as the fuel for the one who speaks it, but also as the thing that convinces the one who hears it. That’s at least one reason to not live on as quiet “loving” Christians who don’t dare to tell the whole story because someone might get hurt (physically too, by the way!).

Ultimately, when I am saved only I will go with God. Jesus is a personal ticket for one seat alone. Yes, for everyone who believes… But children, elderly, and so on people are still not permitted a free seat just because I’m on the train or you’re on the train.

I hope at least this got you started on thinking about all aspects of the Gospel and to what extend you’re including them in your sharing thereof with others.

* Clarification: Chances are that by now you’re thinking something very weird about how I believe Christianity should be shared. In few words – I’m not excluding love from the big picture, nor am I encouraging a hard-core heaven-or-hell preaching. If that’s what you’re thinking – reconsider what you know about me (that’s if you know me at all), or simply read carefully all I’ve posted so far and things will become clearer.

Ok, by now you should be interested.

A new thought occurred to me a few days ago and hasn’t left my mind ever since. It’s the thought of on-my-own type of Christian life. See, I was initially wondering on the topic of miracles and why they seem to not happen as much nowadays, yet we claim God has not changed. Sometimes we go so far, that we actually are satisfied with less – “Oh, I feel this is the miracle”… when God actually hasn’t even started.

I find it to be a matter of trust… Thus the title above. Speaking about myself, I’m discovering that in reality I don’t trust God as much as I used to. Give me a problem – I can solve it. If I figure I can’t – I can learn to live with it. Rarely, however, do I actually trust God to the extend of believing in a miracle. This goes for simple things such as daily provisions, but also for more major things, such as changing myself, others, the Church (universal)… people I know and I love.

The scary part is – I think it’s not just me that’s gone that far out there. I’m seeing more and more Christians either getting comfortable with pain and hurt, not believing it can be healed and/or changed… Or – even worse – going about it on their own. Struggling to make enough money for living. Unsuccessfully juggling with serving God and serving the company, school or whatever else.

Sadly, it’s only every now and then that I’m having those revelation moments in which I realize – Whether it’s with or without this or that… it doesn’t really matter. I can be dead and gone in an instant and then only one thing matters. But speaking about daily life… oh well, if I say I trust God I’d probably be lying. Cause trust, in my understanding, is not what I live out in practice right now.

How is selection being practiced by Christians? It’s quite simple to answer actually – just pay attention to it as you go in your everyday life. The first thing which comes to mind is (sadly enough!) God’s very Word. We (me including) all have what we call “favorite verses”, favorite books, favorite characters. But what about the rest? Does our narrow focus mean that we don’t consider the rest of the Bible as important, as valid, as applicable… as directed to us? Yes, yes, yes!!! That’s exactly what it means. I know this will challenge you a bit, but answer to me, please, why then do you not study all parts of the Bible equally and apply them so? A bit too many Christians rather learn the “give me” and “bless me” verses, than the “I will do” or “I will be” ones.

Christian music… I’ve two examples to share and will leave the thinking to you. The first is Luther’s song “Create in me a pure heart” which is based on David’s Psalm 51. Way too often I’ve heard this song only in its first half – God make me this, make me that… But in reading Psalm 51 one clearly sees the heart of David’s devotion to God. He wants God to make him all this and “Then I will teach transgressors your ways… and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.” See, right there is the power of Psalm 51. Strip that and it turns into a selfish and fake prayer. The second example is Matt Redman’s “Blessed Be Your Name“, a song, the last verse of which states:

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Now, I’ve heard that one way too often stripped as well. Here it’s more an issue of complete dependency and Paul’s joy from all of Philippians. Have we turned into selective Christians?!

One more thing I have noticed very often among Christians is complaining about one’s circumstances. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve done it too, and most likely I’m still doing it on daily basis – just not noticing all of it yet. However, I want to turn my and your attention to the issue, because I see it growing and growing… Circumstances in life are a funny thing. Actually, most of the time we pray for the circumstances, but not for ourselves. We pray that God will change this or that… but only rarely do we pray that God will change us. And it is even more rare that Christians in general do take on the daily journey to changing themselves consciously. And this is a hot topic because we cannot select the circumstances in which we live – be it poverty, loneliness, cancer, opression… This is for most people the moment when we hit the floor and come broken and empty before God.

Lastly, many Christians world-wide do selective theology. Life isn’t black and white they say, so I can twist a bit the meaning of God’s revelation. No! You can’t! If there is only one truth, one true way of living, and one true belief… It is black and white! Just that we’ve all been in the dirty and sticky waters of our culture for too long doing nothing, and now it seems impossible to live differently. And people get to claim their right to select when things get rough and tough. That’s when we tend to twist meaning and interpret a bit too much.

So, are you a selective Christian too? Remember, God doesn’t call us to select from Him only what we like. He has called us to obey His will… entirely! And that doesn’t always coincide with our own wishes and desires. Most of the time it actually opposes them.

The thought of lost lives has been on my mind for quite some time, but these sermons helped it develop much deeper. Have you ever thought about the lives of people you read about in the news? Where will they end up? Take it a step further – as God’s sent one does it impact you at all? I mean, we’re so used to reading about people dying today in so many ways, that it would take a fairly rare or massive death to shock us or surprise us. And that’s just heart breaking! Have we become so cold towards the human life? Has it totally lost its value? No? Are you thinking No, of course it hasn’t! Well, then why in the world are we just playing Christians… as if it’s a role-playing game for preschool kids?!

I see a Church which struggles. I see a body of believers which is far from being united. I see crippled Christians – lame in their faith, deaf to God’s voice… mute to the call to proclaim the Word which brings life. Where did the faith that move mountains go? When did the everlasting and unchanging God switch to a different mode? When did the voice of God stop calling? What happened to the water that gives life?

Frankly, nothing has changed ever since the Spirit of God hovered over the waters… and then God said Let there be light! And there was light. Where is God’s light today? Surely it isn’t in the latest model of any piece of equipment, neither is it in the discounted clothes. It’s not even in the Church’s financial department. I believe God’s light is right where it is supposed to be, just that we’re often a block before it or a block past it. And it is only when we “accidentally” pass by the right corner that we are elevated to a new level of our faith. Maybe someone turns back to God, another one is baptized… a couple gets married. Have you realized that for most of the Christians you know these are occasions that we call special or extraordinary? Sure there’s extra to all of them, but how low is the mere ordinary then? Are we living a whole life to simply experience a moment or two? Why isn’t the Christian’s life today extraordinary all around?! Well, whatever the reason is, I believe it’s that same thing that is on the way of God’s love and light. Materialism, individualism, selfishness, pure laziness… It sure has a lot of names.

Have you ever imagined what it would be if you could shed God’s light into the lives of the people who have just died? I’m not saying that all of them are lost for good… Who am I to judge? But how much better is it to be certain of the eternal future of those people’s lives? Much, much better! And the price for it – you and I living a true Christian life. Simple.

What do I mean by double faced? In brief – the fact that among Christians I behave in one way and then among non-Christians in another. That was too simple… I don’t want to be misunderstood. I’m not talking about details, certain use of language, etc. I’m talking about a general attitude.

How do I behave among Christians… Well, I’ve noticed that I’m more critical, I expect more… often you would say I’m not as welcoming as I ought to be. I realize that often it’s also harder for me to truly love Christians (compared to non-Christians).

Then among non-Christians I catch myself to be much more lively, much more welcoming, certainly show more understanding… It’s just much much easier for me to express and show love for those people – whether they like me or not.

Recently I was reminded several times of the attitude of many of the religious leaders during Jesus’ time – they simply said despised those who did not profess a belief in God. My case is close to being the exact opposite of that. I’m saying close because I don’t think I’m that far to the extreme they had reached. The issue is alarming to me also because I’ve heard a number of people share with me that they feel in a very similar way.

I wondered and I pondered… Clearly there is no simple answer. However, several things which became more obvious, and I think have to do with the problem, are these:

• Love is much more than what we often limit it to. And by saying this I mainly refer to Jesus’ words that it’s easy to love the ones who love you, but we must love everyone equally. Naturally (for our current condition of humanity impacted by sin) it is preferable to focus our love towards the people we agree with, accept, need, etc. As for the others – some we tolerate, other we ignore, and some we strongly dislike. It should become our priority to love.
• Incomplete forgiveness is another aspect of the problem. We say we forgive, we try to act upon it, but very often our experience is that very few actually make it completely. Most of the time we end up stuck in the middle, not being able to forget and move on. Our interaction with other people sooner or later results in situations which demand forgiveness. However, what I often sense among the body of believers is that forgiveness does not come out of the depths of one’s heart and love, but out of the fear for being labeled a bad Christian by the others. Maybe sometimes we’re too quick to forgive and thus not being able to do it with our whole heart and mind. Forgiveness must be complete.
• We, Christians, often also believe others to be without mistakes. I say it this way, because it doesn’t quite make sense why we would expect it unless we believe it. Yet, all Christians make mistakes. And this is where it gets much more comfortable among non-Christians – because we believe them to be full of mistakes and actually expect them on regular basis.
• Sometimes, in the midst of our religious busyness we totally forget that it is not only the non-Christians who need Christ, his love, and our support (which testifies of it too). That’s what I call the exciting part of being among non-Christians – we get to save them (as if it’s us who do it!), get them in the right way, and move on to the next one. But with our brothers and sisters in Christ we behave in such a way, that thinking of God being present there just makes me ashamed and speechless.

Am I a double faced Christian? – Often, yes. Do I want to be? – Not at all. How do I change my current behavior and way of thinking? – Not quite sure yet… But this list is a good point for me to begin working from. What is your case?