I Am Not Ashamed

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.  In today's culture I see so many mixed messages about Christianity and what it means and I struggle with some of those messages.  I believe that Christ lived and died to save me from my sin.  He came to this world, sent by the Father to walk with us and teach us so that we might spend eternity in heaven and when He left, He left the Spirit to comfort us and to guide us.  He came so that we might become more and more like Him in our daily walk so that when we die and join Him in heaven we will be like Him fully.

Today - what does that mean?  Some seem to think we have to be perfect today.  Living a perfect life, achieving all that we should and not letting anyone see our faults.  Others seem to think we should show all our faults and accept each other without question.  Some think love is the only answer and that should be our answer to everything.  I agree with some of this.  I think that we should be a reflection of Christ in all that we do and say. 

When we love like He did we go to the broken and hurting and do what we can to help them.
Matthew 25:39-40 (NIV)  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ This isn't always easy because we look at the outside and see the differences and we judge.  We are afraid that they aren't like us and we can't help them or that they will take advantage of us and be a danger.  Christ loved all of the broken and was betrayed by one He was closest to.  But we aren't Him and we will always struggle here. 

I think that we have gone from a culture of love and acceptance to one ruled by fear and by mass judgment.  We are quick to defend those who think like us or look like us or love like us. But we forget that even though Jesus loved and walked closely with sinners He never left them in their sin.  We are to love but not overlook what is sin.  We don't treat people differently because of their sin but we don't ignore it either. 

I grew up in church and I've seen the religious hyprocrites who lived white washed lives on the outside but the behind the scenes lifestyle was so different.  They cast judgement and aspersions on those not like them.  I've seen the other extreme where they loved so unconditionally that they overlooked blatant sin as if it didn't matter.

Matthew 23:28(NIV) In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

I think that culturally today we can't find our balance.  We either judge or love.  But if we are showing Jesus then drawing others to Christ should lead them to change.  Jesus didn't leave people alone.  He encouraged them to grow and develop which means the Holy Spirit will confront their sin.  We aren't to be the Holy Spirit to them but we can help them by discipling them and hold them accountable.  I believe to grow like Christ we need accountability partners who will be honest and open with us and with love show us where we may be falling.  We should be set apart and different and we shouldn't be ashamed.  In today's culture we may be ridiculed and argued with because we believe sin is sin.  We don't go around pointing out the sin but loving them to the point that they see and come to know Christ so He can do the work that we can only pray for.  I pray that God is always showing me the sin in my life and teaching me to love like Him so others will recognize the sin and learn to be like Christ. 

John 8:11 (NIV)  “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” We love and accept but we still have to recognize that we all are flawed.  Like Christ sent out His disciples we need to remember -  Matthew 10:16 (NIV) “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.