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Christian Love or Hate
By jason | May 8, 2008
During our advanced planning one of the guys on our team mentioned how often parenting becomes the place where Christians who parent differently judge one another. And that got me thinking…
With all the assaults upon our Christian faith why is that Christians work so hard (seemingly) at tearing one another down? Is the church just a breeding ground for passive aggressive people? Is the church just a different place to gossip about people? Are our relationships any different inside the church than outside the church?
Why do we allow secondary matters to create rifts in relationships?
Why do we allow educational choices of parents for their kids become an opportunity for factions? You home school? You do public school? Your kids are in Christian school?
Why do we allow medical choices form moments for judging and looking upon others with condescension? You used an epidural, you don’t love your kids do you? You get your medical advice from a preacher, you’re a nut? You use medication? You use that medication? You use anti-bacterial soap?
You choose to work instead of staying home with your kids?
You stay at home with your kids instead of doing something with your life?
You choose to discipline your kids that way?
What is more important our way or people?
It should seem crazy but I promise you I have heard all of these and many more (some in the last week!). Here’s a stupid question: Do you think these kinds of things help or hinder Christian community?
May we come to the place where people know we’re Jesus’ disciples because of our love for one another. May we build one another up rather than tearing each other down. May we become known for doing relationships well. May we come to value unity in the gospel more than non-essential preferences.
Topics: Community, Parenting |
May 9th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
A most excellent rant Jason!
May 13th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
‘Tis sadly true. My theory is that Christians (generally speaking) are among the least willing to look at themselves honestly. It’s easier to point a finger - “look at you, you’re doing everything wrong, God will judge you but he won’t judge me, neener neener nonner” (in the words of one of my cousins:) - than it is to honestly look inside yourself, admit that you (or I) are a messed up wretched sinner who fully deserves an eternity in hell, lay your sins at the foot of the cross, and fully submit to God’s grace.