Thursday, February 14, 2008

I'm thinking...

I might have some of "whatever this is" figured out.

I've been rather "blech" about most things lately. I couldn't figure out why.

Then, I read this post by Boomama, and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

I've been to Uganda. I've seen the faces. I came home and cried for almost a month because I had to leave all those beautiful children there - with what felt like nothing. And I came home to a perverted version of Canaan - with food and "stuff" flowing like milk and honey. I was so appalled when I came home. I didn't think about it much before I left, but when I came back, there was a whole new AuntieB. I could not think about things the way I did before. I've wavered from that feeling just a little...

And now, I'm back there. I'm in a funk that makes me very unsettled. I remember my trip and all of the emotions that are connected to that trip, and I'm just not sure that I can "settle" with what would be referred to as "church as usual" - or anything as usual, for that matter. Now, I'm trying to be honest. Question: could you be this honest? Well, I'm trying.

I'm tired of seeing people who label themselves as "Christian" - and act in a way that does not reflect Christ. I'm tired of people (those labeled "Christians") taking their "stuff" out on other people. I'm tired of everybody thinking they've got the answer to what's "wrong" with our churches.

What is wrong in every one of these situations? WE'VE LEFT CHRIST OUTSIDE OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After Christ started his ministry, he was in a meeting with some Pharisees that tried to trip him up. They ended up falling on their faces by the end of the discussion. What you find is the Pharisees asking Christ was the greatest commandment was. (You see, they not only had the 10 commandments, but another few hundred that they used to scrutinize everything everybody did - as if the original 10 weren't enough.) Anyway, Christ gives them 2 answers. These answers boil those 10 commandments down to the "nitty gritty" - and the Pharisees didn't like it.

Answer #1 - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment."(Matt. 22:37, 38 NKJV)

Answer #2 - "And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these 2 commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."(Matt:39, 40 NKJV)

I'm not telling you that I have the answer to all of the problems, but I'm telling you that Jesus does. I'm not telling you that I know how you should act, but I'm telling you that Jesus does. I'm not telling you that I know how you should talk, but I'm telling you that Jesus does.

What I'm saying may be a little on the "radical" side (it would be by most churches), but if anything's going to change, it's got to be each of us. Individually. No excuses. No "reasons" why you can't do it. No telling anybody that it makes you "uncomfortable". This whole topic makes me uncomfortable.

This is me being honest. I'm tired of the ho-hum. I'm stepping out to be more radical. Will you join me?

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