Red Tape OR Red Letter

I am THE WAY the truth and the Life no man comes to the Father except by ME.

For the message, THE WAY of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.

Love your enemies. If someone demands your coat offer your shirt as well.
NO Greater love hath no man than this…. That He lay down his life for another

For while we were STILL sinners Christ died for us.

This is radical.

It is counter cultural. And in some ways counter “Christian” culture.

We are happy to tout these verses in our favor but bring it into our very life. Our very circumstances,  we would rather hide behind red tape and man- made laws than to abide by the very WORDS of our Lord. We are guilty of using Christianity to work in OUR favor for our benefit and our advancement.

How foolish would it be to literally turn the other cheek? Where are the boundaries there? Or could we be so confident in the love our Father has for us and without fear of man that we could TAKE the abuse in order to show  love to another. Physical abuse is one thing. It would not be loving yourself if you allowed another to beat you up.  But then didn’t Jesus allow that? Didn’t He love us more than himself than to consider Himself more than a sacrifice for our lives?

Foolishness. Other worldly. Our society and culture, as “Christian” as it may be is so heavily influenced by a different way. Cling tight to rights, get ahead, make sure your companies and money are protected.

The least of these. Those that have nothing to offer in return. Those who can’t contribute to the economic wealth of this country but rather drain it of its resources. Those whose lives are marred by drugs and abuse who have seen the utter depravity and have been given a chance.

And how are WE any different. Those of us who claim to follow the way? Did we DESERVE to receive grace? Did we EARN our standing before the throne? Did not Jesus say, I have come to serve and not to be served? Where is this attitude among us? Why are we so concerned with the LAW and so afraid of GRACE?

It’s such a fine line. And yet if love is the answer won’t the rest be taken care of? I believe in a God that is involved and in control of all the universe’s resources.

THIS is on OUR soil. These children. Hopeful potentials risking their very lives for a chance to actually live. I wish I could promise them a life free of violence or drug trafficking. Protection for those sweet girls against rape or kidnapping to be sold into sex slavery.  But maybe it’s possible that over here there is a greater chance of survival. I just think BELIEVE God is in favor of that. And I suppose if I’m wrong call me an atheist.

I am battling these thoughts.  Questioning… but without laws then won’t anarchy ensue? But I am beginning to think moral law and written laws are completely different. I do not see anything morally wrong about wanting your child to have a safer, brighter chance in life. 

I used to claim the message that while I wasn’t opposed to immigrants entering our country BUT-they better- by golly - do it the right way. Now I was certainly a proponent of making that way easier. What child is going to have thousands of dollars and a way to be transported to and from the embassy in order to have their application submitted and get an interview to be approved for entry? But because I married an immigrant and we did it all the “right way” I felt that should be the same requirement for all. Pharisee. Yes. The reality is our country labels others from different countries. Someone from Australia has a higher and quicker chance of being approved than someone from say, China.  EVEN WHEN they have dotted all their I’s and crossed all their T’s.

It’s time we stop labeling our country as based on “Christian” values. Let’s just be honest.  It’s not the gospel that defines us, it’s the constitution. Or maybe... Declaration of Independence. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness…

I’m more than grateful for the overwhelming blessing of having been born in this country, don’t get me wrong. But I refuse to say “God bless America”. God bless the WORLD and all who is in it. EVERY.SINGLE. BREATH that is taken matters to Him. MORE than my pursuit of happiness.

Maybe bigger isn’t always glamorous or noteworthy in the world’s eyes. But in the eyes of the kingdom bigger is embracing children from a different culture and race and welcoming them as our own. Willing to love and care for and show the true way of Christ to. This is an opportunity not a burden. Will it be hard. YES. Will you question it. YES. But didn’t everyone doubt THE Way. Doesn’t everyone doubt it?

This way is so different from our usual. It is the Christ. The One who came fully God and fully man. Unafraid of what man could do. And Man did it’s worst. And THE WAY still triumphed. We are more than conquerors. Not bound by fear. Law. Economic security.  Somehow we have lost our way. Abandoned the Way for comfort and security.

Could anti-Christ be a mindset rather than an individual?

It is so easy for me to sit on this side of the screen and rant and rave. To have staunch opinions and seem accusatory of all those other “so called Christ followers” I live here too. I struggle just the same with the doubts, the questions, the fear of uncertainty and losing comfort and security. I cling just as much to my undeserved, unearned freedoms and hold those on the outside at an arm’s length. 

Skeptical. Worried. Uncomfortable.

And I’m honestly asking the question, is it even remotely possible to run a country based on the gospel? Grace. Mercy. Compassion. Forgiveness. Peace.  Did Jesus really know what He was talking about?

My prayer:

Jesus, Son of David have MERCY on us.

Clarity. Selflessness. Love.