Out of My Mind

This past week in church, I shared about the angels coming to the shepherds to announce the birth of Christ (Luke 2:8ff). This really was a radical step that God was taking. The shepherds were the outcasts, the ones who were not a part of the “spiritually in” crowd. The priests and teachers of the law, and all of those who came to the temple were the religious crowd. The very sacrifices they offered pointed to their need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The shepherds couldn’t even go into the temple because they were unclean. But God came to them that Christmas night. He announced the birth of a Savior to them - the outcasts, the ones cut off from God. God was making a pretty big statement in JESUS! The ones who were outside were welcome to come inside.

I think of the person I wrote about last week in my “Please Jesus…” post. Has she truly heard and seen a Gospel that welcomes her or just one that repels her? This is a difficult question. On one hand, the message of Christ can be offensive to the human heart. We must acknowledge our need before we can truly embrace a Savior. And yet, His sacrifice was the most loving act ever!!!! It is a powerful message of forgiveness and redemption, but scripture clearly leads us to believe that many will reject this message.

On the other hand, how many are simply rejecting the messenger, and therefore never really hear the message? I have been convicted as to how we create our “spiritually in” crowds, our holy huddles. We so often come off as elitists and judgmental, instead of grace filled and loving. Do we really love lost people like Jesus did, or do we merely tolerate them? Can we have the same passion of an angelic messenger who would announce the good news of the arrival of Christ to a group of unclean sinners (Shepherds)?

What does it look like to live a Christ centered life in this world of ours? As a Christian, would you rather be known for what you do not do? Or for what you do? I think it is time where we live out a life that is more focused on what we are for, than what we are against. I am against sin. I am against adultery, abortion, homosexuality, lying, cheating, pornography, etc. But you know what? I am for people. I am for generosity. I am for service. I am for compassion. I am for a God who announces himself to shepherds and helps an adulterous woman back onto her feet (without condoning her actions). I am for love - loving those who would hate me and criticize me. I am for loving those who disagree with me. I am for giving - giving to those who have need, and for those who have none. I am for family - seeing marriages grow stronger, and parents who truly love and guide their children. I am for sex as God’s gift to couples to be saved for the right context. But I am all for it, and so is God (in the proper time).

As Christians we often know what we are against. But I ask you, what are you for? What are you for? Because the world would love to know!