The thing that made me most interested in Fudge's writing is the approach he takes, according to the film, to questions of faith and doctrine, which is that what the Bible says is true, even if the whole world, including the organized church, thinks it's wrong. I agree. And I also agree that not everyone agrees on what it says, which is why it's important to go back to the original text, look at context and usage of words, and have some humility. What I mean by humility is understanding that disagreement on some controversial aspects of faith is not a reason to fight and break fellowship (if you believe in Jesus you're my brother or sister, even though we may not, probably don't, agree on everything else) and understanding that we could be wrong. That last one is important. We have to be willing to have the Spirit show us that we may have been wrong and change accordingly rather than stick to our guns out of pride no matter what. There are certain subjects that I used to be sure about and no longer am, so I don't address those issues and continue to search and pray on those subjects.
I also try hard to do any debating or discussing with love. I could be wrong, and why would I put someone down, make them feel disregarded or stupid simply because we disagree and I feel I am right? One such topic that I disagree with some, including my father (which always makes me pause and be quick to admit that I could be wrong because of my respect of him and his understanding, wisdom and experience) is whether or not Judas is in hell. The reason I bring that one up is that there are those, the majority, who believe that Judas is in hell because of his betrayal of Jesus and or his suicide. There is another camp that believes that Judas has been saved. I'm not going to debate that here, or even state my side. I use this example because it shows quickly and easily my point that regardless of which you believe, it doesn't matter. God knows, and so does Judas, and one day we'll know one way or the other. What matters is am I God's and are you? Why should we fall short of love toward each other, which would be sin, to argue about something that doesn't really pertain to either of us? It doesn't effect my life or yours, our eternity, but the way we treat each other is extremely important.
But there are areas that are clear and do pertain to us, effect our lives and the lives of those we encounter. We must not shrink from standing for what is right in those times and areas. Today one of these areas weighs heavily on my heart, so I will address it. Wednesday's Unshackled Moment, Fear Not, dealt with fearing God as having respect and awe and wonder at who He is as opposed to being afraid Daddy is going to hurt us. That would be one of those areas where we must stand strong for the truth as well. The theme of all scripture is God's great love for humanity. But since Wednesday I have been thinking a lot on one of the verses I looked at during the study before that writing, and that is I Peter 2:17.
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king (NASB).
Some translation say respect rather than honor. Some have treat with high regard. The Greek text literally says value, as in value all. And the thing is, this is not one of those questioned or disputed passages. Not in theory anyway. But in practice it is all too easy for us to live like we completely disagree and disregard the truth and instruction here. Just as whosoever means exactly that, whosoever, all means all. All, the totality of humanity, meaning every single person who has lived, is living and ever will live has value to God and therefore should be treated with value, respect, regard, honor....basically love, by us. That means everyone we encounter, regardless of how we encounter them.
Oh my, how we fall short of this. How heartbreaking to God when we choose to. Jesus died for every person I have ever hated, despised and disregarded as insignificant and worthless. Jesus said to love our enemies and pray for those who treat us wrong. He didn't say we should use their stance on religious issues, politics, social beliefs or anything to blast them with anything other than love. Sometimes we allow the buffer of the computer screen to embolden us to act as an antichrist. Seriously, I find your views offensive so I'm going to refuse to be your friend? How will you know Jesus loves you as you are, not as you should be, if those of us who love Jesus don't show you love? I'm going to try to make you feel stupid or foolish or flat out call you such because you believe that wrong way? Jesus never backed down from truth. He called wrong wrong and right right. I'm not saying we accept every viewpoint or idea, that we become so open minded that our brain leaks out, but I am saying, that like Jesus, we accept and love the person, from the most self-righteous religious jerk to the lowest, most vile sinner.
We sling our views and opinions, laced with the poison of mockery, disdain, disregard and even hate, all too quickly and easily. We get is so backward. We speak out against what we believe is wrong, sin. We want to control others. You should stop thinking this way, acting this way, living this way and come to God, we say. But that is the opposite of the good news we claim to have learned! We don't get cleaned up to take a bath, and shouldn't instruct others to do so. We don't get right to find God.
We have the cart before the horse. I can't stop sinning, can't correct all my wrongs, can't even know all my wrongs, in order to make myself right with God. Neither can you. Neither can anyone. So that means trying to tell people to change themselves and turn to God is so backwards. No wonder when we do that no one feels loved or valued! Jesus calls all to come, as we are. When we freely come to God and bring everything to Him, including all our wrongness and messed up ideas, He makes us His and begins the process of changing and transforming what is wrong into what is right, into His own image.
Value all. Value everyone. We are called to love people to the truth that they are loved and valued by Jesus. If we would simply worry more about the heart, about loving people as Jesus did, than trying to correct their wrong thinking or behavior, we might see the world burning with the fires of love instead of hate. If we can disagree and state our side of an issue or belief in such a way that the truth can be received and not seen as an attack or a statement of disregard for the people involved, then by all means, let us stand for the truth. But if not, let us stay silent on the issue, stop slinging words like poison darts, and only state the truth, by word and deed, that no matter what whoever may believe, may say, may think, whether they are the next Mother Theresa or are the clone of Hitler, Jesus loves them and values them and desperately desires to have relationship. Let that truth dictate our every action, reaction and response to those we interact with, both those we agree with and those we don't.
Jesus loves you as you are, not as you should be, but He loves you enough not to leave you as you are. This is truth. But it is God who has the power to change the hearts of humanity. I can't change my heart. You can't change yours. We shouldn't destroy one another trying to change thoughts and behavior. But we should die ourselves and to ourselves, let our right to be right go, kill our pride to show the wrong to be wrong, set aside our sensibilities of easily offended souls, to allow the life of the Spirit within us to love our enemy. That's the only way we have any hope of making our enemies our brothers and sisters and bringing them to the Jesus who loved them, valued them and died for them. And let us also remember we can't do this on our own, but loving like this is possible only by grace (the power of the Spirit of God living within us).
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