"Faith, Love, and Reconciliation.  Tolerance above Everything is Love!" by Jim Long

I was unknowledgeable about what I would write about for Easter, but it soon became clear to me.

I want to write on the subject Unconditional Love and what I think is expected.  The context of my Easter message is below, but on Easter I wish to add my feelings on judgment of others.

There are truly too many “judgmental” people here on Earth with us.  So many who proclaim that “Grace is Salvation” resort to the Law to find problems with their neighbor.   They seem to prefer to examine and criticize the “splinter” in their “brothers” eye than look at the “log” in their own eye.  None of us is without sin and if you think you are not go ahead and throw a stone.  By what terms you place a judgment on another is the measure you will be Judged.  There is not a human that has lived, lives or will live that has not fallen short in the sight of God.

Some say, He or she is a prostitute/homosexual/or otherwise “different” than me.  I am “Saved” or “born again” but that person cannot be.  They are ultimately wrong, but I know that my beliefs are right and anyone who doesn’t think and act as I do is wrong.  I am Christ’s disciple but don’t have to show His unconditional Love…

All our children of God.  God is not in the habit of producing garbage, so I would be careful in how I was to think of His creation.  If anyone seeks in his or her heart for the Truth and God, it simply would not be denied.  Trials, tribulations are something we all have or will experience.  What would you do in a circumstance that has alienated you or confronts you as a legitimate response to life?  What is of God’s making and what is of “free choice?”  I would and do recommend caution about judging other’s choices and actions.  You honestly have not been confronted, experienced, or can know all the factors within anyone’s life.  I think it is ill-advised to make a judgment call without complete understanding.  Yes we should steer everyone in the right direction, but I say that should be accomplished by listening and not intervening unless a glowing error exists.  We should exercise complete caution when we think a glowing error exists, because that requires more than we may possess to see and understand.  I recommend prayer before intervention.

Faith, Love, and Reconciliation.  Tolerance above Everything is Love!

Christ’s answer to the question of what the Greatest Commandment shows an exact representation of the Ten Commandments.  Exactly half tell us how to love God and the other half tells us how to love others.

Christ thought the Pharisees and the Jews in general had a “weird” adherence to their laws.  He was questioned about divorcé and replied that God had told us what was adultery, but we decided that divorcé was alright.  The Jewish leaders had been corrupting and distorting God’s Law, with rules like what one can and cannot do on the Sabbath.  Jesus didn’t come to end the Law, but to free us from our devotion to rules that were getting in the way of our relationship with God.  Bath before coming to see Him, eat “clean” food, do this or that the right way and you’ll win God’s Love.  The leaders of the Jewish Temple were putting obstacles that kept God’s people away from Him.  God wants us not to fear Him, but understand that He knows He set a high mark for us, but it was alright that we couldn’t make that bar; He would love us anyway.  The Catholic’s and other Christian denominations also put up barriers; requirements for God’s Love.   In your heart and mind might rest the only obstacle that could exist to keep you away from God.

Jesus said “Go forth and do good.”  “Go and sin no more.”  “Drop everything and follow me.”  He knew these were tall orders.  He knew that we were going to fail.  It didn’t matter to Him and He gave us the Good Word that God was ok with our shortcomings.  The Father provided a solution.  He came down and walked among us.  He took every mistake that was made and would be made by us.  Our Sins went with Christ on that tree.

Christ said if you love me you will do what I told you.  What did He tell us to do?  Love God with everything we are and to love others as ourselves.  Yes He also said, “Go forth and do good.”  “Go and sin no more.”  “Drop everything and follow me.”  Those I believe are goals which we should all endeavor upon, seek to fulfill, and be representative in our life.

Paul told us that with Grace we were reconciled with God.  James said it is by what we do that we show Faith and Faith when there is no action is meaningless and dead Faith.  Peter cautioned us to hold to the ideals of Christ and to understand what would await for us on either side of Faith and to be aware many would come and tell us things that weren’t the Word of God; False Profits, he references that some would come and distort Paul’s word.  Peter also said if we turn our backs on Christ we were lost.  Christ said so much Himself.  ”22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'   Matthew 7:22-23

Paul tells us in Titus to do good because it benefits everybody.  I wish to issue a challenge based in that and a film from a couple years ago.  In some way of your own choosing I ask that you to “Pay it Forward.”  I ask if you have read this to do some token in a show of your Faith.  To do something for someone without expecting a return.  You should tell them to not reward you but someone else.  I think that your action must cost something of you that no monetary value is relevant.  I wish you to give some part of you that is not simply what you can put in an offering tray.  No financial gesture.  Up for the challenge?

Go forth and return God’s Unconditional Love.  It is the ONLY gift meant to be REGIFTED!!!

Jim

Copyright 2011 Jim Long

All rights reserved. Do not publish, in whole or in part, unless you are given my expressed written permission... Jim Long