In Our Image
I've been thinking lately about how we as humans have made God in our own image and how backwards and dangerous that is. We were created in HIS image. What makes us to be in His image is multi faceted and in some ways mysterious but for whatever reason throughout time mankind insists on making God in our image, putting Him in a box.
I think when it comes to who we think Jesus was and is, we tend to see Him through various lenses. Be it privilege or poverty, democrat or republican, conservative or liberal...we hold these lenses up to the person of Jesus and it influences how we live as Christians. We like to think Jesus would never do ____ or say ____, therefore neither should I and neither should YOU! I think that sometimes we conveniently forget who He was hanging out with most of the time in His ministry because it makes us uncomfortable. Sure Jesus spent time with teachers of the Law, those high in society and the wealthy; but He spent just as much time (if not more) with the poor, the sick and those living questionable lives. Here's the thing, He treated them all as equals...in fact He served them. One of the groups Jesus singled out was children. In that time and culture children were to be seen and not heard, but He made a point of telling us to come to Him like little children.
A friend recently wrote a book Beneath Broken Machines and I have had the pleasure of reading it, on this PC Walker says "He takes pleasure in seeing those who will come close to Him, not because they deserve to but because they want to". We are saved by grace and we know this but we often forget what it really means. I recently watched a Brennan Manning sermon on youtube and he said emphatically "Jesus loves you as you are not as you should be". Our problem is we spend so much time on the things we must do and not do and judging those around us on what they must do and not do that we forget to just come to Jesus and be. In his book PC tells a story of seeing a homeless man and offering to buy him something instead of giving him money and he requests a cup of coffee so PC asks him to come into the coffee shop with him and his wife. He could have easily just brought it out to him but he was compelled to invite him in. The man was insistent that "they" wouldn't want him in there and would ask him to leave, which did happen, the barrista looked at him uncomfortably and said "sir you're going to have to leave". The mans head sank and he started to turn when PC said "no ma'am he's with me, he's a paying customer". This story brought tears to my eyes. We come to Jesus sinful, dirty and broken and He doesn't make us shower, shave and shape up; He accepts us as we are with arms wide open.
So many people are hurt by Christians and the church which is heart breaking considering we're supposed to be loving, not hurting. It's easy to talk about hypocrisy, lay blame and be frustrated. Allow me to quote PC again, "Hypocrisy and sinful Christians do not disprove the cross. No matter how well people think of themselves no person is truly without hypocrisy. Sinful Christians prove Christianity's gospel even more. They prove that imperfect people are still able to be Christians and followers of Jesus. Hypocrisy does not disprove God. It only proves that imperfect people are desperately in need of a Savior."
I'm doing my best to see Jesus through the eyes of my children...as a big, mysterious and loving friend. In our teacher conferences the other night Zoe's kindergarten teacher said "let me just say on a personal note that Zoe talks about Jesus all the time and I love that! I can't but I'm definitely not going to squash that!" It's a public school so she is of course referring to the fact that she can't openly discuss religion, but that she won't stop Zoe from doing it. :) Norm and I sat there with tears in our eyes. Just because Norm is in Seminary doesn't mean we're drilling the Bible into them everyday or reciting verses before bed...I mean we are not the picture perfect Christian family (whatever that is), and yet...here is our little Zoe talking about Jesus, unashamed and joyful. We often forget to pray before a meal but Kieren and Zoe always remind us...man these kids are teaching us! Come to me like a little child...
Jesus is not a white blue eyed American who sides with _____ political party. He does not fit in whatever box you've made for Him and He did not come to condemn you for every little thing you've ever done wrong or give you justification to judge your neighbor, brother or friend. By grace He saved you exactly as you are and He loves you exactly as you are, not as you think you should be. A gift is not earned it is given and His gift was grace.
I think when it comes to who we think Jesus was and is, we tend to see Him through various lenses. Be it privilege or poverty, democrat or republican, conservative or liberal...we hold these lenses up to the person of Jesus and it influences how we live as Christians. We like to think Jesus would never do ____ or say ____, therefore neither should I and neither should YOU! I think that sometimes we conveniently forget who He was hanging out with most of the time in His ministry because it makes us uncomfortable. Sure Jesus spent time with teachers of the Law, those high in society and the wealthy; but He spent just as much time (if not more) with the poor, the sick and those living questionable lives. Here's the thing, He treated them all as equals...in fact He served them. One of the groups Jesus singled out was children. In that time and culture children were to be seen and not heard, but He made a point of telling us to come to Him like little children.
A friend recently wrote a book Beneath Broken Machines and I have had the pleasure of reading it, on this PC Walker says "He takes pleasure in seeing those who will come close to Him, not because they deserve to but because they want to". We are saved by grace and we know this but we often forget what it really means. I recently watched a Brennan Manning sermon on youtube and he said emphatically "Jesus loves you as you are not as you should be". Our problem is we spend so much time on the things we must do and not do and judging those around us on what they must do and not do that we forget to just come to Jesus and be. In his book PC tells a story of seeing a homeless man and offering to buy him something instead of giving him money and he requests a cup of coffee so PC asks him to come into the coffee shop with him and his wife. He could have easily just brought it out to him but he was compelled to invite him in. The man was insistent that "they" wouldn't want him in there and would ask him to leave, which did happen, the barrista looked at him uncomfortably and said "sir you're going to have to leave". The mans head sank and he started to turn when PC said "no ma'am he's with me, he's a paying customer". This story brought tears to my eyes. We come to Jesus sinful, dirty and broken and He doesn't make us shower, shave and shape up; He accepts us as we are with arms wide open.
So many people are hurt by Christians and the church which is heart breaking considering we're supposed to be loving, not hurting. It's easy to talk about hypocrisy, lay blame and be frustrated. Allow me to quote PC again, "Hypocrisy and sinful Christians do not disprove the cross. No matter how well people think of themselves no person is truly without hypocrisy. Sinful Christians prove Christianity's gospel even more. They prove that imperfect people are still able to be Christians and followers of Jesus. Hypocrisy does not disprove God. It only proves that imperfect people are desperately in need of a Savior."
I'm doing my best to see Jesus through the eyes of my children...as a big, mysterious and loving friend. In our teacher conferences the other night Zoe's kindergarten teacher said "let me just say on a personal note that Zoe talks about Jesus all the time and I love that! I can't but I'm definitely not going to squash that!" It's a public school so she is of course referring to the fact that she can't openly discuss religion, but that she won't stop Zoe from doing it. :) Norm and I sat there with tears in our eyes. Just because Norm is in Seminary doesn't mean we're drilling the Bible into them everyday or reciting verses before bed...I mean we are not the picture perfect Christian family (whatever that is), and yet...here is our little Zoe talking about Jesus, unashamed and joyful. We often forget to pray before a meal but Kieren and Zoe always remind us...man these kids are teaching us! Come to me like a little child...
Jesus is not a white blue eyed American who sides with _____ political party. He does not fit in whatever box you've made for Him and He did not come to condemn you for every little thing you've ever done wrong or give you justification to judge your neighbor, brother or friend. By grace He saved you exactly as you are and He loves you exactly as you are, not as you think you should be. A gift is not earned it is given and His gift was grace.
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