Shaken and Stirred

Have you ever been at the point in your life where things you have believed to be true, suddenly don’t feel that way anymore?

I have lived a white middle class life. Everything I have believed and held dear to, is all based on white middle class understanding. Now, I am not saying that any of this is wrong. The fact is, that is what I was born into, it has been and continues to be my reality.

But, after all these 68 years, I am beginning to see things very differently. A lot of my thoughts and opinions about people have arisen from this blessed position. Those I think should be acceptable and those may be not so much.

I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. The name Christian is never used in the Bible. It is actually a descriptive word that people began to call people who followed Jesus and it means ‘little Christ”. I have declared that is who I am for almost 50 years and yet, I am beginning to think that I should not have been calling myself that.

You see, to be a “little Christ” would mean that I need to be living my life exactly, or as close to possible, as He lived. Never once, in the account of Jesus life in the Bible, is there a time when He turned someone away. He didn’t pick and choose who He would talk to and who He wouldn’t. Anyone who was hurting, in need, alone, afraid, judged by others as unworthy – Jesus embraced. Jesus met them where they were and He demonstrated what true love is. To the point of death on the cross.

Jesus didn’t just die on the cross for all the white middle class people in the world. Jesus died for all humanity regardless. There were and are no conditions on Jesus death and resurrection.

As the church of Jesus Christ, we have, in my opinion, been failing in our bid to demonstrate that love. We have judged and we have rejected people, because they do not ‘fit’ the mould. I think it is time for us to rethink our personal position. We are not called to judge, we are called to love.

Anyone who walks through the doors of the church must feel the embrace of Heaven and know that they are loved. Anyone who encounters me must feel the embrace of Heaven and know they are loved. After all that is how I became a follower of Jesus – I was shown the love of God by those who loved and embraced me right in the middle of the mess I was in – and still am.

God’s love is not conditional……it is not full of judgement and condemnation. It is love.