Okay, so for those of you who don't know, there is a song by Casting Crowns called If We Are the Body. I'll put the lyrics here for those of you who have never heard this song before or for those who don't know it very well...
It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girl's teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
Jesus payed much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ
Jesus is the way
Now, you're probably wondering why I put that song. Well, here it is...I have been talking to a lot of people about the way that Christians are treating others. If you are a Christian, and you are reading this, I want you to think about what I am about to say very carefully.
First to the Parents: I am addressing you specifically because in the past month I have heard about this issue numerous times. If you are a parent, and your child is dating a non-Christian, how are you treating this person your child is dating? Are you allowing your son or daughter to make their own decisions about who they love? And while I'm not saying it's a good thing they aren't dating a Christian, are you turning them away from Christianity, or are you showing them the same love that Jesus would show them? Jesus didn't sit down with the Christians, he ate dinner with the sinners. If we are always hanging out with other Christians, how are we going to reach out to the non-Christians? I'll put it another way. We can't be a light amongst other lights. If we are candles, once you have a bunch of candles in one area, there is no darkness. So we should spread our light to the dark corners. Darkness flees from the light! Believe that! So stretch out your hands and spread the light!
For the Churches/leaders of the church: I know that there are churches out there that you may not agree with. Here's what I say to that: Instead of telling them that they aren't "true Christians" and shunning them, why don't you join them and bring light to them. Show them the way of Christ. As my friend Rachel so eloquently put it the other night with arms flailing around "If we are the body, why aren't our hands reaching?!" We look at those people coming into church, and they may not be the best dressed and they may stick out. Does that mean we just look at them and pass them by?! NO! Get to know them. Become their friend. Maybe they'll want to come back and maybe, just maybe, God will use you to help heal their broken hearts.
For the people at Christian Colleges (even secular colleges): Instead of shunning or hating the people who don't follow Christ and make mistakes, why don't we start acting like the body of Christ and lift them up when they need help. Why are we continuing to let them walk alone in this world? Girls are getting abused, teased, and are told by society that they aren't good enough. And they walk along the path and you can see they are hurting, but you just look at them and walk by, not caring if they will be okay.
It's time to wake up. We are a generation that has the opportunity to see great things happen if we stop and let it. Don't let the world pass you by. Stretch out your hands to those who need help and use kind words to show love.
aaaaaamen!!
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