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Chapter 3: Grace

Christians have been hated since the first day they were called Christians, and really even before that. But we used to be hated for the right reason: loving Jesus. Now it seems that we are hated because we don't love people enough and we're too judgmental. This is unfair to most Christians. However you can see where people are coming from, there are plenty of angry Christians out there screaming at the world that they are going to hell. This wasn't the way Jesus did it, He ate with people! The scary thing is that many people do not know who Jesus is and what He was like, so they assume He was just like the angry Christian yelling at them from the street corner, or standing outside the gay rights rally with a sign that says, "God hates fags." Jesus was never mean to people...truthful, but not mean. "He was a grace-filled Savior intent on helping people find their way to heaven."

Jesus came to preach good news to the poor. He treated the poor so much differently than most of us do.

"If you're honest, you might have to admit that most of the time you think poor people are a nuisance. I'm a preacher, and we can be the worst offenders. Preachers have "important" things to do, and honestly, it can be annoying to be trying to finish my sermon on service, only to have my admin call to say there's a benevolence case waiting for me i the reception area! So we usher the poor away quickly with a can of Vienna sausages, an oatmeal pie, a pat on the back, and directions to the shelter downtown. Shame on us. Shame on me."

Wow. I can definitely relate to that. I could easily substitute the words 'preacher' for 'worship minister' and 'sermon' to 'video.' Can you relate?

It's our job to proclaim freedom to those who need it. Satan tries to shackle people with hopelessness and despair. Many people can't see a way out of the life they are living, but Jesus offers hope. Let me rephrase that, Jesus uses us to offer hope to those He died to save. Hope of freedom. Freedom changes lives.

"Jesus was full of grace. He had the heart of a loving Savior, not of an angry street preacher. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus: 'He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.'"

Maybe its time for a new approach. Grace.

Enjoy the Journey