Get Over Yo’self and Love Like Jesus
This is one of the most divisive times in our history. No matter what you say, you will have someone tell you just how wrong you are, and they will have a plethora of resources at their fingertips to prove you wrong and tear you down.
Everyone has opinion-based facts and these opinions are becoming destructive. Whether you are pro-mask or anti-mask, pro-life or pro-choice, Blue Lives Matter or Black Lives Matter, Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, progressive or conservative, one extreme or another, your opinion is invalid to anyone who disagrees with you. Usually, it’s because they simply don’t want to hear it. They only want to tell you how wrong you are. Maybe you don’t want to hear their opinion either, but the disagreements continue. No one listens. No one wants to budge on their opinion. No one wants to admit they are wrong.
We have been divided in the past. In fact, we have been divided from the very beginning of humanity, when Adam and Eve blamed one another on who ate the apple and betrayed God. Throughout United States’ history, our country has weathered various wars. We have had countless marches on our capitol advocating for civil rights, women’s suffrage, protection of life, and so much more. With each protest that advocates FOR something there is just as much push back from people who are AGAINST those very things.
While there have been countless organizations established over time to bring about peace and unity, the peace and unity never seem to last. Wars break out. People become dissatisfied with their government. Anything “good” does not last because the heart of humankind is bent toward evil. Yes, people can do good things, but the human heart is undeniably selfish, self-seeking, and self-thinking. When left to our own devices, we only do what’s best for us even if our desires neglect those in need around us. Everyone is wise in their own eyes (Proverbs 12:15). Everyone looks at what they do as good and true and honorable, but it is folly.
We even see division in places that should be the most unified, like churches. We cut ourselves off from people we call, “brother” or “sister,” over petty disputes of opinion. This is what is most heart-breaking. The institution that was once meant to be a light to the world and a home to the lost now creates a divisive atmosphere that brings heartache and distrust. Some churches have let a banner of what they are against be greater than the mission they vow to biblically represent. If the Church is supposed to be a light, then we have put walls up that prevent the world from seeing that very light.
The tragedy of the Church is that we have been so wrapped up in things that aren’t of God. We have elevated our own personal views of God over His Word, His commands for us, and His heart for us. We have perpetuated a culture of opinion-based theology that has caused much more harm than good. When people hear about Christians, they don’t think about Christ; they think about judgment and hypocrisy. They don’t see Christians as people who have been transformed by the renewing of their minds into loving and charitable people.
The truth of the matter is that Jesus is the great equalizer. Whether born into privilege, or having grown up in a low-income family, barely making it by; Jesus paid the same price for all people. Our greatest division is separation from God because of our sin. But Jesus bridged the gap. He made it possible to have communion with God. The message of the Gospel is that all have sinned, yet all are offered the free gift of salvation through Christ Jesus. Jesus Himself reveals that His Kingdom will be made up of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 7:9). His love is not exclusive to those who have their act together, but those who are damaged and broken. His love is extravagant and powerful. He doesn’t just save the strong, but he saves the weak and makes them strong. You don’t need to dress a certain way, act a certain way, or behave a certain way to earn God’s love. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn God’s love. He gives His love freely, compassionately, and endlessly.
Jesus unifies. In God’s Kingdom, we are all His children. Through His holy sacrifice on the cross and devotion to leave the ninety-nine to save the one, He adopts every one of us into His family. The highest calling of a Christian is that of son or daughter. Not pastor, not apostle, not teacher, not small group leader... but CHILD of God.
Jesus is the answer. All of the hate and animosity in our world is the result of the fall of humanity. Jesus flips the script on our way of thinking and goes as far to say, “Those who are first will be last, and those who are last will be first.” Jesus challenges us to love our neighbor as ourselves. His order is based on humility, not power or entitlement. When we love our neighbor, we fulfill the whole law (Romans 13).
Love does no harm to anyone. Love does not seek its own way. It does not insist on its own opinion. It only seeks to respect and honor other people (1 Corinthians 13). We can try to unify and build peace with our earthly causes and platforms, but that unity will not last. And we can try to build unity on love, but without the power of Jesus behind that love, it will fail. We will fail in loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us without the power of His Spirit in us (Matthew 5). Jesus calls the Church -- which isn’t a building or structure, but HIS people -- the hope and light of the world.
Let us not hide our light under a bushel. Let us be kind. Let us be patient. Let us be mindful of others. Let us listen to others more than we speak. Let us walk with others and bear their burdens. Let us be charitable. Let us provide for others’ needs even when it costs us. Let us think and love like Jesus. When we love as He loves, we can’t help but be UNITED.
