Why do Christians not exemplify the Love of Christ?

[Melissa Chan]

Hello Friends,
This post comes not to inflame, but tries to dig deeper into the minds of those of us who call ourselves Christians, who serve Christ, and yet completely butcher the opportunities of one - knowing who Christ is, secondly loving others the way Christ loved us.

Recently, I posted something on the forum with regards to the nature of my fallible human condition you know - having rough days. Nonetheless, I was intrigued to find the responses offered to be anything but helpful. People will say they love you, and they come in peace armed with scripture, armed with practicality, armed with 50+ questions all under the guise of saying it helps, and thus they are part of the same flock. This may be necessary at different times, but why is it as Christian folk we need to get the backstory, the download, the prelude, the introduction, the synopsis, the prognosis to feel remotely capable of offering love? Why the precondition? Why, can't we simply offer love without our egos, complexities, innate proclivities superseding that essential opportunity to simply offer love?

There are times you won't have an opportunity to ask people these preconditions, especially when you go to foreign countries and you can't speak a different language. There are times when people will be so broken, your questions seem so unimportant. Look my pious friends and I don't say it to insult you but we need to start being ambassadors of Christ. Not preachers, judges, and executioners. We aren't called to be any of that. It's the lack of sensitivity, and awareness we have towards understanding that everyone is fighting a war, a battle; we're condemning and crucifying one another because we don't look shiny, or white as snow, or clean, or speak the way your pastor does, or pretend its pathetic. We aren't perfect, don't pretend. Christ doesn't like pretenders. But I know my Lord doesn't like when his people condemns his people after all aren't we the body of the church, don't we all go to heaven?

I mean we start busting out or red sharpie of judgement like the pharisees saying oh you don't have faith, you don't speak like you do, you don't look like me, or smell like me. By Pharisees who were the jewish teachers, practiced the law, and had no faith, had no heart. Sometimes we must dig inside ourselves and ask, do we love or judge?

 

[Hekuran]

Thanks for posting this. Powerful words, and a good reminder. I've not seen the thread you referred to, so I don't know the specifics, but what you say rings true. It's all too easy for us to assume a position of power when someone raises a problem, and we try to solve it for them. Sometimes that is more about our own need to be useful than it is about the other person's needs.

Yesterday I read the account of Jesus and blind Bartimaeus. When the blind man, crying for mercy was brought to Jesus, Jesus' first action was to ask: 'what do you want me to do for you?' Very interesting that even Jesus did not weigh in and do what he thought was best for the man without asking.

 

[amadeus2]

Hello Friends,
This post comes not to inflame, but tries to dig deeper into the minds of those of us who call ourselves Christians, who serve Christ, and yet completely butcher the opportunities of one - knowing who Christ is, secondly loving others the way Christ loved us.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Rom 3:23

Only the overcomers don't continue to come short of His glory and I really do not know a single one but Jesus. He has lifted me up but still repeatedly I falter and again come short. Each time we need to consider this parable in where we need to begin each and every time, whether we think we have come short or not:

"When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke 14:8-11

Recently, I posted something on the forum with regards to the nature of my fallible human condition you know - having rough days. Nonetheless, I was intrigued to find the responses offered to be anything but helpful. People will say they love you, and they come in peace armed with scripture, armed with practicality, armed with 50+ questions all under the guise of saying it helps, and thus they are part of the same flock. This may be necessary at different times, but why is it as Christian folk we need to get the backstory, the download, the prelude, the introduction, the synopsis, the prognosis to feel remotely capable of offering love? Why the precondition? Why, can't we simply offer love without our egos, complexities, innate proclivities superseding that essential opportunity to simply offer love?

I won't presume to answer you directly with regard to others on this forum, but generally we miss because we are remiss in our own priorities.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt 6:33

If we are always striving to keep first things first God will always be provided what is needed exactly when it is needed. The right time for the right thing belongs to God [Ecc 3:1-8 ], but people too often have formed the bad habit taking time into their own hands as if it was theirs. The usage of time may seem to be under our control for the moment, but it always belongs to God. Any time we do not recognize that, we will find ourselves out of sync with God.

There are times you won't have an opportunity to ask people these preconditions, especially when you go to foreign countries and you can't speak a different language. There are times when people will be so broken, your questions seem so unimportant. Look my pious friends and I don't say it to insult you but we need to start being ambassadors of Christ. Not preachers, judges, and executioners. We aren't called to be any of that. It's the lack of sensitivity, and awareness we have towards understanding that everyone is fighting a war, a battle; we're condemning and crucifying one another because we don't look shiny, or white as snow, or clean, or speak the way your pastor does, or pretend its pathetic. We aren't perfect, don't pretend. Christ doesn't like pretenders. But I know my Lord doesn't like when his people condemns his people after all aren't we the body of the church, don't we all go to heaven?

Give God alone all of the glory! To follow Him is right, but unlike Peter who looked away and began to sink into the water, we need to be like the earlier Peter stepping out on the water and keeping on eyes on Jesus.

I mean we start busting out or red sharpie of judgement like the pharisees saying oh you don't have faith, you don't speak like you do, you don't look like me, or smell like me. By Pharisees who were the jewish teachers, practiced the law, and had no faith, had no heart. Sometimes we must dig inside ourselves and ask, do we love or judge?

Amen, Sister, amen!

 

[Lanolin]

We love, but people are all different and some think its best to offer advice instead of prayer. I guess it depends on what you asking for.

When you having rough time Jesus understands. Life isnt easy in this world. Try not to take offence, you dont have to explain yourself all the time. In matters of faith the best thing to do is pray.

I have noticed youve taken offence at others here who have not done the things you accusing them of. Maybe people you know in the past have but please dont project that on to people whove responded here. You seem to have lashed out and people that have responded are going woah...

Nobody has said you dont have faith or you dont look or smell like them! Faith can be as tiny as a mustard seed but it can grow! Look even Jesus said to Peter...oh ye of little faith, why did you doubt?

He prayer for Peter, cos he knew Satan would sift him as wheat, he would be tested. What that means is God really wants to know if you for Him or against Him. Peter even, when it came to the crunch denied Christ three times. Yet Jesus forgave Him. Cos He knew Peters heart and He knew Peter would repent. He knows the end from the beginning. Now we dont always know every single detail but we can be given revelation by God. And I can tell you the outcome is in your favour. Just trust Him.

The thing is..if we are doubleminded and unstable, we wont receive anything from God. I have known people like this who as soon as times are tough and things dont go their way moan and complain about everything. They drag others down and cause them to stumble. Then they wonder why God is ignoring them! Well God doesnt appreciate that! When the israelites complained about the manna that God was providing that it wasnt as good as what they had in Egypt do you think He was happy? Um...

Reccomendation...to encourage yourself read the book of Ruth.

Ruth was a moabitess and she'd lost a husband and there was a famine. She turned to her mother in law and followed instead of going back to her homeland. She got a job gleaning the fields. Boaz saw her and gave her protection even though she was a foreigner because he saw that she was virtuous. He became her kinsman redeemer.

When your light shines, people are going to notice. It does not matter if you dont look or smell like them or whatever. Dont let the world get you down, or false brethren deceive you. Follow Him and He will give you favour. Abide in Him.

 

[strike8echo]

One of the primary causes for the failure of the Christian to exemplify God's love is the misunderstanding of what love is.

You see, love is not an emotion. It is not something you feel. Love is something you do. It is an action. That is why the word is used interchangeably with "charity."