With Indiana passing the Religious Restoration Act into law, there’s been a lot of debate over it. I even joined the conversation. Even though the law doesn’t specify this, many Christians are looking to these types of laws to allow them to refuse service to people based on their own religious convictions; specifically providing services to gay couples that they determine would communicate an agreement with their lifestyle. My stance, like a handful of other Christians, is that Christians should not look to use this law as a means to usurp Jesus’ command to love their neighbor and to serve others. As I read through various articles, from both sides, I started to question what I’m trying to communicate through #ApproachGod.
I started to wonder if I had crossed a line and turned #ApproachGod into a vehicle for calling out all the things I didn’t agree with that Christians do; basically a “shaming” page for Christians. I also started to think about how unfair it must seem to expect Christians to behave a certain way and essentially let everyone else “off the hook.” Why should Christians be expected to be loving and welcoming and then not expect that from others? It just doesn’t seem fair on a lot of different levels. But that’s just how it is and it has to be that way. It’s what Jesus calls us to. It’s what sets us apart as His followers. The bible was written for Christians. Jesus was teaching His followers, us, to live and love a specific way. None of it was pointed toward or given to those that don’t believe in who Jesus is.
Jesus said, “…deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Self denial, carrying a cross and following aren’t easy tasks. Jesus never said it’d be easy. But, He also didn’t force us to pick up the cross. He actually gives you a choice and not everyone chooses Him; the rich young ruler didn’t. That’s the beauty of Jesus; He never forces Himself on you. Everyone of His followers are followers because they said yes; you chose to follow. He chose you, made an offer and you said yes. There’s so much more to that “yes,” but that requires a whole other blog, maybe 20, to cover that. But, regardless, YOU chose to surrender, which means you were accepting His command to love and serve others. There’s no way around that.
All that to say this, I’m for you. If you’re a Christians and you’re genuinely seeking to follow after Christ, I’m for you. If you’re not a Christian, and I’m for you also, just in a different way. No blog that I write is ever intended to call out Christians. They’re my people and I genuinely love them. I have friends at all different levels of maturity in Christianity and all different areas of conviction for various things, and I genuinely love them all. #ApproachGod is never intended to call Christians out, but it’s always intended to call them up. Every letter that an apostle wrote, that is now what we call the New Testament, was written with the intention of helping its recipients grow deeper and wider in Christ. My desire is that #ApproachGod will a dialogue within our faith communities that help others realize their ability, through Christ, to approach God and to help bring others into His presence. Jesus said, “…all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I love you guys and I’m always open to dialogue.
I’ll end with Paul’s word to the Ephesian church,
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