I’m sure most people would say “I pursue love over power”, but in the reality of everyday life, I would challenge you to take a good look at your attitudes! The truth is, we live in a highly power hungry culture geared toward “winning for my side” by destroying or demeaning the other side. We are encouraged to label and divide each other by politics, religion, race, gender, and on and on. This has always been the world’s way of seeking power and control by ignoring God and putting yourself and your group above anyone else. But God’s way is just the opposite: we are to love God first, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then love others as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-40) Sadly, many think this is a weak and ridiculous approach to life and may scoff at it. But it is God’s formula for changing you, others, and the world for the better!
In Luke 9:51-56, Jesus preaches in a Samaritan (enemy to the Jews) town, and the Samaritans don’t welcome him nor listen to him. His disciples gleefully ask “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven & consume them?” I’m sure many politicians, news pundits, and many of us would like to pray that over our “enemies” today! But note Jesus’ response: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them”. In other words, he was telling them their hearts and thoughts were mean-spirited, evil, and the opposite of what he came for, which was to redeem and restore humanity and the world to what it was intended to be!
So, Christian brothers & sisters, how often do we find ourselves thinking and responding just like those disciples?
Last Sunday, CJ and I visited a church in Vero Beach which wasn’t real large, but has a wonderful ministry to those who suffered from addiction, homelessness, and other needs that afflict the hurting. They were warm, welcoming, and several times gathered in a circle around people to pray for them and their struggles. They impressed me as authentic, real, and humble Christians. I have to believe Jesus is smiling on that church and their love for others. After church, we went out to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch, and behind us was sitting a table of Christians from a presumably larger church. I’m sure they were probably pretty nice people also, but one man started to loudly complain about the new Michigan Muslim congresswoman who is now famous for a profanity-laced tirade against the President, and called for his impeachment. He loudly proclaimed “This has been happening since 9-11! No one wants to speak out, but I will. These people need to go back to where they came from!”
Now let’s be honest, how many of us have had similar thoughts about some group of people we didn’t like or understand or agree with? How often do the news reports fill you with anger toward “the other side”? How often do you get sucked into the social media slime pool of vitriol, hatred, accusation, and the win-lose scenario for everything in our culture?
CAN I MAKE TWO SUGGESTIONS FOR ALL OF US CHRISTIANS WHO ACTUALLY TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS BLOG?
1) REMEMBER WHY JESUS CAME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!
We evangelical Christians love to quote and hold up signs for John 3:16- “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. But we tend to leave it there and neglect the next verse, John 3:17- “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
We live in a very condemning culture! We are called to be radically different, to be people who are patient, forgiving, generous, loving in a way that confronts sin but doesn’t just condemn the person doing the sin. Rather, we do whatever we can to help people overcome the destructive habits and effects of sin in their lives, seeking to redeem their lives– body, soul, mind and strength– by the power of Jesus and for the glory of Jesus!
Remember the encouragement of Paul in Philippians 2:1-8…
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!
2) REMEMBER YOU DON’ HAVE TO WIN; JESUS ALREADY HAS!
We live in a divisive, win-lose culture where a tremendous amount of energy and money is spent one side winning and having all the power and influence, while the other side must lose. Jesus offers us a win-win plan of redemption is which he desires to save not only our souls and our very being, but this world itself. And he calls his people to follow him into offering hope, forgiveness, and total redemption through faith in Him, now and forever!
Jesus doesn’t want to take sides; he wants to take over!
Notice there are two options of power before us:
– The love of power is the way of the world without God, and leads to division, hatred, control, and a constant cycle of fear and repression, and ultimately death and separation from God for eternity.
– The power of love is the way of God! He calls us to love him first and foremost, and pursue his Kingdom as the first priority! Then he wants to love others sacrificially as he loved us, putting others’ interests before our own. This is the true power of God, more powerful than any government, army, or weapon. And this is the way God changes us, and will change and redeem the world for eternity!
Which power source do you choose for 2019?
And will you pray with me for the heart and attitude of Jesus as we choose to be redemptive agents in this lost and needy world in 2019? �