Saturday, July 20, 2013

You Can't Compare

No Comparison

Dear Dad,

Are you a better Christian than other people?

Your Son


Dear Son,

The most dangerous idea we can develop as Christians is that we are being "better" Christians than other people. Too often, we pick our choice of activity or behavior based on what we consider to be good as compared to the same as our family, friends, and fellow church-goers. We usually rationalize them with sentences that start with "At least I don't... ."

I'll give you a concrete example of what I mean:

While checking out the Facebook page of a person that attends our church, I noticed posts that were not what I would consider to be very "Christianly." Because this person is a well respected individual in the church, something interesting happened in my brain. I didn't think "Wow, that isn't very Christian." No, I thought "Well if he can do that, then I can do such and such." Bad, bad, bad.

Comparing your righteousness to another person's is like two cars in a junkyard debating which one is in a worse state of disrepair. Humans are broken and are not worthy to be compared to. Jesus is the perfect standard that you should aspire to emulate. But, here is the rub: you will never be perfect.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't try though. There is an old saying: If you reach for the stars, you will touch the moon every time. Reach for Jesus, reach with all your might. Reach high and don't bother bending over to pick up the "righteousness" of your fellow humans.

Your Father

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

It Doesn't Matter by Shane Russo

Born this way or not?
That is a great debate.
A topic which has fostered
So much abhorrence and hate.
To "love each other" was the mandate,
Not "go, therefore, and judge his sin."
But we've somehow convinced ourselves
That it deserves comparison.
There is not one on earth who's clean,
Disgusting we are all within.
So who am I to tell another
That it is he whom has sinned?
So whether it is your sin is gay
Or that my sin is pride,
We all fall short of the glory of God
When looked upon inside.
But that is where the good news starts
No matter your sin or mine
We are both children of the Lord
And loved by the Great Divine.