Jesus had a hard time when he went to Calvary.  Beaten, bruised, broken bones, and a large cross the size of a Lincoln weighing on his back made His journey harder than any ride in the Tour de France. 

Imagine for a moment if Christ had to do it all over again.  Yet only this time id did it in respect to the entanglements of today’s society.

In my eyes - it would be harder than the first time.  Why?  Because the first time He carried the sins of the world - but this time he’d be carrying not only the world of sin and shame, but much of the church.

That’s two ton saddlebags and a long ride to Calvary!!

You may interject and say, "Hold up, wait a minute…put a little love in it!"

But that’s the one thing that seems to be escaping many Christians today. Love

According to the Barna Group in the book unChristian, people outside the church view the inside as something a little different - a little disappointing.

"Outsiders most common reaction to the faith: they think Christians no longer represent what Jesus had in mind, that Christianity in our society is not what was meant to be…but for many people the Christian faith looks weary and threadbare.  They admit they have a hard time actually seeing Jesus because of all the negative baggage that now surrounds him." (unChristian by David Kinnaman & The Barna Group)

This outrageous accusation isn’t a far cry from the truth.

Now hear me that I do not categorize all Christians and all churches in the same.  Many believers love God and love those outside the church.  They let their light shine into the hearts of man that Christ may be revealed.

But so many have gone to church, shut the door, so their light is only within the church.

We worship and love God in the spirit, but when it comes to loving Him in the flesh we forget that the essence of men is created by God.

So what’s the problem - what’s the root of all the neglect?

It’s me.  It’s my heart.  It’s my love.  It’s my faith — That will be the uplifting of Jesus Christ or the baggage of which will weigh him down.

I began to see that within my own life I have picked up stones to throw, added them to the pile and asked Christ to carry my indiscretion.

You and I must daily search our hearts to serve God in Heaven - but love and serve God in creation.

Isaiah 61:1

       The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
       because the LORD has anointed me
       to preach good news to the poor.
       He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
       to proclaim freedom for the captives
       and release from darkness for the prisoners,

We are anointed to preach good news not to ourselves, but to all the poor nd brokenhearted.  We are part of a new beginning.  One that God has called up from the ashes to "rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places… that have been devastated for generations."(Isaiah 61:4)

It begins with us…the church…when we see our life’s work, are we loving those outside the church - and are we helping them to be set free.

So the next time someone unchristian begins to rub you the wrong way - let us check our heart to see if the real unchristian is us.

P.D.

4-23-08