"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Mend our broken wings
The Church is Broken. Not only is it broken, it is shattered. I see so many hurting people. So much pain. I am discouraged. I had so much naivete going into my position at the church. I knew that there would be hurting people, but for some reason, I didn't want to accept the idea, the fact, that all people are hurting. I couldn't see the deep wells of pain that have found their homes in so many hearts of the people around me. It makes me feel so small and insignificant. I have nothing of my own to offer. I am not a doctor. Being a "nice guy" doesn't fix people. I can't heal others, I can't even heal my own brokenness and pain. I am learning the hugeness of love. love heals. The greatest thing I could ever do is to reflect Christ's perfect love. The love of Christ is so deep; a love that washes the feet of his betrayer, that tells the one who denied him to go and feed His sheep; what a beautiful love. It is a freeing, graceful and satisfying love. A love that empowers. It is the only bandage for the pain. Love is the foundation, the root, the essence, the all of Christianity. If I am not reflecting Christ's love then I am not truly loving, and with out love there is nothing. It is love that conquers all fear. It is love that gives life. We have the choice to accept it and to share it. My heart has been convicted. It has been empty for so long. I pray God will fill it with his love. Where is all this love? Are there no satellites to reflect the Son? It is time to embrace those that hurt, and show them the one who heals.
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2 comments:
ty, your optimism and good intensions are striking and tempting, but in actuality i can only read much of what you wrote and think it is merely "sounds good comfort words." Because really, is it even possible to ever be able to offer enough love to someone...so much love...that we can heal them? and you say it's not our own, that it reflects Christ's love...but why do we rarely see it then? if God's love is so huge and so great and so freeing...why is that almost everyone is still trapped and chained to all sorts of different bondages? and healing...what does healing even look like? feel like? what does it mean to be healed? how can anyone...anyone...give enough love as to actually heal?? how could anyone have that much love...
maybe i am just being bitter and cynical right now. in fact, i know i am. but i don't feel like pretending anymore...i don't feel like pretending things are just that easy.
Steph, you are right, no person has the kind of love that could heal another. most people don't know what love is, does anyone know what love is? Until we can fully know Christ, we can't fully know love. Our feeble atempts to love are probably more often then not marred with self motivation, lust, selfishness...all qualities that are opposed to love. Even though we can't fully understand and know love,(and we are often poor reflectors) we can show it by looking at the Character of Christ. Its kind of like when I try to do a Napolean Dynamite impression; no matter how many times I try, I'll never get it absolutely perfect...I'll never be Napoleon. But the more I practice, the better I become. The same is true of love. Why do we rarely see love reflected? Because we are humans attempting to reflect God. Demonstrating love to others won't always take the pain away. The healing process is a very painful one. when a person gets a cut, even after it heals, there is often a scar, a reminder of the pain. Even a reminder can hurt. I don't believe healing ever erases a wound. it seals the wound, and releases that wounds bondage over a person. I do believe that we as Christians have the gift (and calling) to help others heal. I've been through a lot of crap, as everybody has, in which I needed healing. I'm still healing. I am thankful for the people who have come along side me and helped me (and continue to) in the process. I'm also thankful that I can take my wounds to Christ, and ask for his healing. but I do have to give them to him, I have to hand my wounds to him. I have struggles, pains and bondages that I can almost garauntee I will be battling until the day I die; daily handing them over to Christ, and taking them back (Romans 7:17-23). I don't know if we can be fully healed before Christ's return. No, thats rediculous, I do know, we can't. But we can begin the process, and help others to as well. Sitting in a wound is destructive, and dangerous. maybe these were "sounds good comfort words." I am ok with that. Love is good. Christ does comfort. I think so often we make things more complex than they need to be. What is the Gosple? It is Christ. Who is Christ? Christ is love. Love has great power, and I believe that one of those powers is the power of healing. Its good not to pretend that all of this is easy. It sounds simple, perhaps, but simplicity doesn't eqaul ease. Love is a hard thing to do. But what else can you offer a hurting person, but love?
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