LIke Him or who?

Considering what to write about in preparation for this column is often times challenging. Writing this column is a personal opinion piece. It doesn’t represent the newspaper or the editor, yet I strive to always write something that the editor will find appropriate, timely, and of interest to the subscribers. I have addressed local topics that are a “hot button” for some and I’ve had readers who disagreed and took issue with a position I shared. There are so many things to write about that need a voice or a shout from the back of the room. Sometimes in life we simply want to get along, make no waves, and just mind our own business. Yet if you live long enough you realize that to remain quite all the time is a path of least resistance that may make those around you happy, but it will not create change that is so necessary for advancement.
Had Jesus never turned the tables over in that great Bible event, I wonder what our opinion would be about those money changers that cheat others through deception? Had Jesus not written in the sand would we think that our demand for justice is always right? Had Jesus not taken time to stop the pushing crowd to ask who is was that had touched Him, would we believe a simple touch has no importance? Or finally what would we think today had Jesus taken no time on the cross to tell his co-convicted that he would be in paradise today?
I am of the opinion that these single moments make a difference today. It could be that some reading will not know any of these situations I’ve recalled while others will know exactly the characters involved in each story. In either case it doesn’t make you a good or bad person, and your knowledge and ability to remember doesn’t elevate you to a higher position of respect from the community. I have been asked questions before by others who like to show off their knowledge by saying things like, “that’s what the Bible says doesn’t it preacher”. Personally I am always slow to answer such statements because most folks don’t quote scripture very well at all. We are good however at twisting words to satisfy our conscience and position.
Cheater is fighting words. If you don’t believe me, just tell someone you are dealing with next time you believe they cheated you and see how mad, angry and fight ready folks get. Doing wrong to others isn’t acceptable in my world, but then again not everyone plays by the same rules. Selfishness is always easily seen in others yet for us to just remain silent and allow time to prove integrity isn’t in our standard way of thinking.
The power of believing is vital to the pursuit of hope, but to finding individuals who encourage others to reach out for that which they believe is hard to find in the open.
There are many things that should not be ignored by those of us that identify ourselves as Christians. Simply being a friend to others doesn’t cost a lot, but if you believe what others say behind your back is valuable then I doubt you will ever been seen where you need to be when friends are in need.
When I think about Jesus talking to those that hung on their cross with Him at His crucifixion I am reminded that I have a long way to go to be like Him.

Until then