We are the answer...if we will only act

Lately I have been on a theme about the attitude of churches, the actions of Christians and the disconnect that seems to exist between them and the average person we know and like that doesn’t have any involvement in church. I have chosen this topic for my column because the scriptures says that Jesus came to seek and to save those that are lost, and in another scripture we read that he instructed us to go to the highways and byways and to compel them to come in. Yet many who claim His name have no plan to lead others much less seek them out, and many churches have been so stationary in their activities they do not even realize they are not moving.
When you consider the mission of Jesus, which for the record was to save that which was lost, our best demonstration that we are a follower of Jesus will be discovered in our commitment to telling His story. Fear is maybe the biggest factor some find themselves stuck in even though they will never admit it. It’s not fear of saying Jesus has made a difference, because anyone who is a Christians knows first hand He does. It is not fear of explaining how Jesus has touched your life and changed your heart, rather it is fear that folks will not believe or that they may altogether reject us because we shared.
As a pastor and minister who has practiced my faith by telling His story through the events of my own life, I too had to learn to over come the fears just mentioned. When you are challenged by someone about what you believe, the first thing you want to do is fight back. One of the tough lessons to learn is that is not what Jesus did at all. He simply loved people and He let His love for them to all the talking. Now those that know me personally now I love to talk, I love telling stories, I enjoy sharing, and talking is a lot quicker than actions, but our real talking is best demonstrated by what we do and best complement when actions and words match up together.
Jesus was challenged nearly at every turn in His life. Take for example when he was a child in the temple, He was asked what He was doing. To me, that’s a silly question to have asked but it was not really a question but rather a statement the religious folks were placing as a weight. That attitude in and of itself is a total opposite attitude of Jesus. He didn’t come to place weight or burdens on folks, rather He came to free us of those things that hold us back, keep us down and have us locked up. If there is anything I hope my Christian witness stands as my attitude I pray it is that He wasn’t about bondage but freedom and He sets us free through the gift of His mercy and grace. I must say this is a difficult concept to grasp because most people enjoy seeing other struggle. Many individuals like seeing people craw and being knocked down, but not Jesus. He was all about lifting up, cleaning up, helping us to get in the right lane, choose the correct gate. He is all about helping us to become a light for travelers looking for a light and He is al about helping us to become a sweet flavor and a saving ingredient in the lives of others
There is an answer for the issues and challenges Christians and churches face today. It’s not about a specific program, event, or a series of topics addressed from the pulpit. The best connection available today is the one we offer when we go in His name and reach out because we know what He has done for us, He will gladly do for others.

Until then .