Outstanding...or standing out...
Wow - funny you should mention the Amish this week - okay, not so funny. They're really on our minds this week.
I've often been critical of the Amish - looking, acting backward for the Lord? Um...not sure how that honors God...
BUT - I see them offering EXTREME GRACE this week - INSANE GRACE, even... The day after the shooting, an Amish victim's mother (and, I think others as well) publicly forgives the shooter. I believe several from the Amish community (not sure if they were victims' families or not) went to the shooter's father to COMFORT him - and to offer him some grace. Today, I hear that dozens of members of the Amish community attended the shooter's funeral - not in protest, but out of love for the man's family.
I couldn't do that.
THAT is outstanding. That is showing the very kind of love and grace that Jesus showed. I don't care if they wear funny hats, I have an incredible respect for the Amish community now (in that area, at least - probably isn't universal, since no people group is monolithic - I mean, does the godhatesfags guy REALLY embody all that the Christian community - or even the Baptist community believe?).
Because I know me. I couldn't do that.
Jesus did. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Stephen did it when he was stoned. Paul said that his sufferings were glorious. I stub my toe and I think that God doesn't like me today. Kill someone I love? I can't forgive you that day. I might not ever forgive you. I won't attend your funeral and pray for/with your family... That's who I am. I can and do love - deeply. I try to offer some pretty wild grace - but there's a limit. I am not Jesus - and too many days I don't even look anything like Jesus...
But He knows me - that I couldn't do that.
And He's working on me. One day, maybe, I'll be less worried about whether or not this is a funny looking hat, and more about whether or not someone else in a funny hat knows I love them...and, more importantly, that Jesus loves them...
But right now...I can't do that. God, work me out...
I've often been critical of the Amish - looking, acting backward for the Lord? Um...not sure how that honors God...
BUT - I see them offering EXTREME GRACE this week - INSANE GRACE, even... The day after the shooting, an Amish victim's mother (and, I think others as well) publicly forgives the shooter. I believe several from the Amish community (not sure if they were victims' families or not) went to the shooter's father to COMFORT him - and to offer him some grace. Today, I hear that dozens of members of the Amish community attended the shooter's funeral - not in protest, but out of love for the man's family.
I couldn't do that.
THAT is outstanding. That is showing the very kind of love and grace that Jesus showed. I don't care if they wear funny hats, I have an incredible respect for the Amish community now (in that area, at least - probably isn't universal, since no people group is monolithic - I mean, does the godhatesfags guy REALLY embody all that the Christian community - or even the Baptist community believe?).
Because I know me. I couldn't do that.
Jesus did. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Stephen did it when he was stoned. Paul said that his sufferings were glorious. I stub my toe and I think that God doesn't like me today. Kill someone I love? I can't forgive you that day. I might not ever forgive you. I won't attend your funeral and pray for/with your family... That's who I am. I can and do love - deeply. I try to offer some pretty wild grace - but there's a limit. I am not Jesus - and too many days I don't even look anything like Jesus...
But He knows me - that I couldn't do that.
And He's working on me. One day, maybe, I'll be less worried about whether or not this is a funny looking hat, and more about whether or not someone else in a funny hat knows I love them...and, more importantly, that Jesus loves them...
But right now...I can't do that. God, work me out...
posted by Pastor Bill at 7:06 PM
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