Love until you forget yourself.

A great article by Will Braun from Geez Magazine covers some of the points I have been pondering of late. I often wondered - in light of recent political debates, activist acts, and mega-church programs - what happened to "love thy neighbor as thyself?"
Braun makes a very good point, "If my involvement in a conflict makes me a more bitter and caustic person – rather than a more humble and creative person – my approach is probably askew. As another test, I like to consider whether the way I treat my adversaries would make them likely to feel comfortable approaching me if they were ever to jump ship."
How often are we keen to note that about ourselves?And we wonder why there aren't more Christians.
As Brennan Manning said, "The Greatest single cause of Atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is simply what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Are we loving our neighbor? Are we loving our enemy? We say hi to the Jones next to us and ask them to tea and thats it? Of course not.
I'm writing this, not because I think Christians don't know it, but because we may need encouragement to get out and do it. Let us truly fear the Lord!
Visit the inmate, feed the hungry, clothe the poor. *
By the way, if there is a comfortable distance between you and "the poor," or you and your rainforest-cutting-fossil-fuel-burning-arch-nemesis, then lose it. Either saddle up right next to them or get off your high-horse and wallow in the mud together (its great for your complexion) - And I gotta practice what I preach, myself!
Let us be Christians or die trying.

*We are accepting donations for Myanmar cyclone victims - boxes of clothes and (food if we can get it in the country) and any other supplies the Lord puts on your heart. Please email me if you have anything.