Love Him, Love Others

I have had a least a zillion thoughts run through my mind given the Black Lives Matter Movement, even though I have shared minimally. Even with an overload of thinking, it’s like I had writer’s block. All those thoughts and still nothing seemed to be coming together for me to spill out on paper.

Some see this civil rights movement as means of division, some see it as unity. Some take offense in the idea of white privilege and others know change cannot occur without an acknowledgement of such privilege. Some equate those rioting with those passionate for a cause–and while that may be true in some instances, I am not convinced it is in all. Everyone has an opinion (including me)…for what it’s worth; which if we are honest-isn’t really much.

I have been pondering for days on end the current events of the world and what my response should be as an ambassador of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20).  I have scribbled down the lessons I have learned as I have loved and shared life with a black man, my husband.  I have grieved my ignorance to the racial injustice he has experienced both before and while he has been in my life.  I falsely assumed every single person had moved beyond racism and prejudice.  I couldn’t seem to keep my focus and pen my thoughts in any pattern that would convey a message of interest.

I longed to share the wealth of education I gleaned while working in social services about bias, about inclusion, about white privilege and more.  Desperately wanting others to share my passion for humanity, for equality and a desire to look for what often can’t be seen.  And yet, even though that may have been my heart’s desire, I was definitely not spiritually led to do so.

About a week ago, after some sermons from an amazing pastor/friend of mine and some scripture searching myself–God revealed to me why He led me to be still, at least for the most part.  

We were never told to plead our passions or endlessly try to convince others of our perspective–not even about Jesus.  We are told to share the gospel but if someone isn’t receptive, we are to shake the dust from our sandals (Matt. 10:14) and move on to those who want to listen.

God shared with me this truth tonight:  

I will never be a vessel for cultural change 

simply by posting my passions on social media,

particularly if someone perceives my sharing as

an instrument of division or dissension. 

My instruction from Jesus Himself is to love Him and love others.  It’s such a weighty assignment that He declares it sums up the whole law (Matt. 22:37-40).  

Jesus willingly entered into to our messy humanity to love.  He inserted Himself right smack dab in the middle of us and all happenings around us.  Scripture tells us in John 17:14-18, we are IN (enclosed or surrounded by) the world, not of it (this is not our home, not our origin as children of God).  

God reminded me of all that has been gleaned as I have volunteered.  The times I have surrounded myself with environments that are different from my comfort zone.  I have gone IN a women’s shelter.  I have gone IN our local jail to meet with women.  I have been IN women’s weekend retreats to serve.   And as I have gone IN, I have been surrounded with amazing women with countless life experiences very different than mine.  Tales of pain, trauma, coping and survival foreign to me. Relationships have been established and love has been exchanged as I have been IN their worlds and they have been IN mine. Walking with these women, God has given me a new, broadened perspective of life beyond my own limited experiences, beyond my own limited perspective.   

Being IN each of these various environments  positioned me  in marvelous relationships I am certain I would have not otherwise experienced.  Friendships have been established fostering  trust leading to a sharing of stories with wounds and suffering that have wrecked my heart and made it absolutely explode with compassion and boundless love.  I have learned I do not need to completely understand someone’s experience and pain (because if we are honest, that’s impossible) to love and accept them as an image bearer of Christ (Gen. 1:26).  

I am not assigned the task of sorting out logic until it fits into an acceptable scenario that makes perfect sense to me and warrants my seal of acceptance.  I am not worthy of such a role and in gentleness I say, none of us walking this earth are.  Our assignment is to love-Him and others.  Our assignment is to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2) and so maybe that means to sit in the mud with someone as they process trauma and life experiences that have left them riddled with lies and wounds.  I believe, there is a bond that forms in suffering that exceeds the depths of those forged in joy.

Someone did that for me and little by little, God’s truth and love began to silence the lies and heal the wounds and a beautiful transformation was initiated–not by me, but by Him.  And because He is making me new (2 Cor. 5:17), the transformation spills over into my marriage, into my family, into the church, into the community.  Because one person stepped IN to my world and loved me, a ripple effect happened and this is exactly how cultural change takes place.  

I want to be that person that walks beside someone and loves them and points them to Jesus and His truth every single time the enemy whispers otherwise (2 Cor. 10:5).  It’s my job as a disciple of Jesus.  

And Jesus reminded me–that is exactly what He does with us.  He pursues us, one by one.  It’s personal.  He enters into our pain.  He disarms us with His love and grace.  And this is the answer to how we impact the world.  How we, as one fallible human, can begin to be the change.  It’s loving Him and loving others.  Imagine Jesus trying to enter into a relationship with us or pursue us by posting on social media.  It’s utterly ridiculous.  

As lives are transformed one by one, change begins to happen; in relationships, in communities and in culture.  Thank you to my pastor/friend for sharing this truth that provoked this writing.  

Being in the world and not of it does not mean we are to neglect other’s humanity.  I don’t know a scripture that would support that idea.  Jesus is our advocate (1 John 2:1).  He steps right into our mess to support us and save us.  And although His one act of love saved all who accept Him as Savior, our transformation, our sanctification evolves as a direct result of being in a personal relationship with Love Himself.  

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.   And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40

07052020