beauty

Photo Shows Muslims Protecting Church in Egypt as Congregants Attend Mass

There was a time when I would read an article like this and wonder to myself, "What exactly does it mean to be Christians, if people who follow insert religion here can be better people?"

But the beautiful thing about following Christ and not just religion is that that is exactly the point. My life aim isn't to be better than the pious Muslim or Buddhist. If I tried, I might be able to accomplish it; but even if I did, it would add nothing to my life:
"For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die... " (Romans 5:7)
Perhaps for a good person one would dare to die, but Jesus did the unthinkable by dying for not only the righteous but even sinners:
"... but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
And that's how God finds me. Not as a "good Christian" or a good human being but as a sinner. This is where my hope is built. And that hope won't change no matter how much better of a person I may become (which does happen, mind you...).

So I read the article and I see Jesus' beauty reflected in the actions of Muslim leaders. Jesus stood up for the oppressed, and he defended a sinful woman being stoned. He loved the unlovable. I rejoice that this is the Savior I worship; exactly the kind of saving I need; the kind of love that is reflected in this act.

May we all come to see the beauty of Jesus everyday.

Chris

0 comments:

the big story

"When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25 ESV)

A few guys and myself were talking about the Bible yesterday, and we somehow got to the topic of why there are four gospel accounts in the Bible and not just one. One of the guys said that it's because everyone has a different story that Jesus writes in their lives and hence a different vantage point to speak of Him from. He concluded that this is why we cannot give people enough advice to solve all their problems because often, God uses a mix of wisdom from people, the Bible and our circumstances to bring us to Him.
I agree, and I believe that one of the best ways of counseling people is to tell them how Jesus has worked in similar struggles of my own, because it doesn't guarantee a formulaic solution but instead points to Jesus, who he is, and what He does. It's no ten-step plan, but it provides a relational hope that no book can substitute for.
So the question isn't why there are four accounts for one story... for they are all different stories, just with the same main character. And somehow they all come together into an even bigger story. I suppose there couldn't possibly be enough books for how much Jesus has done.

Chris

0 comments:

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)