Do not fear… Anything
The last few weeks at Heartland we have been in a series
borrowed from Andy Stanley at NorthPoint Church called The N Commandment. In
this series we have been called by Christ to Fear Not, Worry Not, Doubt Not,
Sin Not and this coming week will close out with Judge Not. This is a great
series that helps us to understand these commandments in the light this side of
the Resurrection. We are able to truly live without fear and worry.
Peter was a great example of a life changed due to the
resurrection of Christ. He tried to do things on his own, sometimes even out of
fear and worry. He almost drowned when he was walking on water and focused on
his fear of the wind and waves. When Jesus was arrested he tried to protect Jesus
with a small sword, and among the trouble after the arrest Peter denied Christ
three times.
But after the resurrection of Christ Peter lived a live of
complete surrender spreading the Gospel to all those that needed to hear. He
saw the resurrected body, saw the scars and knew this was the real deal. He was
even willing to give his life for the cause. He lived a different life after
the resurrection.
I think this is also our call to live differently in the
light of the resurrection and trade our lives of fear for trust, worry for
peace, and doubt for hope and faith. In the light of the recent events in the
world many online are sharing stories about ISIS, Muslim extremists. People are
sharing their opinions. And most of these opinions are based in fear and worry.
I struggle with what exactly the best thing to do is. This is above my pay
grade and there are no easy answers. I do know very few people are using
scripture to back what they are saying. I know very few are using personal
experience. I know people will never come to a consensus but let me share a few
things I have learned over the years about what I have learned.
- Read Matthew 25:31-46- “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” “whatever you do for the least of these you have done for me
- Matthew 2:13-18 As a baby, Jesus and his family were refugees to Egypt. They feared for their life.
- Genesis 47- When there was a famine in Israel Joseph’s brothers and family came to Egypt. The pharaoh gave them the best land (vs 6)
- Hebrews 13:1-2 Do not forget to entertain strangers.
This is just the beginning of what scripture says we should
do.
Another thing that I want to tread lightly on is that we are
not looking at this with a world view. We are looking at it through the only
lens that you might know, as an American. First, I am thankful to be an
American. But I am a follower of Christ first. My allegiance is to Christ over
everything. I am called to Love God and
Neighbor. Neighbor is not just the person you live next too but also includes
everyone, including the refugee.
Next week we will gather around tables celebrating refugees
coming to this great land fleeing religious persecution. If no one immigrated
to America we would not have a United States and American Indians would be the
only people group here. Our country was formed by a bunch of refugees. So if
anyone should be willing to welcome a refugee it should be us.
I also look at this through another lens. When I married
Jenny I married into a family that has multiple ethnicities and religions. Jenny’s aunt Lisa met and married a Muslim
man Mustafa Al-Ramly while attending Indiana State
University. They have lived in Kuwait ever since and have two awesome adult
children. So when I think Muslim I think also of my family who are some of the
kindest gentle people I have ever met in my life.
Our scope is very narrow. Most
writing comments on Facebook are people I believe are good hearted people
coming to conclusions based on fear and worry rather than trusting a loving,
compassionate, generous God.
These are my thoughts, they are still
being developed. I hope I can listen more than I argue. I hope I love more than
I hate. I hope I have compassion more than I judge. I hope I am a peacemaker
more than I cause conflict. I hope I pray for the least more than I condemn. I
am called to so much more in my life than I actually fulfill.
Today please LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS
AND SERVE ALL.
