Let's stop the war!

Guess what everyone. Did you know we are in a war? No I'm not talking about Iraq or Afghanistan. I'm talking you and I right here right now are in the middle of a war. Turn on the radio switch the dial to any talk station and you'll hear the battle being waged. Read the newspaper you'll see it. Listen to the politicians running for office and it's in your face. The war I'm talking about is Christian vs Non-Christian, Conservative vs Liberal, Believer vs Non-Believer, Shoot Evangelical vs Pentacostle. Let's not confuse what I'm talking about with spiritual warfare either that's a whole other topic for another time. I'm talking you and I constantly engaged in battle.

Enough Larry tell me what you're talking about! Don't push me! I've been delaying, trying to find the best way to explain it without insulting anyone. I hate ruffling feathers ;-). Lets find a topic for discussion one that we can all agree with. "Stealing candy from a baby!" I think we can all agree that it's not good to steal candy from a baby (Cut it with the "it's for his health" remarks) Lets say John Smith see's little baby betty with a sucker he thinks the sucker looks good "Mmm Chocolate tootsie pop my favorite Baby Betty doesn't need it I think I'll take it for myself" Just as John goes to grab it Jane Doe see's him and stops him from taking it. "Hey John you can't have that it's not yours"

John: But I want it
Jane: It's not right to steal
John: Why not I want it
Jane: It's been a rule since the beginning of time you can't steal
John: That's a stupid rule
Jane: But it's a rule and you have to follow it
John: But I'm predispositioned to steal. I can't help it
Jane: That's not a good excuse you can't steal
John: Says you my dad says it's ok
Jane: You're dad is wrong
John: Who are you to judge me and my dad. You think you're better than me
Jane: John stealing is wrong
John: I have 10 friends that say you're wrong and judgemental
Jane: Your friends are wrong
His 10 friends: You're wrong lady we have proof that your way of thinking is antiquated.
Jane: Don't be silly throughout history stealing has never been exceptable.
Friend: You're just a biggot.
Jane: I have friends that can prove it.
John: They're biggots

This arguement doesn't seem to be going anywhere does it. Take it out further and you could have Jane giving scientific proof that stealing is wrong and John refuting it with scientific proof that it's a natural part of our instinct and society has wrongfully suppressed it for hundreds of thousands of years. Next thing you know "Jane" who was just defending a little baby is known as a judgemental hater of the new free thinking generation of thiefs. Battle lines are drawn between the two parties Janes group has hired lawyers to protect babies rights to keep their sucker and Johns group has hired lobbyists to encourage a bill be passed making it legal to steal from any baby 3 years of age or older because he/she is old enough to hide the sucker from any potential thief.

Please someone tell me there is something right about this system of justice. Now let me take it one step further. Jane throws into her arguement that stealing from a baby is not the "Christian thing to do" and she can quote scriptures argueing against it. Since this is a nation built on Christian principles our government has no choice but to "PROTECT OUR BABIES FROM SUCKER THIEVES!" John's Side argues that they are not bound by principles of a religion they don't embrace.

I know, I know. This example is simple, it's stupid, it's ludicrous. It's what we are doing constantly day to day every day. ME TOO! I've caught myself right there in the mix. Years ago I remember saying to myself that we as Christians have no right to push our belief or lifestyle on others. God doesn't force it so what gives us the right? Then I see legislation getting pushed and I'm like if that passes it's just another step toward the destruction of our country and I can't have that. So I begin pushing to stop certain freedoms from happening. Forget politically, I even do it personally. "You're a Christian don't do that!" We constantly do it in our church "You're not dressed up enough, You're too dressed up, Don't drink, Don't smoke, Don't cuss, No Sex out of Marriage"

Tell me when is the last time you had a favorable thought towards someone that told you NOT to do something? (Don't go to work doesn't count)

It seems to me that we spend way too much time talking about what we are against and not enough time talking about what WE ARE FOR! I can't think of too many times when Jesus talked about what he was against. He spent his time talking about what he was for. He was for his fathers business. The only time I can think of is when he was argueing with the pharisees but they claimed to be about his father business that made him mad because they were misrepresenting his father. I can't think of one time a "Non-Believer" came to him that he shoved their sin in thier face. I do think of Zacchaeus after Jesus simply paid attn to him repenting and repaying everybody he ever wronged. I do think of a prostitute that was so overwhelmed by Jesus love that she wept and washed his feet with her hair. I think of a woman divorced many times and living with another that turned an entire village onto Christ and into heaven. Jesus never once condemned her. I think of a Mob ready to stone a prostitute Jesus one statement calmed them. He didn't condemn them he just stated "Whoever is without sin throw the first stone." We all know we have sin we struggle with even those who don't confess Christ know their sin pointing it out doesn't help. What does then?

What if we tried pointing out what we are for NOT what we are against. Jesus did this and he changed the world. What if instead of saying "Hey stealing from a baby is wrong" Jane said please "Let me give you one of mine instead."

How about it Gang instead of telling the world what we are against lets tell it what we are about. We are about Loving our neighbor as we love ourselves, We are about loving a brother greater than we love ourselves, We are about our fathers business. Remember we can't stop at talking the talk we have to walk the walk as well. If we do I guarantee we will turn this world "Upside Down"