Walls and Grace

Jesus people.

Sometimes I get a little annoyed with the word Christian because I think it's overused and not always a great or best descriptive word. We've made it up to mean so many different things. I call myself a Christian to conform I guess, but I much rather love the Jesus person or Jesus Follower title. Because that's what it boils down to.

As Christians, in our youthful beginnings, I think we're all taught incorrectly that we need to follow a list of rules in order for God to see us as acceptable. I think that bad wiring we start out with leads us to condemnation of our brothers and sisters. And mostly, at least for me, condemnation of ourselves. We sort of get into a panic when we haven't read our Bibles for a day or week. Sometimes I come to God and all it seems I thank Him for is His grace. There is nothing wrong with that. I take that on now. Grace is grace is grace. And that's where I need to sit-in His grace, really I already do. We all do. I know we have an enemy that wants us to forget that grace; wants us to throw our punches at each other for not calling ourselves Christians, or even for not wearing the right ensemble to church. And we better have that fish on the backs of our cars. Or you know what. . .

We build these massive walls between our brothers and sisters and the outside world, the nonbelievers. There are so many times when I hear the Gospel told to people and I want to run and hide with the "sinners". Or I want to tell these "Painful" messengers to talk of Love and Grace, not come at people with the dagger and scarlet letters. We need to tell people this beatiful Story that is happening and they are missing out on. We need to tell them they are LOVED and wanted and adored no matter what they've done. Because really it's not even about what they've done! Yes we need a bridge to our Father because of the fall, but we need to say hey, look at my scars and look what He's done! Words are so small when it comes to this, but it's what we have. Love is a movement. There is no Love in condemnation.