Painting: ‘My Friend‘ by Helen Thomas Robson (fineartamerica.com)
Thought for the Week
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. And then you will be the true children of your Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 5:43-45
An Open Letter to Christians
The life of Jesus, and the life he commands us to emulate, is one of unconditional love (agapaó) toward others. It’s the same unearned love that saved us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8). In its operative form it’s called grace, undeserved favor toward those who have no right to such a claim. In other words, it’s loving the way Jesus loved. We, the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), his followers, are called to be his active, physical presence in the world.
And Yet…
The message the world seems be hearing from many who call themselves Christians these days is not “We love you unconditionally” but “Here’s a list of our demands!” No wonder they’ve turned away from Jesus. When did the Body of Christ become just another special interest group demanding its rights?
“But our country has abandoned its biblical values,” is the response. “It’s turned pagan and evil — and it’s up to us to save it!”
No, it’s not.
Jesus didn’t call his followers to save the Roman Empire—a world of pagan beliefs and abominable practices (widespread slavery, child abuse, torture and murder as public entertainment) ruled over by a dictator considered a living god. Instead, Jesus called his followers to save people, individuals.
But how, if not by saving their nation? By showing them the love Jesus spoke of and embodied, by being his living presence in the world today.
Brothers and Sisters
“Christendom,” the era of powerful nations loosely guided by Christian principles, has ended. We are rapidly returning to the kind of society Jesus encountered 2,000 years ago, a society that doesn’t even pretend to be Christlike–because it doesn’t know who Christ is.
No wonder our culture is turning away from Jesus. They’ve never encountered him. And until we show them the real Jesus…
We’ve shown them no Jesus at all.
POW! Mic drop Mitch. Thanks for holding a mirror for us to see our flaws and not concern ourselves with the flaws of others.
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Very well said, Mitch! Thank you.
My privilege, Jerry.
Agree completely. “…it’s up to us to save it.” The thing that’s always unsaid, but often implied is, “And we have to become like the world to do the saving.” I reject that.
Bold and true. Thank you, Mitch.
My privilege, Frank.
Thank you for this Mitch. When salt loses its savor, it’s good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men…and here we are again in a pagan world…empires rise and fall but Jesus Christ remains. The US, western empire, as we’ve known it, is falling and my prayer is that will turn us believers back to God, not just be mental ascent but in practice.
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I hope this message of Jesus gets through to antisemitic Christians. I see a lot of them on social media condemning the Jews and supporting the terrorists that slaughter them. How can we hate the people that Jesus loved even when he was persecuted?
Powerful message!
Thanks, Geoff.
So very yes, Mitch. And some militaristic select everywhere would benefit in gatherings that (rather) plumb the depths of Mt 3:7-10.. if only they dared.
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One of your most timely, profound and important messages.
Thanks, Don.
Agree, Mitch. How will they know Him, unless we demonstrate to them who He is. By imitating Christ, with His power.
You speak truth! Amen!
Thanks, Scott.
It’s time for us, isn’t it? Time to befriend, time to be kind, time to share, time to check on our neighbours, time to examine ourselves, time to love like Jesus loved. Yes, it’/s time to stop being silent, to stand up and announce, as boldly as we can, “This is who Jesus is. This is what Christianity is. This is how we move forward to unite our nation.”
And then, SHOW IT, DO IT, BE IT!
But then, there’s the problem of where we find ourselves in the world today ….
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Yes. Thank you.
My privilege, Rita.
There’s this fellow I know. I suppose I would call him a friend, though we don’t fellowship face-to-face a lot. I met him fifty-three years ago. His parents were missionaries in Africa. He never accepted Jesus and calls himself an agnostic. This fellow has a Christ-like persona that’s more demonstrative of agape’ love than a huge number Christians I know. Although scripture tells me that he will not see the gates of Heaven, I’m convinced that the world has been a better place due to his presence.
God knows his heart.
Very deep reflections: thank you
My privilege, Luisa.
I’ve just written a brutal poem calling out what these self-proclaimed “Christians” are doing to children in the US and around the word. Enough is enough.
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You hit the very center of the bullseye with this one
Thanks, Todd. And good to hear from you.
You are correct. Many Christians are not putting God’s love out into the world. Three of my friends have left the church because of the way they were treated by other Christians in the church. I just ask them to please not give up on Jesus Christ, just because some Christians are not acting like Jesus. If Christians are pushing believers out the church door, how can anyone seeking life, get in the door?
Good question, Janet.
Wow. Yes. Amen, to this my friend. Thank you. I have been listening to a podcast by CAC and I loved this intrigueing thought: What if the Christianity of today’s religion, especially in this nation, is not only not giving us the right answers any more, but is not asking the right questions? Maybe it is time for us who long to follow Jesus and live with Christ within and all around us to reframe the questions. Peace and all goodness to you today, Mitch.
And to you as well, Jane.
Matthew 28:19-20 is the Great Commission, and your essay redirects us there. Thank you.
My privilege, Al.
Preach it (using words as necessary :-)!
;>)
Powerful words, thank you.
My privilege, Cari.
Oh brother how I agree with everything you have said; I go further and point the finger to the Christian church establishment. Every email I get from church ends with something like this: we invite you to participate in our Easter Gratitude Offering Generosity Campaign. Each week a new reason to give money.
Amen 🙏🏾. From the heart of Jesus. A very timely message.
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Great post, Jesus was not a religious, political, or cultural separatist, seems there is a conscience need to divide, Jesus loved everyone and received everyone, where sin abound, grace much more abound.
Amen! I so agree!
So very true. Thank you so much.
My privilege, Elizabeth.
A big fat “Amen” sir! I have never seen one word in The Word about patriotism during 56 years of reading it. Christ’s kingdom is not of this world.
{ } That was the silence of the air being knocked out of me at such truth!!
Thank you Mitch!!
My privilege, Kate.
Thank you Mitch. I don’t even tell people I’m “Christian” anymore. I don’t want to be associated with what much of christianity (little “c””) has come to represent to folks outside their little bubble of judgment and hatefulness towards “the other”. I’m simply a follower and disciple of my rabbi Jesus.
I understand. I generally use the term “Jesus-follower” for the same reason.
I keep asking myself, why do we think we have to fight God’s battles? It is heartbreaking how we have reduced Jesus.
Say it loud, say it clear. We need voices like yours.
Bless you, dear friend.
Amen!
Well said, Mitch. Thank you!
My privilege, and thank you, Grant!
Powerful and much needed message, Mitch. People are always trying to “help” God, coming up with all kinds of human-made ideas to bring people to Jesus. That’s not what we’re called to do.
Very true, Edward.
Well said.
Thank you, Gerry.
2 Corinthians 2:15-17 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Amen.
Amen, Mitch, well said!
Thank you, Peggy.
Like like like!
Well-said, Mitch. Not to get too political, but it’s hard to avoid with the rise of Christian nationalism in Trump’s USA dominating the news cycle. They have consolidated into a political force the dark thread of pseudo-Christianity, a cut-off-the-poor and ban-the-immigrants version that is antithetical to the gospels. James Talarico in Texas seems to be reasserting the “love your neighbor” version of Christianity, and it has terrified Trump, Hegseth, et al. (Hegseth’s personal pastor even prayed publicly for Talarico’s death.) Everything Talarico says comes from the gospels and exposes their phony power-driven Christianity for what it is.