Love your enemies?

I wrote an article in December on a Christian response to ISIS  and had said that I believe undoubtedly, the response should be one formed in love.

Wonder what that looks like?

On the 17th of June 2015, Dylan Roof joined a Charleston Church's evening Bible Study, spent an hour with the parishioners, then turned his gun on them and open fired. He killed 9 people, including the pastor, a college graduate and librarian. It was an act of racial hatred and what is now being labeled as racial terrorism. This news of yet another shooting tragedy took the United States by storm, with no shortage of international news coverage, reaching as far as South Africa and India.

Shootings have become so commonplace in the US, that President Obama released a statement in which he said "I refuse to act as if this is the new normal". Fresh in the minds of Americans are the recent shootings of young black men by police officers, and the subsequent chaos that ensued.

I am sure there must have been a lot of people sitting on the edge of their seats, expecting another wave of backlash (remember Furguson). Another ping pong match of hate speech between racial groups.

But what happened next was probably even more shocking than the shooting itself.

"I forgive you": Victims' families confront suspected Charleston church shooter
Posted by NowThis on Friday, 19 June 2015

In tears, a family member of one of the victims addresses Dylan, saying "I forgive you. You took something very precious from me, I will never talk to her, ever again, I will never be able to hold her again. But I forgive you". Another family member says, "you know, I forgive you, my family forgives you. But we would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Repent. Confess. Give your life to the one who matters the most...Christ"

Since the shooting the church has reopened, with the NY Times reporting a "defiant show of unity in Charleston Church that lost 9 to racist violence"

Watch CNN's coverage here

The Naked Church

As I was sitting in Church, just one of those days, those regular church days, I began to drift off into wander. As if led by some mysterious guide. As you know, in some dreams you can see everyone but no one can see you. That’s how it was. I was aware of their presence, but not them of mine. Being a spectator I could not partake, but I could experience. And this is what I saw:

A church, not so different from yours or mine. But with a difference. Oh not louder music, not bigger smiles, not even more, how do they say…”spirit filled”. No, the difference was, the church was naked. Now if you know what I mean by “Church'” you know I’m not talking about the four brick walls and tiled roof. Every man woman and child stood there bare, praising their God.

I thought, “have these people no shame!”, “look at them revealed! They call themselves God’s own, how can they be if they’re exposed to the bone!”

But then my guide, he touched my eyes, and I began to see, see some of what they could see. I saw a brother with a scar here, a sister with a wound there, a child with bruise, an injured parent. I saw the pain of their suffering, the cries of their hearts. I saw the joy in their steps, the freedom in their laughter.

Then as if all at once, they turned to one another. Their leader had instructed them to do something, I never heard what, I must have been too shocked by the sight. But without uttering a word, each one turned to his neighbour with eyes that loved: they surrendered their inconvenience, forgot themselves, dressed each wound, mended the injured, soothed the bruised, poured oil on their scars. Tears in my eyes, I tried to partake. But as I stepped forward, my guide caught my hand.

I woke up.

Now I am in reality. We are all clothed to the collar. Ashamed, hidden, unwilling to expose.
(John 3:19-21, Ephesians 5:13, 1 John 1:7)

Doing God a Favour

No one will admit this… at least I’ve never heard anyone admit it. But it is often all too clear that we think that we’re doing God a favour by getting involved in some or other ‘ministry’. I hate to break it to everyone who’s doing great stuff for God, but…um, actually it’s the other way round. God is doing great stuff for you.
 
There is a degree of pride in so many ministries and churches that just makes me sick. Whilst these men and women may truly be called by God and are being used by God, I sometimes cannot bear to be around them because of that “I’m doing stuff for God, what the heck are you doing?” attitude. I am not innocent either, whatever i say, I can only speak from experience. That saying is true: “Takes one to know one”. Nonetheless, I cannot shy away from speaking the truth.
What was it that Paul said… “ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power” Ephesians 3:7
Oh and you know that Jesus fellow…yes the one who’s name you need to throw around so that people think you’re for real. Didn’t he say “The greatest amongst you will be your servant.” ? (hint: Matthew 26), when did we forget this stuff? Was it when we decided to follow Christianity instead of Christ?