Every once in a while when I want to get my stomach feeling really good and queasy and want to get myself all worked up and angry, I open Twitter and read what my fellow Americans are saying about politics.
Most of the time I can just roll my eyes and keep scrolling. Other times, I find my stomach feeling hot and I have to put my hand over my mouth to keep from throwing up.
Recently, the nauseating hot button topic for me was certain Members of Congress who claim to be Christians in their bios, fighting an unnecessary and nasty fight with Representative Ilhan Omar. First of all, no one is disputing the fact Representative Omar is a practicing Muslim. Second of all, we as Christians should act like reflections of Jesus.
What hurts my heart is the fact we as Christians are supposed to be representing Jesus. When we do this, we reflect love, not hate. Our lives as Christians are supposed to be about loving others and loving them well.
Representative Ilhan Omar and I are about on as far opposite sides politically speaking, as you could be. While I still consider myself conservative, I do not align with this current Republican party. So I am amongst the many who call ourselves, “politically homeless.” That being said, I would welcome Representative Omar at my table. My faith in Jesus is not threatened by her Muslim faith.
More than representing the qualities and policies I want to see in this country, I need to be representing Jesus Christ. Not just to fellow believers … but to everyone.
Including Muslims. Including Hindus. Including Buddhists. Including Atheists. Including Agnostics. Including Baptists. Including Methodists. Including Catholics. Including Non-Denominationals.
You see what I mean here?
We are not going to draw people to Jesus and Christianity if we are out there acting like a bunch of asses. I’m sorry for that word, but there’s really no other word to describe the behavior I have seen the past few years, “in the name of Christianity.”
My faith in Jesus is not threatened if someone worships in a Mosque.
My faith in Jesus is not threatened if someone worships a statue of Buddha.
My faith in Jesus is not threatened if someone believes drinking wine sends you straight to hell.
My faith in Jesus is not threatened if someone believes only Church of Christ members will go to Heaven.
We need to be more rooted and established in our relationship with Jesus Christ so that we are not threatened by other religions and beliefs. We need to be so established in our love for Jesus and know our strength and confidence in Him that we are eager to show and share the love of Jesus with everyone we encounter.
Everyone we encounter.
Everyone. We. Encounter.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” - Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)
Jesus gave us a command, to love one another. It was not a suggestion. It was a command.
Not all people to whom we show hospitality and kindness are angels. All people are children of God though, and He sees everything.
If we could stop the bickering and the arguing and the nastiness on all sides, and start changing our perspective and putting ourselves in other peoples’ shoes; can you imagine the work we could do? The fences we could mend? The relationships we could restore?
It does not make you or me less of an American by extending grace and kindness to refugees in this country. It does, however, make us less of a reflection of Jesus when we don’t.