What else would I be talkin' about other than the W.W.J.D. bracelets?! Yeaaa, you remember! And I know you had one. Shoot...I had bout..well, you know. I had some #lol
Want to show your friends how much you believe in Jesus? Just ask yourself "What would Jesus do?" Better yet, put on one of these. I remember using them as a part of my basketball attire hoping to mimic some of the greats on the court who would wear them.
#culturalContext
What also became popular in the NBA as far as wrist wear included the beloved rubber band. Some people may or may not have an understanding of the cultural underpinnings of someone wearing a rubber band. It's as significant as a person who walks around with their pants saggin' so you can see their undies. Others may attribute this to aversion therapy...do you think #WWJD was a form of aversion therapy?
In all honesty, I don't care too much about what Jesus would do, after all he's Jesus (...and I'm not). My question and main concern is: What did Jesus Say? #wdjs
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer...
Thank you for your awesomeness;
loving-kindness.
Your grace.
Help us to look beyond what your Son did.
May we apply what he said.
In the end guide us in becoming more like Him.
Amen.
So, to answer the first question you're most likely pondering..."No, the 'gay-series' is not over yet". Secondly, to address the other burning question you have..."Yes, I had multiple W.W.J.D. bracelets because I thought they were cool." #iLostCount
SN: You just don't understand what it means to be decked out in full red-and-black attire (i.e. Backwards cap, MJ Jersey, Black shorts/basketball shoes, & my bracelets).
Before jumping into the deep blue sea I want to think on something quickly. Back when I was in high school undertaking my favorite science (i.e. Physics) we learned about something called a Faraday cage. Basically, if I put you inside of a Faraday cage and try to apply some type of electromagnetic "force/pulse" to the outside of the cage you would not be affected. This has its advantages and disadvantages.
Let's flip it and think about this from a faith standpoint. Some people of faith have a Faraday cage type of faith. They're enclosed and protected from many things on the "outside" of their faith, but the problem is that in being in a cage you can't reach anything/anyone on the outside. As a matter of fact there are "Faraday-like cages" which prevent cellular signals and the like from getting in and out. I believe this might actually go along with the basic premise of the Faraday cage. When it comes to your faith are you shutting off the "outside" because you're concerned about protection from what might "harm" [you], instead of having a willingness to be "wounded" in the process of sharing [your] faith with outsiders? #thinkOnIt Jesus calls us to have a faith that is beyond the Faraday cage.
In thinking back on some of the things that Jesus said, I'd like to posit this #ruleNumber1. When I work with my "patients" who have trouble making progress in their lives I ask them something very simple: "What's rule #1?" In their cases the answer is, "acceptance". They must be able to not only realize, but also admit to the circumstance or situation as it is and not for what they perceive it to be. This is similar to the x-step process where the first step is getting beyond denial.
Back to rule #1, what did Jesus say it was? If you don't know, rule number 1 is to love. I don't want to get ahead of myself so hold on to this nugget for right now.
When it comes to sin, living a holy/righteous life, and living in peace with others we might look to Jesus' life as an example. Specifically, when it comes to suggesting that people are living "wrong" how did Jesus handle these situations. In other words, Jesus not only corrected, rebuked, and taught the people...did he ever condemn? There are many a story where he corrected/rebuked (e.g. Conversations with the Pharisees). Too many opportunities to count regarding him teaching. Lastly, let's think on this condemnation (i.e. When did sin come into play).
One particular instance I can recall is when Jesus was talking to a woman at the well. Knowing this woman has had more than one "husband", as well as her being involved in some "extra-marital affairs", Jesus engaged her in conversation. It all started with him asking for a drink. She's a Samaritan woman and apparently Jews and Samaritans don't mix. Eventually, Jesus says in John 4 that he can offer this woman an "everlasting" type of water, or a water that will never run dry; she'll never thirst. Before Jesus offers this to her completely (after having "drawn" her in), he tells her, "Go, call your husband and come here". Up to this point even though Jesus knows all too well what this woman is up to in her personal life he has not condemned her.
She replies, "I don't have a husband". Of course Jesus being the talented individual that he is, affirms the woman's admission, adds that she in fact has had 5 husbands and the man she is currently with is not a husband at all. Now at this point many a church goer would wave the red flag (e.g. Adultery, Infidelity, Sexual Immorality) because this woman is up to "no good". How dare she be human and (at the same time) with a man that she is not married too? This is where a lot of folks who are religious begin to walk impatiently down the road of condemnation, thinking that reprimanding you will cause you to turn from your sin more quickly than loving you will. (I'm not suggesting that you don't correct/rebuke, but you first must understand the process.)
Jesus begins (in word and deed) with love.
- Asks/commands for a drink
- Offers "living water"
- Corrects/rebukes her current situation
- Tells her who he is.
These interactions go by ever so quickly when reading the text.
What's the point?! The point is (and I've learned this many-a-times) you shouldn't be so ready to tell people what they ought to do, how they should do, or how they've been doing it wrong all along. Jesus had what seemed to be an everyday conversation with this woman that started off with an invitation to perform a loving gesture of hospitality, transitioned to a reciprocating offer that went beyond what the woman could do for Jesus, became an eye-opener for her to believe, and ended with her telling all the townsfolk; "This man told me everything I ever did." As the story goes, many people believed on that day because of her testimony.
Here's my question: What if Jesus came out from the jump with, "Woman why are you sleeping with a man you're not married too?" or something along the lines of that. I believe in today's culture folk might jump the gun in an extreme fashion and throw a not-so-nice "phrase" in there to show how badly she's messed up (e.g. Hoe, slut, whore and the like).
Going back to rule #1. Jesus' response of the great commandment ending up being about the love we are to show to two distinct entities. The first being God the Father, loving him with everything we have and everything we are. The second one, as equally important is loving our fellow man (and woman) as ourselves.
How do you love someone as yourself if you don't treat them FULLY the way you want to be treated? That's not the "golden rule" it's the #greatestCommandment (remember the nugget I told you to hold on to? It's indeed golden) My understanding is that full is the same as 100%, not 99.9999%. If it ain't 100, it ain't 100 #yaDig
The Bible speaks on how we are to "do things" for the least of these. The way we love our neighbors or the lack thereof is the exact same way we'd love Jesus. Think about it...he came and people didn't even know it was him, yet they treated him the way that they did. Don't think for a second that you wouldn't mistakenly treat Jesus wrongly, after all if God is one of us, you most likely already have.
In closing, I won't shove Jesus down your throat. There are plenty of posts on this blog about Jesus. You can freely research Jesus and what people think about him as a historical figure and the Savior of mankind. Even if you don't accept him as your personal "Lord and Savior" what I do suggest is you try him as a friend.
The truth is many of the folks who really follow Jesus are friends with him, after all would you follow someone you're not friends with...in fact, isn't that the way it works in #socialNetworking? Hmm...would you look at that. In order to follow you in many instances I have to befriend you in some way, shape or form, to show my "allegiance".
When it comes to homosexuality, alcoholics, murderers, or anything that you think is just tremendously vile and unforgivable...remember it's all about compassion, not judgment.
The reality is that compassion trumps judgment when it comes to Jesus. If it didn't we'd all be damned to hell with no forgiveness for sins. It is interesting though because if being of a sexual orientation that isn't heterosexual is a sin (e.g. LGBTQ), why doesn't the Bible respect the diversity of the sinner by now. We've known this for some time right?! Some may say that this falls into the category of "making your own sins". Others may comment that sexuality is a gift [from God].
Whatever your religious status, affiliation...wherever you are in life...regardless of situation or circumstance, Jesus is always looking for new followers, but more importantly he's in desperate need of new friends. Befriend him and at some point I pray you'll count the cost of following him so that you might get water from a well that never runs dry...so that you might be shown and told, "everything you've ever done", so that you might experience the love that covers a multitude of sin without fear of being condemned for simply living life.
Jesus is a friend of sinners...if this were not true I wouldn't waste my time doing this, for there was a point and at some times even these days, undoubtedly in the future...I may not look, act or feel not much different than a sinner except knowing this one thing, Jesus is a friend of mine.
Grace & Peace
liMitz
Why?
The quick skinny:
- I want you to understand what Jesus said; we know he did great things (or do you?)
What does this mean for me? #theReader
You don't love as much as you think you do (neither do I). Most likely if you're like I am at times, you probably feel that you're doing a good job of loving your neighbor when really we're falling short of where we should be. I learned not so many years ago that at the root of Jesus' ministry is love. Sometimes people forget that and get caught up on "right vs. wrong", instead of continuing to love all along [the way].
For further insight: Read- Jesus on Homosexuality
This is F.U.N. (For Ur Needs) Use your KEYS
For further insight: Read- Jesus on Homosexuality
This is F.U.N. (For Ur Needs) Use your KEYS
- Know that love should be the first step in approaching anything
- Expect to have your love tested
- Your commitment to love will strengthen your ability to endure and forgive
- Stay in communion with people who love you
Challenge
- Love those who do not, or may never love you back.
Casting Crowns- Jesus Friend of Sinners
Joan Osborne- What if God was One of Us
