Warning: This may be a bit hard to read for some, in that it addresses some facts that many people are currently arguing about. (Why are they arguing? Because we are humans.)
As most of the people in the world are doing right now, I happen to be caught up in the Olympic games. I love watching the competition and striving of people who have trained hard for what they are trying to accomplish. Also, I like to sit on my couch and think “yeah, I could do that, if I could actually WILL myself into getting up and trying it! 😊)
But the Olympics as anything these days, has become the focal point and topic of arguments and debates about everything except sport. If you have missed it, the opening ceremonies were to be a spectacle, a “work of art” so to speak. And you know, as when anyone thinks that they are above the intellect of the “normalized humans” that we will not understand. But as humans, we wade into these waters so unaware or hyper aware of what may occur when we “express”.
There was much to be hyped about the opening ceremonies, and also much to be saddened by them. The creators took much time and care in creating lighting and costumes that could only be described as magnificent! But also created was the overall impression that we as humans can strive to be better if we would just reach for more. I think the common definition of this nowadays is becoming “woke”. If we can just not be “small minded” and see that everything and everyone can be anything and everything that they want, then life would be a utopia.
Closed circuit to everyone: That is not how it works. There is no such thing as utopia here on earth at this time. That only happens when the earth becomes the new earth. We will not achieve it ourselves, as hard as we try – humans have a very long history of NOT achieving utopia. We like to say that we can get there. The Bible says something different.
Revelation 21:1-2 NIV Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
The depiction of the Lord’s Supper as portrayed in the opening ceremonies was wrong, and an attempt to elicit a response from Christians everywhere. Let’s just call it what it is. But I think we are responding exactly like they wanted. If you look in any comment section on online news, or Instagram, Facebook, any social media platform – you will find reference after reference of Christians calling this display blasphemy. Which it is. But also, you find them engaging in lengthy slanderous text writing that covers topics from being the victim to condemning everyone to hell.
This is the reaction that was wanted and expected. Attention is wanted to be drawn to this, reactions and arguments are what is wanted. We keep telling people we are love that we need to find mercy and grace. We want that, right?
But then this occurs at the Olympics, and I see Christians reacting just like we say that we are not supposed too. Reacting with anger and bitterness. Reacting with action and hate. Reacting with firing back, always having an answer to fire back with to rebut against what is being said by “the other side”.
Could it be that this might be an opportunity for us to not do what was expected and hoped for, but for us to actually respond in a Christ-like way?
Matthew 5:40-48 NIV 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Do we see what Jesus is proposing here? Do I see it? Before responding to that claim that “all Christians act like victims, that they are a minority now.” (which I humanly feel we are in those times) do I actually see what is trying to be brought forth from me? A response of hate and unkindness that makes me feel ill inside. And it hurts my heart that I feel this way.
Trust me. I struggle with this. I struggle hard with this. I am a person that wants to take a stand. But that stand is the “human” way, not Christ’s way. I want to say, “shut up, take that back, you are spewing filth from your mouth.” but that doesn’t sound like what Jesus said in Matthew 5. Remember, HE KNEW. He knew that these people surrounding Him, walking beside Him, following Him, listening to Him, would betray Him, abandon Him, whip Him, beat Him, crucify Him.
HE KNEW. And yet He still said, “pray for those that persecute you.” I asked this in church a few Sundays ago, “Have you ever tried praying for someone you felt bitterness towards? It is impossible to stay in that mode when you are praying for them.”
I realize this is a longer blog. And I thank you for reading it if you got this far… But I think we as humans, especially as Christians need to be better. How can we show Christ’s love when we are not even holding it in our hearts? How can we shine God’s light to a world lost in darkness if not because we cannot get past an offense? We are going to be offended. We are going to suffer…
1 Peter 4:12-13 "Suffering will come, but we will also share in Christ's glory"
Romans 8:28-30 "All that happens will be for our good, to make us more like Jesus"
Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us"
Do I agree with what is going on in our world today? In most cases, no. I find the Lord’s Supper to be a sacred moment when Christ explains what His sacrifice means to us ALL. Does that need to be mocked and parodied? Heaven forbid, no. It goes against all that I feel is holy and just in my beliefs. Do I feel upset and sickened by what occurred? I do. My humanness shows in my outrage. Does it make me feel mocked and ridiculed? Yes.
But did Christ know He would be mocked and ridiculed? (Matthew 27:27-31, Luke 23:36–37, Matthew 27:42) of course He did.
HE KNEW.
These days are not going away, this will continue. How we respond to them is going to determine how we actually become more like Jesus – or how we push people away from His Kingdom.
Pray Jesus gives us patience and peace like never before.
PTV
