We are a broken people in a broken world... Take, for example, the Starbucks cup that just came out and the controversy that's been poured out over the fact that they removed the decorations (which happened to include "Merry Christmas"). A pastor friend of mine Facebook-posted something that I want to share with you all...He said, "I seldom rant on social media - but this Starbucks red cup "controversy" is one of the legitimate reasons society doesn't embrace the faith community. We need to stop protesting the very people we're attempting to connect with and maybe our churches wouldn't be half empty." Jeremy is right. The Church too often pushes away the very people we should be embracing. A coffee cup doesn't determine my faith... Jesus is not represented or found on (or in, for that matter) a coffee cup. He is FAR GREATER. He is the God of the universe, of His people, and of His Church. His heart hurts when we divide ourselves and push away those who are seeking his name because of something of the world. Those who are in relationship with Christ are called to be different. 1 John 2:15-16 affirms this. The author writes: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world" (NIV).
We are different. Our lives should be markedly different. God didn't tell us to go riot at the lack of "Merry Christmas" on a coffee cup. He mandates us to share the gospel and to care for the brokenhearted and the orphans and widows. He mandates us to care for one another and admonish one another. So this takes me back to where I started. We are a broken people... called to care for one another in a broken and unstable world. Embrace broken people, and have the faith and bravery to show them that Christ doesn't reject them like we so often do.
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