My daughter has this CD with a song on it, _Tears of the Saints_ by Leeland.
The first time i heard it, i pricked up my ears - such a sorrowful chord progression and delicate melody... but i couldn't put my finger on the meaning of the words that seemed to acknowledge something i had long believed.
Lately, i have been listening to it again - & i think i have discovered what it is about the song that resonates with me...
From what i hear in popular culture - the media - and most social circles, Christians are known for their judgemental natures. They're known for their lack of compassion and their anger. Christians have reputations for fighting each other for the opportunity to cast the first stone - and for their arrogant hypocrisy.
i know that this isn't a true picture of the followers of Jesus...
What resonated with me about this song - was the quality of mercy. The forgiven gently offering an invitation to meet the Redeemer...
What if Christians became known for their mercy? What if Christians gained a reputation for defending the weak and the fatherless? What if through the acknowledgement of our own brokenness, our authenticity drew others Homeward... to the only One who can heal, restore and Redeem?
What if... one day... they know we are Christians by our love?
Claim me, Father - let me be a part of a generation that longs to reflect your compassionate heart...
9 comments:
YES YES YES! This speaks to me so much. I couldn't agree more.
This goes with a video clip I "shared" this morning... In brief, a team of high school aged Football players from a prison were playing a Christian School for the first time. Prior to the game, the coach of the Christian School, sent home a letter stating that the visting team from the prison wouldn't have any fans - no parents or anyone to cheer for them, except their coach and the guards who accompanied them.
So, even though some of the people associated with the school thought it was crazy, they did it. And it was powerful. The kids from the prison were crying and couldn't believe that there were actually people out there who cared about them. One said he thought people were sitting on the visitors side because there wasn't enough room on the other side! The players, who had made mistakes and were paying for their crimes, couldn't believe the outpouring of love and the acceptance. Someone on the clip said that they felt the same for their own players as for the opposition that night. It happened near Gainsville, Texas. I would link the clip here, but I don't know how, or if it is possible... it was well worth the watch.
If only we could show that love instead of judgement always.
Saskatchewan Cousin
Beautifully put Paige.
As Christians we sometimes think we are defending The Way when we speak out about evil. But we need to be gentle because people, who Christ died for and loves, feel those attacks, not against the evil, but against THEM. How can we keep from hurting them.....?
vmg
So true Paige. They will know we are Christians by our love....not by our doctrine...no matter how scrupulously sound it may be.
good post, paige... i know it's something i need to work on all the time...
And another thought - i don't think we can say "what if Christians..." blah blah blah... Because we can only influence our own behaviour - we can only lay our *own* lives in front of Jesus. It's not going to be a mass happening. It's going to be one mom here, one teen there, one child being selfless, one dad denying himself, one college kid reaching out. It's on an individual scale.
I guess when I say "what if christians..." I am referring to each individual - on a personal level.
*(as an encouragement to do good)
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