Christians mean? Really? How can it possibly be that people who follow Jesus are perceived as mean? Perhaps it’s because, all too often, we are.

Dallas Willard suggests much of this comes from a tendency to mistake the “vessel” with the “treasure.” In churches across denominations, we often “major on the minors” paying more attention to what we don’t like, what sets us apart, what makes us different rather than what we affirm. Many of us are even called, “Protestants” – those who protest. We have a history of killing other Christian over differing interpretations of “Communion.”

Rather than protesting, we can be affirming. We can affirm the teachings of Jesus, majoring on being disciples of Jesus, learning to be and to love like Jesus. At church and in our communities, we can help one another learn how to live in God’s grace and do the things which Jesus asks us to do. Our church traditions and our social traditions are merely vessels. The love of God is our treasure.
Instead of judging the speck in our neighbors’ eyes while ignoring the log in our own (Matt 7:1-5), we can be learning to live as Children of Light. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:5) Jesus did not call us to quarrel with one another, he calls us to encourage one another and build each other up. Jesus calls us to share the light, not contribute to the darkness.
There is nothing godly about being mean. There is nothing blessed about so-called “righteous anger.” There is no light here, only darkness. Be light! Be the Kingdom. Be love.
Read Matthew 28: 16-20, and remember: God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY.

 – Mike

Today’s reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A+16-20&version=NRSV