Like a Ripple in a Pond

"A family is a lot like a pond. If something happens to one of us, it's like dropping a stone in that pond. It makes ripples. And no matter what you did or didn't mean to do, those ripples extend outward and touch other people." -Annie Camden, 7th Heaven
"The inherent connection between all human beings guarantees that someone will get hurt. Because we are, whether we like it or not, one family. The human family. And what happens to one of us, one way or another, happens to us all." -Eric Camden, 7th Heaven

A church family is so interesting, it is very dynamic. Sometimes those dynamics allow the church to grow and touch many people in a positive way. However sometimes we let those differences get in the way of our mission on Earth. And when that happens we still touch many people, but in a negative way. With this understanding we experience a phrase that we are probably all familiar with: actions have consequences.

We often give the word consequence a negative connotation, but really its a neutral term. It can be positive or negative. Our actions have consequences positive and negative; seen and unseen. They don't just affect ourselves, the affect those around us. They affect everyone we are connected to in one way or another.

The culture around us is constantly casting stones into the pond of our national church family. These stones create ripples. How we react to these ripples is more important than the cause of the ripple. Actions speak louder than words. The way we react to the ripples within our church culture reflect our true beliefs. Very often these are not the beliefs we want to be associated with. This is how we become known as hypocrites, homophobics, and bigots.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

This sounds easy, but is actually an incredibly hard command. I struggle with this everyday that I am at work. I come across so  many people that I can't find any reason to love, but loving your neighbor is more than liking them; it's taking care of them when they are in need, praying for them, and treating them as if they were Jesus.

Many people do not treat fast food workers well. Based on my experience Christians do this more than atheists. Its hard to love Christians from this perspective. Our actions have consequences. All the time. Not just when we are out serving God. ALWAYS.

This command is more than just loving each other, its loving each other as Christ has loved us. A love that is hard to completely understand. Its a love that is unconditional, never ending, always forgiving. Motivated by nothing other than our inherent connection to each other through humanity.

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." The Christian legacy is dependent on how we, as Christians, treat each other. The ripples that we react to and the ripples that we cause. Christians had a great legacy in the first few centuries after Christ's death. As times changed and the truth's of Christ were masked by the sins of man the message of Christ got muddled, and as the message got muddled, so did the actions of Christians and it became a cycle. Like ripples in a pond.

Christians do great things everyday through service, yet the Christian legacy today is not so great. Why is that? Serving is only part of our lives. Too often when we stop serving we think people stop looking, but that isn't true. Every aspect of our lives must reflect Jesus. Its never too late to change our legacy. Like a ripple in a pond.

A Box Or Our Hearts

I know everyone talks about putting God in a box, but I want to throw in my two cents on the matter. I remember my reaction the first time I heard this statement, it didn't really make sense to me. I guess this is one of those things I view as black and white; either God is apart of your life, or he isn't. If He isn't then going to church on Sunday and ignoring His existence the rest of the week won't really make you a follower of Christ.

In the same way going to church, bible study, and doing volunteer work throughout the week doesn't make you a "Christian" either. So what does? The all famous phrase "Christianity isn't a religion its a __________." I'll let you think about that one for a second... Alright, if you answered anything other then "relationship" please leave a comment with what you put, I'll get with you later. (In fact, I wish people would leave comments on my posts period.) You need to have Jesus in your heart.

Any good relationship is a two way street. You wouldn't spend time with your spouse, children, siblings, or good friends on the weekend then forget they exist on Monday morning, would you? Why not? The same is true for God, He is our Heavenly Father and we should remember Him in all our actions throughout the week; keeping Him in our hearts. As we do this our relationship with the Creator will grow deeper and fonder.

So where do you keep Him the most? In a box? Or in your heart?

The Meaning of Life

At night the only light we have is the moon; the light of the moon is not the moon's own light, but the light of the Sun reflected off the moon's surface. In the same way the light that we are called to shine is not our own light, but the light of our savior who has sent us into the world to bring about guidance during the dark hours of night. We must be a reflection of Jesus who is no longer on Earth. We cannot hide our light and keep it for ourselves for it is not ours to hide. We need to go out into the darkness and shine our light for all the world to see; not to bring recognition to us, but to Jesus.

This is the core of our existence as Christians. This is why we are here. This is why God has put us not only in the world, but in our respective countries, states, cities, and even neighborhoods and churches. We are where we are for a reason and that reason is to show Jesus to those in our vicinity who do not know Him. To influence those around us. To help others learn about His love. This is the meaning of life for anyone who follows The Way.

⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

                                                              - John 9:4-5

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

                                                                 -Matthew 5:14-16

Random Thoughts On Quote

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule"-H.L. Mencken

Aside from stopping an asteroid coming and destroying the earth I wonder if it is even possible to save humanity without ruling it in some form. Even in Christianity you can't be saved without accepting Jesus Christ as you Lord and Savior. The king of Jews.

It's really quite a bold statement. He's making an assumption that most people who try to save humanity are trying to become a ruler.

There is no greater threat to humanity than humanity itself. No matter what type of government, or what systems you put up, there will always be corruption. As long as people are in control of their own lives, there will be corruption.

That's not to say all people are corrupt. There are genuine good people. Sometimes hard to find, but they are there.

Free will is a double-edged sword; Giving us our freedom, but condemning us to a fate of endless hard decisions to make. These decisions will impact not only our lives and future, but potentially those of the people around us. Often times we are weak. We make bad decisions, go down roads that shouldn't even be there. These roads can end up hurting us, or our loved ones; in extreme situations these roads could even take us to death.