A Letter to Christians

There is no problem that Christianity is not capable of handling.  It is only those who will not humble themselves that prevent grace from overflowing.  Jesus is not on your team.  He is the Ancient of Days, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Holy Immortal, and the one with eyes like flames.  Do not presume that your trifling political rants gain His favor.  Do not reduce Him to a snarky meme.  The mind is a battlefield in the war for your soul and the only weapon you possess is repentance.  Serve the ones you want to win.  Love your enemies.  Do good to those who spitefully use you.  “I desire mercy,” says the Lord. 

This country is not the kingdom of God.  Your soul, your life’s heart, is.  When you so easily form sharp and hurtful words against others in any cause, know that it is not Christ who is your God, but yourself.  You will be on your face before God clothed only with repentance.  A flag will not cover you.  Your causes will not cover you.  Your patriotism will not cover you.  Open your eyes!  Wake up!  Do not be lulled to sleep by entertainment culture.  Can you watch one hour?  Could you NOT watch one hour?  This very night your life may be required of you, and what have you done?  What of all you have said?  What all have you wished upon others?  Who is your neighbor and which ones are you not supposed to love?  Love is a choice, a decision, not a feeling. 

Serve the ones you want to win.  Serve them as one who has been restored by a loving father, lest you be cast out.  He will go into the outermost places to find those who will come to his invitation.  And what is his invitation?  Take up your cross and follow me.  Take up your cross and follow me.  Where did he go?  He went to die.  Likewise, if you cannot see your own delusion you have become the one who said, “But I played the flute and you did not dance.”  What did he say to them?  Matthew 11:7-30.  Repentance is your only hope.  “The violent take it by force,” he said.  Do violence to your own urge to be lord and master, your own urge to be right, your own urge to foment your opinions in others.  You must do violence to the pride within yourself, tearing down and ripping to shreds any obstacle between you and the resurrection. 

Who is raised?  Those who have died.  What are the opinions of the raised?  Do they trifle with petty arguments?  Do violence.  How?  Repentance.  Pray for your enemies.  Help those who spitefully use you, who contort your words.  This is the battle for your mind in the war for your soul.  Do not be conformed to this world!  The battle for this nation - any nation - is won or lost in the hearts of its people.  Truly pray and mean well for those whom you have fiery spite for.  If you cannot, acknowledge your sin before God, repent, and try again.  Do not raise your face from the ground until you have honestly meant well for them.  Wash their feet and set your true enemy to flight.  Wash their feet.  For this, the world has no answer. 

Destroy your pride.  Tear down your old opinions.  Be silent before the The Lord of Hosts, the Judge.  Be on your face and be silent.  What will you do?  What you DO determines what you believe - no matter what you say.  Pick up your cross, carry it to the Hill, get on it, and die.  For there is no other way to be resurrected than first to die.  There is an old enemy afoot, yes, but he has found Christians flabby and comfortable, doing his work for him.  Wake up!  The Lowly Christ, the one bound and whipped, implores you to be renewed by letting go of your own ideas and taking up his yolk.  Will we see him stumble with his cross and not help him?  Will we see him forgive and then doubt him?  Will he feed us again and again only to find us gluttons for that which does not fill, thirsty for that which cannot quench?  Keep your eyes on the lowly servant and follow him. 

Follow him.  Be at his feet with your expensive oils and your tears.  He is the example, He is the Way through, He is the fire by night, and he is good.  He is love.  He will make all things new.  

 

A modern song:

I am the only one to blame for this

Somehow it all ends up the same

Soaring on the wings of selfish pride, flew too high

And like Icarus I collide

With a world I try so hard to leave behind

To rid myself of all but love

To give and die

To turn away and not become

Another nail to pierce the skin of One who loved

More deeply than the oceans, more abundant than the tears

Of a world embracing every heartache

 

And can I be the one to sacrifice?

Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow?

Take my world apart

(To need You) I am on my knees

(To love You) Take my world apart

(To need You) Broken on my knees

 

All said and done, I stand alone

Amongst remains of a life I should not own

Takes all I am to believe

In the mercy that covers me

Did You really have to die for me?

All I am for all You are

Because what I need and what I believe

Are worlds apart

 

And I pray...

Take my world apart

(To need You) I am on my knees

(To love You) Take my world apart

(To need You) Broken on my knees

On my knees

 

I look beyond the empty cross

Forgetting what my life has cost

And wipe away the crimson stains

Dull the nails that still remains

More and more I need You now

I owe You more each passing hour

Battle between grace and pride

Gave up not so long ago

So steal my heart and take the pain

And wash the feet and cleanse my pride

Take the selfish, take the weak

And all the things I cannot hide

Take the beauty, take my tears

Sin-soaked heart, make it Yours

Take my world all apart

Take it now, take it now

 

And serve the ones that I despise 

(To love You)

Speak the words I can't deny 

(Take my world apart)

Watch the world I used to love 

(To need You)

Fall to dust and blow away 

(I am on my knees)

I look beyond the empty cross 

(To love You)

Forgetting what my life has cost 

(Take my world apart)

I wipe away the crimson stains 

(To need You)

Dull the nails that still remain 

(Broken on my knees)

Steal my heart and take the pain 

(To love You)

Take the selfish, take the weak 

(To need You)

And all the things I cannot hide

Take the beauty, take my tears 

(On my knees)

Take my world apart, take my world apart 

(To love You)

And I pray 

(To need You)

And I pray and I pray 

(On my knees)

Take my world apart

Worlds apart - Artists - Jars of Clay

 

Clement of Rome, (c. 35-101)

We beseech You, Master, to be our helper and protector. Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly; Raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly; Restore the wanderers of Your people; Feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners; Raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.