Photo Courtesy of Holly Wata @Creative Commons
If you don’t know much about Seattle, here are a few tidbits about the Emerald City courtesy of Wikipedia and yours truly:
- 1. It’s full of smart people: United States Census Bureau says that Seattle has a higher percentage of college graduates than any other major American city, with approximately 53.8% of residents 25 and older holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- 2. Every corner has a Starbucks {or three}
- 3. One of the most politically liberal cities in the U.S.
- 4. Lowest rate of church attendance in the U.S. and highest rate of atheism
- 5. Land of California transplants, hippies, and “out of the box” thinkers
Because I live in such a free thinking part of the country, there is not a week that passes in which I don’t witness some kind of protest, demonstration or expression of free speech.
In fact, since October 1, a large ongoing Occupy Seattle movement has joined the national movement that began with Occupy Wall Street in New York City.
Demonstrations such as this are part of our American heritage, a way that we as citizens can exercise our freedom of speech.
::
Two weeks ago, I witnessed another demonstration in my city that brought me to tears.
Not because the message was a personal attack on me or anything I have done.
What brought me to tears was the way these people represented my Jesus.
With shame, blame, and guilt inducing tactics, more than 20 people stood at the city’s busiest intersection during rush hour with a social and political messsage steeped in Christian rhetoric.
I was angry. So, what did I do? I texted my bff of course. {Isn’t that what you do when you get angry!?}
Then, the tears just started flowing, tears of anger. {I promise I’m not being melodramatic. I’m not even a crier.}
I was angry that many people didn’t see the love of Christ in their words.
Rather, these are the words they likely interpreted:
If being a Christian means being a self-righteous bigot, I don’t want any of that.
If the God they serve is a God of condemnation, I don’t think He would ever forgive me for what I’ve done.
If being a Christian means I stand on a street corner and point fingers at passersby, I don’t want to be a part of that.
::
Our American heritage has taught us that the best way to get a message across is to use our words.
Our Biblical heritage teaches the opposite.
Let us not love with word or with tongue,
but in deed and truth.
What if the people demonstrating has spoken not with their words, but with their deeds?
What if they had spent their time serving others and meeting the needs of those in our community?
With no goals for conversion.
With no insistence on their message.
With no ulterior motives, but simply a desire to share the life changing love of Christ.
To love because He first loved.
What if they had done that?
What if I had done that?
By feeding the hungry. By clothing the poor.
::
There is a way to spread the revolutionary message of His Redemption.
It’s not cardboard signs, sharpies, and trite phrases.
It’s calloused hands, dirty feet, and arms outstretched to spread His love.
That’s my Jesus and that’s who I want to be.
17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need
and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him?
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue,
but in deed and truth.
19 We will know by this that we are of the truth,
and will assure our heart before Him.
{I John 3:17-19}
::
.jpg)
Yes yes yes!!! I completely agree!! I wish more Christians were conscious of this. It was a wonderful reminder to me that we are to love. Love. So good, Keri!
If anything, this was a reminder to myself. It’s not something I’m good at either.
My reaction to this demonstration showed me how much I’ve been lacking in this department.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing, Haley. It means a lot to me! <3
>>> “What if the people demonstrating has spoken not with their words, but with their deeds?”
So often we talk the talk… but when it comes down to it, like Jesus said, we are charged to love people by serving them.
Good post, Keri!
Thanks, Dustin! I’m certainly guilty of talking the talk, even in writing this here post. My natural reaction is to say, “But, I’m so busy being a mom!” I’m trying to find the little ways I can show His love. Maybe I don’t have the time to go to the soup kitchen, but I can still be more aware of others and their needs. So often I think we as Christians think “ministry” has to be some big production or organization. Really, it doesn’t. And, really, those things can hold us back sometimes.
agreed, excellent post and reminder to me to be a servant and keep my heart in the right place!
Thanks for reading, Chris! Glad to know there are so many like minded believers out there.
This is fantastic. These words are so true and convicting:
“It’s calloused hands, dirty feet, and arms outstretched to spread His love.”
That’s what is all about. I’m sick of so much talking. This is like what Matt over at Seeking Pastor talked about the other day. To much Blah, blah, blah.
How cool to drop the sharpie and the megaphone and get our hands dirty. That’s where it’s at.
Do yo’ thing Keri. You are on fire lately!
I’m getting back into the swing of it.
I love how the discipline of writing about faith makes me think about faith which in turn actually makes me live out my faith!
I have to say, bro, your words are always sharpening me, too. Especially today. Isn’t it amazing how the Body of Christ can encourage each other even from far away!?
TRUTH. Big Time! Our young pastor (27 years old) has lived here only one year and comes from “The Bible Belt” part of the United States – he still can’t believe how LIBERAL and UNCHURCHED this Seattle area is! Greg was in Downtown Seattle and saw some of that same demonstration a little while ago – came home and told me about it – unbelievable.
The liberal and progressive stuff is interesting because on the one hand, it means people in our area are more open minded than other areas of the country. On the other hand, I find that many are deceived by things like “being spiritual” or pantheism. There is so much “if it’s good for you, go with it” and resistance to absolute Truth. That’s why I think in our city in particular, showing Christ’s love through our actions is what distinguishes our faith from others. That’s what our community will respond to, because that’s what sets us apart.
I’ve lived in many places, but I love Seattle soooo much! There is no place like it.
Dang Keri! Dang! HAAAA
I don’t know what it is today…but IT’S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE!
PEOPLE. PEOPLE. PEOPLE!!!!
SERVING THEM
AND MEETING THEIR NEEDS!!!
JESUS DIDN’T COME TO BE SERVE BUT TO SERVE!
SO MANY OF US CHRISTIANS THINK THAT WE ARE OWED SOMETHING…
NO.
NO.
NO!!!!
WE NEED HEARTS OF SERVENTS!
LIKE JESUS…
I ain’t no holla back girl, but HOLLAAAAAAAA, Arny!
Wow-I could write a post based on what you just said right there. In fact, I just might! hahaha
I so appreciate your reading and your words, bro. Happy Friday!
AMEN SISTER!! I only became a Christian three years ago. A major factor that prevented me from giving my life to Jesus sooner was the hypocritical, judgmental, and self-absorbed Christians I had been exposed to. I knew a few wonderful believers, but the majority of them repelled me from wanting anything to do with Christ.
These experiences have increased my awareness of the potential of slipping into the comfortable chair of smugness.
God doesn’t waste a hurt and has used my broken childhood to give me a heart for the hurting and lost. Every week I volunteer at a local recovery center. I remember thinking, “I’m going to go down there and be a blessing to somebody.” God really spoke to me in that moment. Isn’t that thought dangerously close to pride? He gently reminded me that we are all broken before Him and only through Him are we made whole.
We need to meet people where they are with love and compassion. They will be attracted to the light inside of us, the light of Jesus. The world is hurting; let’s work together as the Body of Christ and start serving those in need, instead of telling them how to live. Let’s get out of our comfort zones and start giving away what we were so generously given.
I’m afraid that many Christians are doing more harm than good in their efforts. Makes me so sad.
Love what you said here, Heather: let’s work together as the Body of Christ and start serving those in need, instead of telling them how to live.
Righteousness does not precede salvation. Why do we expect it to!?
I’m with Arny.
Holla!
word.
There’s a whole lotta “holla”ing going on around here. I likey!
p.s. What if we tried saying “holla” in church instead of saying “amen”?
Preach it!
This is so true, Keri. And, I’m digging the new space!
New space is totally not complete. I promise it will be much more beautiful than it looks now. And, I did install Standard Theme, but for some reason I have all kinds of glitches and so little time to actually devote to unglitching them. Sadddd.
Thanks for reading, friend!
I truly think the good news is that people are smart enough to know that the crazies are just fringe elements. An authentic relationship with a loving Christian can go miles further to do good than these protests can to do bad. I think that’s a note of encouragement – but also of conviction. Your question was good: what are we doing to occupy our community?
What responsibility, if any, do you think we as fellow believers have to get the “crazies” off the street corners?
I don’t think that’s the best approach. It only brings more attention to them and would possibly cause a conflict. I think our responsibility is just to be a more powerful voice. Not louder – but more powerful due to the relationships we share with those in the world.
It’s so easy to share the truth.
Harder to share my life.
Harder to share my forgiveness.
Harder to share my time.
Harder to share my stuff.
Harder to share my friends.
Harder to share my family.
Harde to share my home.
But if I want to share Christ, and share him fully, I have to share all of these things, and more.
Oooh, touche, Brad! Your words are full of truth. It is easy to talk the talk. Walking it out is much more difficult.