It’s unfortunate to say that the themes of judgement and condemnation have always, to an extent, been present in the faith of Christianity. There are many instances where the Bible addresses these circumstances and instructs against them. But it is very easy to see in this day and time that they are just, if not more, prominent in our world.
Today we attended a Catholic church because one of our Muslim friends invited us to go with him. It was a really neat experience, and the people were extremely welcoming and glad to have us in attendance.
We are also staying with a Muslim family. Last night when we returned from the beach after a long, hard day of travel the mother had prepared dinner for us. They’ve also completely sacrificed their home to us, sleeping every night in an open-air concrete second-story addition. When I first learned that they were Muslim, I questioned their motivation for being so kind to us. But that doesn’t make any sense. Why should a person’s character dictate how their religion is perceived? It shouldn’t, and thank goodness it doesn’t. Because if good deeds and intentions were viewed as consequences of a religion, so the same goes for misdeeds.
This family might not share our beliefs. That’s fine, because whether or not they acknowledge it they have answered a call from God. We prayed for a place to stay to be able to minister in this community, and they opened up their home for us. Should I be slower to accept this blessing just because it didn’t come from a Christian home? No. That is putting God in a box. I think sometimes we forget how mighty and how powerful of a God we serve. God can bless us immensely through unlimited caveats. God can use a Muslim family to provide and to care for us and God can use a Catholic church to welcome us into a community just as easily as God can use Christians to do the same.
God is love. God is a god of love, and if we don’t know love then we can’t know God. Christianity is hope and trust and belief in a God who LOVES his people, ALL of his people. Love is universal, even if our beliefs are not. So maybe it’s time for us to realize that we can love and be loved by people of all nations, all denominations, all races, and all backgrounds.
The cross should not be a badge of condemnation; it is a symbol of salvation. Many of us have memorized John 3:16, but do just as many know what John 3:17 says? “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
I don’t know what reward this Muslim family in Albania has for hosting a bunch of messy, loud, crazy Christian women in their homes, and I don’t know why the members of the Catholic church were so quick to welcome us into their service. But I do know that God used them to bless us. I know that God loves them and I know that through them, God can show love to us. But it is all about how we recognize and perceive God. We are not always quick to look for him in the people or places or situations that seem empty of his presence or forsaken by him. Perhaps that’s the first place we should look.
“He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(Matthew 25:33-40)
My challenge to you is this: look for God in the unexpected places. Don’t diminish the gifts he has blessed you with just because of how he’s wrapped them. Be quick to extend love and compassion to EVERYONE. God never hesitated once to pour out his grace and love on all of us, so why should we?
Which are you, a sheep or a goat?
