Potentially Offensive Material

             I want to warn everyone, yes, everyone, that this has the potential to be a very offensive post. I would like to provide full disclosure. I am a preacher/pastor of a Christian church. The views and opinions expressed here are of a man attempting to live his life as a man described in the Bible. This post is religious in nature and is written out of the mind of a radical. I have a wife, two children, a very large dog, and a fish. I have only had one wife and two children but I have had many dogs and fish. Actually, now that I think about it, there was a time when I had no wife, one wife, no children, one child, and now two children (remember, full disclosure)!

            So, if you are looking to be offended, you came to the right place. Not because I want to offend but because there are people who just sit around waiting to be offended. People that have nothing better to do than wait for a bible believing Christian to speak about love and tolerance so they can accuse them of hate and divisiveness.

            Imagine this, would you? Jesus takes control of your heart for the next 24 hours. Complete control. But here’s the kicker… you keep the same schedule. You live in the same house with the same people, you work at the same job with the same people, you have the same kids, spouse, parents, and friends. What would that look like? Jesus determined for a day what you said, what you did, and how you felt. You would encounter the same people but your attitude would be determined by Christ. You would have the same experiences but your mouth would be directed by Jesus. None of this staying home and meditating on God all day. None of this, my life would be perfect because Jesus would control it. No free passes just because He’s God. Jesus was out and about the community. He was a carpenter. He was a Sunday school teacher. He was a friend and a mentor. But he always seemed to respond differently than we do. You think his life was perfect. His parents didn’t understand him, his family said he had gotten too big for his robe, and the church hated him with such passion that they essentially had him killed. How’s that for perfect?

            Would your family see a different person?

            Would your friends hear a different story?

            Would your coworkers experience a different you?

            What would that day look like? Now, take a picture, make a memory, and hear this: That is what God wants. No, honestly, that is his desire. He didn’t send Jesus so we could have an interesting story; he sent his son to teach us how to live and how to have eternal life. Jesus didn’t come for the show; He came to show us how real life is to be lived. And it is possible, we could do this…

            And what about you? Would you sleep a little better tonight? Would you worry about the same things you worried about yesterday?

            What about forgiveness, caring, compassion, love and respect? How would those words be made new in our lives? Would there be some unsuspecting recipients of those words? I don’t know, I am preaching a message series called, “Why Jesus?” and can’t for the life of me understand how so many people can get Christianity so wrong. Maybe I’m the one that’s wrong. Maybe we aren’t supposed to love everyone and show compassion and care or love and respect. Maybe we are supposed to hate sinners and never talk to them except to tell them they are going to hell. Maybe Jesus’ message and life of love is outdated.

            I don’t know, maybe the idea of treating every human with dignity and respect whether I agree with their lifestyle isn’t what Jesus would have done. Maybe we should be hateful and arrogant. Never give lesser, non-Christians, the time of day.

            I don’t know. I’m gonna go read some more about Jesus and see what I can find. I will keep you updated. Oh, by the way, don’t just take my word for it, you can read for yourself and make up your own mind. Don’t wait on me.

            Pastor Dad