Recently, I was doing some thinking... I am a Minister and I'm so involved in "church" stuff that sometimes, I get so immersed in it, I can't see the forest for the trees.  But recently, I tried to back away... look  at "church world" from the eyes of a "non Minister."  I'm going to tell you... what I saw isn't pretty.  

Bottom line.. .cut to the chase... Christians can be mean.  Yeah, I said it and it sounds weird... Christians and mean in the same sentence?  Come on.  That can't be.  But yes, unfortunately, it is.  Let me explain.

        I've been a Minister for 30 years this summer.  Thirty years.  Long time.  That's a lot of committee meetings, conventions, revivals, etc...  And what I'm talking about in this blog has been happening all my life; I just hadn't backed away and looked at it like I have recently.

I am a Christian.  I lead churches that are "Christian" churches.  That means we are followers of Christ.  You know; Jesus Christ... the man that walked this earth 2,000 years ago.. healed people, loved people, forgave people, was crucified cause He wasn't what people were expecting Him to  be and then, got the last laugh when He rose the grave.  Yes, that's the Jesus I'm talking about.

        Jesus told some of his followers once; "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples... if you LOVE one another."  

        Yep, that's what Jesus said... love one another.  But let's be honest.  Do we love one another today?  Oh, we do a little.  But most of the time, unfortunately, Christians are known for disagreeing... for arguing about the Bible... for holding signs saying we are against something.  

Or, for saying things about other Christians that aren't true.  

Or, for accusing another Christian of being "liberal" just because they don't agree with you.

        One day, I was thinking about this and it hit me:  for those who don't think they need to have fellowship  with Christians they think aren't holy enough for them... what are they going to do when they get to heaven?  Are they going to ask the Lord to keep them in one corner of heaven and everyone else stay in another corner?  Come on, get real!  

        I don't agree with every Christian about everything, but who is to say that I'm right and they are wrong?  Some of this stuff we are argue about we aren't going to know the answers until we get to heaven.

        What I'm saying is this... Christians... Pastors... we all have a tendency to "not have fellowship with" or "put a distance between" us and another Christian or another Pastor we don't agree with.  Folks, the kingdom of God is BIG.  It just may be that there is room for all of us.  We are not helping ourselves when we are constantly critical  of other Christians... churches... ministers...  The world isn't impressed and personally, I don't think Jesus is. 

        Imagine this scene; a person lived their entire life being a legalistic Christian or Pastor who is CONFIDENT their interpretation of the Bible is correct.  They stand before Jesus and the person or persons they thought was liberal on earth.. or they disagreed with on earth, is there at the same time.  Is the legalistic Christian or Pastor going to say "Wait a minute, Lord.  You mean, THEY are going in too?  Come on... you know what they believe... "
Well,. I hope that doesn't happen.  And yes, I know... we will be one big happy family in heaven so none of that will matter.  Folks, we need to start loving one another more on earth.  That's how Jesus said we would be known... for our love for one another... not arguing.. disagreeing... fighting... but loving.

Just because another Christian doesn't agree with you doesn't make them demonic.

Just because another Christian dresses different from you doesn't make them a bad person.

Just because someone  does ministry different from you doesn't make them bad.

We are in the same family... on the same team... fighting the same enemy.  

Let's keep our eyes on the leader of our team... Jesus Christ, and not get wrapped up in stuff that should not divide us.  

None of us are the boss of the world... Jesus is and if we will back off and let Him, Jesus can handle the job.