Today I was thinking about how we (Kate & Johnny) have offended some of our religious friends because we don't try to 'convert' people and 'rack in souls.' For those of you who didn't know this about us, it may be a rude awakening, but it's true; we don't push people to say a 'sinner's prayer' so that we can score a huge number of souls for Jesus. (I have to admit, there was a time where this was my focus. Thank God, he's shed some light on my erroneous ways!)
Instead, we try to just love people. We try to love them the way Jesus loves us.
Let's take a look at a story: Remember the 'adulterous woman' in the Bible? The community caught her IN THE ACT of adultery and wanted to stone her. We all know how the story goes, but it's very important to remember it. Jesus tells the crowd that whoever hasn't sinned should throw the first stone. THEN, here's the most important part of all, Jesus who has never sinned, therefore he is the only one there qualified to throw a stone at this woman, let's her go free! He doesn't condemn her DESPITE the fact that there were witnesses, and she was obviously guilty.
What did he do? Jesus loved her as WE should love those who have sinned. He forgave her and let her go free. Are we too afraid to be on the side of the guilty? Will it make us guilty as well? (Let's expound on that in another article)
What did he NOT do? He didn't make her pray a prayer nor tell her that her sins were going to send her to hell if she didn't follow him. NO! He just forgave her and told her not to sin any more.
Should we not also do the same? This simple act of forgiving the guilty (and they already know they are guilty, by the way) was something Jesus did often. It demonstrates a love SO powerful that it can change the world. Jesus let's the 'guilty' go free. Why must we force 'sinners' to 'convert?' Is it for our own score card? Are we keeping a tally so we know how many we've 'won to the Lord?'
When Johnny and I minister to prostitutes, the poor, or people who are very ill due to AIDS, we don't preach to them what they already know. They know that their sins bring 'hell' because they are living in hell and suffering the consequences of their actions already. What they really need is for us to ACT LIKE JESUS! Love them. Forgive them. Help them not get stoned by the crowd.
~Kate Brooks
PS: Obviously it is our desire for people to see the love of Christ in us and ultimately come to know him as we do. Otherwise, we wouldn't be doing what we do. We are shining our FAITH through our acts.
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