Forgiveness

One day on our sabbatical in England, we found ourselves in Piccadilly station in London, the scene of recent bomb blasts. We were grateful to God that we weren’t there during the attack. London and the entire world had another reason to justify the growing suspicion and resentment toward the fanatical Muslim. Our response, of course, is that we must forgive them and love them with God’s love. Not an emotional feeling but a commitment of goodwill; to want the best for them.

The church in the west is being positioned to impact the world. Gods plan hasn’t changed. He plans the day when every street, office and school-child is truly touched by the love of God through you! So we need to get good at loving people. God is love and He is a spirit, He, therefore, flows by His spirit in the earth through lives where ever there is love. He cannot flow in lives where there is hatred or resentment or blame. If our Christian political and moral activism, is not free of resentment and bitterness it will be mere politics.

The first response from the world to the church was persecution and probably the last thing to happen to the church will be persecution. The exclusive demands of Christ confronted the religions of the day, and as Gods people begin to rise against the tide of humanism and fight the good fight against the spirits of darkness, it will bring us more and more alienation from the world. We will be seen to be dissenters, trouble makers, stirrers and bigots, unless, our love for the world has been graphic!

Friend, we need to be able to say to the homosexual, the bomber, the atheist, the way you are living is hurting you and those around you. I cannot agree with your lifestyle but God and I care about you and want the best for you.