The Love of Jesus: What does it look like in a 2020 world?
I woke up in the wee hours of the morning today thinking about the upcoming election, our country in the year of 2020, and the division and polarization that stands tall around every corner. I didn’t wake up in fear, in dread, or with feelings of desperation. I woke up with a sadness that has been growing in me and a call to check myself, my beliefs, and the pieces of me that in subtle ways have, can, and will continue to further divide without some changes. I am a person who believes in Jesus and considers myself a Jesus follower. I learned about Him and met Him when I was a little girl but my relationship with Him has changed over the years. It has grown as I’ve spent time reading His word, it has, at times, seemingly taken a back seat when I wandered around for a bit, and most of all, it has changed me as I have gotten small glimpses into the love of Jesus.
When I read through stories of Jesus in the Bible, one theme always grips me. There is a recurring theme in several places that talks about how Jesus SEES someone, is MOVED WITH COMPASSION, and then ACTS in some way to meet the need He saw (Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 18:27, Mark 1:41, Luke 7:13, Luke 10:33, likely others but this is a starting point). Why is that even relevant to me waking up in the wee hours of the morning and feeling the need to let Jesus have a little more of my heart and help me make any changes that are needed? Well, it’s like this. For the past few years, every time I come across this phrase in the Bible, I pause. I read it again. I feel a deep desire to be more like Jesus. What if I had eyes like Jesus that when I came across someone, I saw them in the way He did? What if seeing them the way He did punched me in the gut and dropped me to my knees with compassion for this person He created? What if my gut punching compassion led me to act in a way that used my hands, feet, and any resources available to me to show them the extravagant love of Jesus? What would that look like? I’ve prayed for this. I’ve asked God to give me His eyes to see people the way He sees them. I’ve asked Him to allow me to experience compassion for them in the way that He would. I’ve begged Him to give me His wisdom to know how to use what I have to meet the needs He lets me see. You know what? I believe God is giving me glimpses into what it means for me specifically. You know what else? It’s not all roses and rainbows. It’s messy and has really broadened my view in many ways and narrowed my focus in others.
Again, how does this relate to today. Well, emotions are high. We’re about to elect a President to govern our country for the next four years. I have very dear friends and family members that are actively doing everything in their power to help one or the other get elected. Many of the people closest to me disagree on all the issues on the table. I believe it’s good to be educated and involved in the democratic process. That is what our country is founded upon. I also believe we can learn more from Jesus about how He would respond if He were here walking on earth in 2020.
I just feel like we’re missing the boat a little. I feel like myself and those who are Jesus followers need to really pause and reflect. The list could be (and is) endless with controversial issues. What is really endless is the love of God and His mercy and compassion. I believe with His help, we can begin to really see PEOPLE rather than seeing ISSUES.
Abortion. The choices on the political table are “pro-life” or “pro-choice”. It’s like you have to pick one over the other. The system is currently operating in such a way that makes you feel like you have to choose the rights of the mother or the rights of the unborn baby. I’m not sure about this. I believe if Jesus were here walking on this earth, He would do everything in His power to find the woman who was hurting, He would know the circumstances that led her to an impossible position and decision. He would SEE her. He would be MOVED WITH COMPASSION for her. He would use what He had to restore her, to meet her needs, to heal her, to let her experience His unconditional love. Would He throw stones? Did He throw stones? I don’t remember that part of the Bible if He did. Does He love the little baby inside of her unconditionally and value that baby as His child? I believe He absolutely does. I guess my thought is my personal role may be less about trying to legislate rules on abortion and more about seeing the women that are in the position of considering that as a choice, having a compassionate response to them, and seeing what resources I have at my disposal to help meet their needs.
Homosexuality. Well, I’ve had an up-close seat to this issue as my brother wrestled and fought and struggled for many many years with this. I don’t claim to be an expert. I know I could never begin to explain, understand, or in any way feel what He has felt for all of his life. What I know is that many people that identify as Jesus followers have been the most unaccepting, unloving, and just completely cruel of all the people he, and my family, have encountered on this road. I guess my thought here is the same as my thoughts above. I’m not interested in legislating rules created by heterosexuals that are designed to uphold a moral code to restrict the rights of homosexual individuals. I believe that if Jesus were walking on this earth today, He would SEE them. I believe He would be moved with compassion for the hurt they’ve experienced. I believe He would meet their needs and let them experience unconditional love that they couldn’t even comprehend.
Black Lives Matter. I have had less opportunity to be up close to this issue. Only in the last few years has this even really entered my radar as an area that I had been privileged enough not to acknowledge. I still can’t even come close to understanding what it is like to have family members who were literally the property of another human being. I can’t imagine growing up and having to learn ways to respond and behave for the sake of saving my life or the lives of my children in certain situations. I can’t imagine my life being counted as 3/5 of another human life. I can’t imagine being denied access to rights that were freely given to those with different skin colors. I can’t imagine any of it. That’s because it didn’t happen to me. It’s not my story. It’s not my context. Does that mean that it isn’t a real thing that contributes deeply to the story and context of men and women with a different color of skin? Do I have to choose whether I’m okay with riots and looting OR whether I value the lives and rights of black men and women? Do I have to choose whether the lives of black men and women OR the lives of police officers matter more? That’s just absurd to me. Again, Jesus. I believe He would see the years of hurt that black individuals have experienced. I believe He would be moved with compassion. I believe He would act by using everything He had available to show them how deep and how wide His unconditional love really does reach.
The white supremacist. The religious person who claims to follow Jesus but has very different views on what that means than I do. The people filled with fear. The people filled with hate. The people who are deeply confused and conflicted. The people who believe COVID is real and a serious threat to lives around the globe. The people who believe COVID is a joke and it was developed to undermine our democracy and ruin our economy. The mask-wearers, the non mask-wearers. I know it sounds crazy, but I believe that every.single.one of these people are created in the image of God. I believe that Jesus asks us to SEE them. I believe He wants us to have a compassionate response when we see them. I believe He wants us to act in ways that reflect His light and love into their life rather than hate. I know it sounds crazy, but I believe that no matter who is elected as our President on Tuesday, I believe that Jesus followers are called to be a light to this country and our world. I believe for that to happen, we have to check ourselves and get serious about praying for His eyes, His heart, and His wisdom. I believe we need to be very cautious about the views that we push on others in the name of Jesus. I believe that Jesus will honor His promise to, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” — Matthew 7:7–8. I believe that Jesus doesn’t need our help being His judge. He’s got that covered. “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” — Matthew 7:1–2. I believe God called us to love Him and to love our neighbors. Period. He didn’t put disclaimers about which neighbors to love.
What does it look like to follow Jesus in 2020? I’m still figuring that out but in the meantime, know that I’m praying for His eyes, His heart, and His wisdom on how to use what I have to be His hands and feet. I’m also attempting to judge less and love more.
