My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 NLT
Years ago, I was involved in human rights/religious liberty issues. I worked with politicians and others in an unsuccessful attempt to move them away from legislating for human rights. It was easy to see that differing interests held differing views upon their particular human rights. There was little chance of achieving a consensus across religious, political and social divides. Best perhaps to leave negotiations to street level common sense and existing legal protections.
The challenge in asserting my human rights is that I fall in step with society’s fascination with love of the individual. Then issues all revolve around ‘ME’, a bad starting point for any interpersonal negotiation. The gospel speaks of the importance of the Other. Indeed, my self-love is measured objectively by the love I exercise towards another, regardless of any differences in opinion. I can disagree and assert my perspective. Only tyranny imposes, where custom, law and common sense prevail.
For too many years my Christian faith was shaped by those who needed to establish ‘an enemy’. Such actions, while useful in monetising a faith-based set of values, critically reduced the power of Christians to build stable communities that revealed the love of God to all.
A God of love does not rule through diktat. Nor does such a God manage his citizens through fear. You are invited to take choices on your own behalf in response to God’s love and his desire to make sense of the kingdom to others through you.
QUESTION
Is your walk of faith lived out of fear or love?
PRAYER
As I journey with you to become more like the person you made me to be, I leave behind fake identities to discover who I am called to be and yet to become.
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