Acceptance

Written by cycleguy on October 24th, 2013

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If you were to ask people on the street for one word to describe Christians today, what do you think they would say?  I found this video to “pepper” your thinking.   I’m sure you know the hyperbole that is used: “judgmental,” “narrow-minded,” “arrogant,” “bigoted,” to name a few.  Hardly a day goes by we don’t hear one of those words used in some way.

Why?   Of course because some of it is true.  “Churches” holding offensive signs at funerals or on streets.  Demonstrators yelling judgmental words during parades.   The reality is sad:  those who follow Jesus have become known too often for what we are against, rather than what we are for.  John Burke, in his book Mud and the Masterpiece wrote, “Maybe it’s not just what we’re doing wrong, but what we’re failing to do right that brings those negative stereotypes.”

Ironically,  the one thing the church can offer which the world can’t seems to be the one thing we don’t want to offer: GRACE.  I’m not talking about tolerance.  Tolerance simply puts up with behavior and beliefs.  It can only look the other way.  (Unless, of course, you disagree with the “position” taken and then it “all hands on deck.”)  Grace doesn’t look the other way.  It doesn’t excuse sin.  It gives a way out of sin.

The message this week is on Acceptance.  Not tolerance.  Acceptance.  There is no greater example of that acceptance than Jesus Himself.  Nicodemus. The woman at the well.  The woman caught in adultery.  A religious leader.  A multi-divorced woman. An adulteress.  Oh, there are more.  I could fill a whole blog with them.   It didn’t matter to Jesus who a person  was or what he/she did.  He was concerned about them as individuals.

Here is the point I want to make Sunday…and to all of us:

Acceptance does not mean agreement with people about their choices, beliefs, or behaviors.

As you can see it will  be a rather challenging message.  I never expect people to agree 100% with what I say.  It may never be more true than this week.

I am preaching through the Mission of OVCF: To win the HEART of Owen County.  I am currently on the “A” in HEART.  If you would like to see the “H” you can read about here.  The “E” you can read about here.  The “A” stands for “Acceptance.” I would appreciate your prayers.

Any thoughts? 

 

24 Comments so far ↓

  1. jeff says:

    My one word to describe Christians is “Confused”. They say they believe this then they do that. They just seem confused to me.
    I attended a program this week on the subject of Acceptance. It was a very powerful message delivered by a very humble and yet very eloquent woman. She was the mother of Mathew Shepherd, who was a gay 21 years old, murdered some 15 years ago in Wyoming.
    And while there are many Christian churches finally realizing women should be equal to men, there are only a few that realize gay people are equally valuable and worthy of participation. It is this bigoted view some religious people have that fosters Un-acceptance. And then they try to tell you they are Jesus followers. And then these wanna-be Christians want you to be like them and join their club. And then you simply say no thanks. That’s what it looks like to me anyhow.

    • Nancy says:

      I’m with you…God’s love is for everyone…gays, addicts, unwed mothers, default dads, star studded tattoo kids, and us accepted ones, also, you know, the adulterers, addicts, abusers, bigots, gossipers…. You know, all of us that can hide our weaknesses and smile… No neon signs on us…(my weakness isn’t listed, well maybe, one of them. Don’t want to add fibbing to it.)

      • jeff says:

        I can’t speak for God’s love. I can only speak for mine. And mine is for all of my fellow primates. I think you hit a point here.
        Christians tend to want to discuss God’s love. Maybe they should concentrate on Their love. And check how that is doing.

        • Nancy says:

          Good point. The clip does emphasize us Christians. Seems as if we are blocking the path to God’s love by not showing love to everyone.

          • cycleguy says:

            I will agree with nancy on God’s love. His love is for all. I wish mine was sure and accepting as His is. I can still tend to be a bit judgmental-no matter how hard I try not to be or despise that in me.

    • cycleguy says:

      I’d say “confused” is a good word for many Jeff. Larry calls us schizophrenic.

  2. I think we are Schizophrenic. We say believe one thing and act different. We know what to say and how to talk our talk. We just fail too often in walking our walk.

  3. Daniel says:

    I don’t think you have said anything here that I don’t agree with. I will be praying for you this morning during devotionals.

  4. floyd says:

    No question the enemy uses our weaknesses against our Father’s church and the usefulness of it. The last generation tends to be a bit more legalistic than this one. I think it’s trending better by people speaking truth that God puts in their hearts, like yours. I’m praying for you and your church, Bill.

  5. Nancy says:

    The video is pretty enlightening… Of course they don’t understand and some of us don’t understand, that’s why we do go to church every week. We are not perfect, we do not know all the answers, we fail to communicate God’s love extends to all, we are a community, we feel safe with each other, the more we learn the more we realize there is so much more we don’t know… I liked the blog from I think, yesterday… “Do you know who loves you?”

    Of course, this doesn’t apply if it’s in your own backyard…we all have our own version of who or what we want to exclude…because that’s different…

    • cycleguy says:

      We often fail to do exactly what you say Nancy. I think that is one of the reasons people “outside” the church just don’t get it.

  6. Arny says:

    The 20th century church has managed to create a “Bubble”. with our cool holy music and holy coffee houses and hip dressed preachers…oh i’m sorry…Speakers….and we don’t accept those that do not look like us. If you want to be saved…you have to look like us and talk like us…
    it’s sooo sad…

    • cycleguy says:

      Yeah it is sad Arny. We shut people out who don’t- whether they dress as “hip” as we do or whether they dress so differently (goth for example).

  7. Caleb Suko says:

    I think both “acceptance” and “tolerance” are sticky words today that maybe don’t mean what they meant a few years back.

    I accept the fact that I am a sinner and so is everyone else in my church, but I’m not OK with that and neither is God. Jesus accepts me as I am and thankfully gives me the power to change and become like him through the Holy Spirit.

    • cycleguy says:

      I agree with your perception of the two words Caleb. That is one the my central thoughts in the sermon actually. Your last paragraph sums it up. Thanks.

  8. Betty Draper says:

    Nothing has changed from the days Jesus walked on this earth. All those negatives words people use for us Christians they used about Him. He was not even accepted among His own. There was a remnant who believed HE was the perfect son of God, the redeemer, they were the not perfect accepting the perfect. Nothing has changed…the not prefect has to accept the perfect Jesus. Usually I tell people I meet if you are looking for me to be perfect you will never find it. But I do know the perfect one, his name is Jesus. I have had to apologize more then once for presenting Jesus in a negative way. With God help I will not let what others think of me stop me from telling others about the perfect One. And when I fail and I will to show Jesus to others I only hope they will forgive me. I am not perfect, He is…judge me if want but that is my heart, I AM NOT PERFECT BUT HE IS. Jesus did not spend time worry about those who did not accept Him as the prefect Son of God. What humbles me more then anything is the knowledge God would use this frail, judgmental not perfect woman as the instrument to be used to tell the gospel. Jesus took twelve not perfect men to change the hearts all over the world and it is still happening. Motivating clip, motivating post brother, motivation comments…motivates me to tell others about the perfect One.

    • cycleguy says:

      I so heartily agree with you Betty. Flawed, Imperfect. That sums up who i am. But it also falls short of what God has done in my life. I know people will be disappointed if they watch me and try to be like me. That is why it is my goal to point them to ONLY PERFECT ONE. Thanks for your thoughts and encouragement.

      • Betty Draper says:

        Thanks Bill for the encouraging comment. I am certainly not the woman I use to be either thanks to Lord. So grateful for conviction which came along with the Holy Spirit and grateful for grace to walking in. Heard a great message today from Gal 5:1-26 on grace. One point stood out to me..God never loves us because we perform, that would not be grace. God cannot unlove me when I fail…that’s what human love does. I know I did not understand fully for years what grace entailed and still learning. Every new aspect of God’s grace I understand more freedom comes into my heart to give grace out. Marvelous things this grace, it’s active, alive, always lifting up Christ. The law kills and only lifts up man. Know God will use your messages to touch hearts…people are looking for grace but some are scared to death of it because showing grace is not a comfortable place to be. He has sure been working on my heart lately as you can tell by my long written comments. Blessings brother.

  9. Ed says:

    The whole acceptance issue has been in the front line for many years. I know I used to preach a hard message at one point, but then it dawned on me that wasn’t necessarily the right way to get the gospel into people’s hearts. Most aren’t ready for the meat of the Word and they only do see us as condemning, even though we don’t always want to come off as being so. But for many it’s a fine line that separates the sterness of the gospel, and the condemnation of many. There still has to be a balance, but unless there is, we have no right to preach such a gospel.

    • cycleguy says:

      You are absolutely right Ed. There does need to be a balance. That balance is found by preaching grace, but also a changed life. Good point.