ON Sunday, we talked about just “doing something.” The Gospel clearly shows us that we cannot stand idly by as human beings are degraded. Listen and discuss how we should be the active Body of Christ in our world today.
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On Sunday, we talked about everyone being an “image-bearer of God.” Are we good at recognizing this in people? Seriously.. Do we really think of everyone on the same level?
What about these… ? The jerk who cut you off in traffic. The lady who takes FOREVER to check out in line in front of you. The thugs in Ferguson. ISIL. The abusive alcoholic. Why is it so hard for us to see the image of God in these?
The key truth here is that all life is sacred. What does that mean?
How is it that we believers have missed this so badly over the years? Here in the South, we have a particularly poor legacy on this, don’t we?
How is it that we believers missed this key gospel implication so badly for so long?
Read these verses and discuss the implications.
Romans 10:11-13
Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Acts 10:28
Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.
Galatians 3:28
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:11
In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
James 2:9
But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.
Okay… now think about this…
Is “LGBT” the new “black?”
Why or why not?
Our culture has decided that gay rights are civil rights… That the struggle our nation has been dealing with is the same as the civil rights movement of the ’60’s.
Of course this is a bitter fight. But remember, our fight isn’t against the human casualties of this war… Who is our fight against?
Ephesians 6:12
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
This isn’t a fight between “us” and the LGBT community. It is a spiritual battle. And remember… The enemy’s objective is to DESTROY THE IMAGE OF GOD.
Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Since man is made in God’s image… Since God made us exactly the way he wants us so that we can reflect HIS glory… Satan’s target is that very image!
I believe we will never win this battle by standing on street corners in protest, or by huddling up in our church services. We only win it by being on our knees together, then standing up to take action in real, hands-on, relevant ways together as the Body of Christ.
On Sunday morning, I talked about four ways that we have right in front of us to take such action. Won’t you partner with me in these?
Do Something About ItWhat do you think about that? Leave a comment for me below and let me know.