Enough is Enough

I’m baaack. And I’m back because I can no longer sit idly by with everything that is going on in this nation and in the world. This one is gonna hurt. If it “offends” you, then maybe you are the one that needs to read this the most. I can no longer put my support behind individuals and organizations that claim to live for Christ, but in their actions show the opposite. This world has become a sickening place, and it’s now time for me to speak up in the only way I know how.

How far we have come since the founding of this nation on ideals of freedom and equality. Our political system has gone from governing for these great ideals this nation was founded upon, to who can hit the hardest and hurt the most. How can someone professing to be a follower of Christ ever tell someone to go back to where they came from? And this issue with a border wall has become so political that I don’t believe those on either side believe what they are saying anymore. Don’t tell me about national security. I was a United States Marine for 14 years, I know about national security.

I fully understand that Paul told us to be submissive to authorities. For Paul said, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1, ESV). With that said, I believe that we are living in an age where evangelical elitist politicians are straying very far from living like Christ. I don’t need someone defending my God and my God’s principles through their political actions. I don’t know about you, but my God doesn’t need defending. He is all-mighty and all-powerful. He holds all of humanity in the palm of his hand. My God can defend himself. I am just blessed than He decided to give me a part in his plans.

At what point are we more concerned about keeping people out than taking care of those in need? I can’t help but think that Jesus would flip over a wall that gets in the way of serving others. In my Bible, Jesus says this about those in need, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:35-40). 

As Christ-followers we are to do exactly as he said. He never said, “Help those that are in your borders already. Help those that look like you. Help those that speak like you. Help those that believe what you believe.” Jesus’ last words to his disciples were this: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, emphasis added). 

I don’t have to agree with all the beliefs of others to care for them, to serve them. The issues that I don’t believe in or think are unbiblical are numerous. However, there is a clear difference between loving and excepting ALL PEOPLE, no matter what they believe and how they act, and advocating their platform. In fact, Jesus told us to have love for our enemies and pray for those that persecute us (Matthew 4:43-45). As Christians we should be sprinting towards those that we don’t agree with to show this love; not putting them down and blasting them all over the press and social media.

It’s absolutely crazy to me what is going on. There are 2 BILLION people in the world that don’t even know the name Jesus. And it seems to me that instead of trying to love, encourage, and share the Gospel, we are more concerned with tearing others down and being right. This all has to stop.

I have friends that don’t go to church, not because they don’t believe in God, but because they don’t want to have anything to do with the traditional religious establishment. If I wasn’t were I was currently, it might not be too hard to understand why they choose to live this way. I heard recently of a church that turned away a blind man and his service dog. They would not allow him to enter. WHAAAT? Of all places, a church should be the only place on Earth that welcomes everyone. It has nothing to do with 4 walls and a building. It has everything to do with community. We should all be striving to live out the Universal Church of Acts. There were no denominations. There were no Methodists or Baptists. There were no Catholics or Lutherans. There was just a group of Christ-followers who lived daily to share the love of Christ to all. “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:32-35).

For far too long, we as Christians, have lived in our country club churches, with our coffee bars, and beautiful buildings. We have projected an image of perfectness, when we all know full well that we aren’t perfect. At one point we were all broken and hurting, otherwise Jesus would have never reached down to save us. So why do we hold the treasure of Jesus Christ inside us and not share it with our neighbor who is broken and hurt? We allow those in power to speak for us and sometimes for Jesus himself.

It has to stop and it has to stop now. We have to start living for Christ. We have to start running to those in need. It has nothing to do with free handouts, but truly taking care of those that need assistance, and being the light in a world that is full of darkness. For Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). We must learn to love all people, at all times, and in all circumstance.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!