Our church is currently doing a study entitled, "The Controversial Jesus" by Erwin McManus. McManus is the lead pastor of a church in California called Mosaic. Here is one of the quotes from this study that struck me profoundly: "Jesus is defiant to a faith without compassion. He is defiant to any religion that uses its rules and its belief systems to justify lack of compassion and concern."
My heart tells me that this is true. Unspeakable things continue to turn atheists, agnostics, homosexuals, alcoholics, drug addicts, lost souls and those of other faiths away from us. They want nothing to do with us. It's rather discouraging when Christianity threatens to burn the Qur'an (Koran).
Is there a point when we as Christ followers can defy "religion" and "belief systems" not only through our conversion but also through our actions? I'm thinking of actions that Jesus himself would approve of, not the official church. Actions such as compassion, and love and peaceful conversation. I guess I'm at the point where I'm ready to defy if it means acting out of concern for my fellow man or woman or child. Defiant Jesus. Pretty radical yes, but right on target.
