Too often, those on the outside see the church as an example of judgment and exclusion—even hate. Is this a fault of nonbelievers, or could it be a failure of Christians to show compassion and empathy for all God’s children—to be the hands and feet of Jesus? When the church focuses exclusively on saving the lost from hell, without demanding a total submission and transformation to selflessness from selfishness, it does a disservice to God’s kingdom on earth. Faith in and a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is not the finish line. It is the start of a lifelong struggle to humble ourselves as Jesus did. If we would make meeting others’ needs our primary desire, the world might sit up and pay closer attention and maybe even be transformed.
Too often, those on the outside see the church as an example of judgment and exclusion—even hate. Is this a fault of nonbelievers, or could it be a failure of Christians to show compassion and empathy for all God’s children—to be the hands and feet of Jesus? When the church focuses exclusively on saving the lost from hell, without demanding a total submission and transformation to selflessness from selfishness, it does a disservice to God’s kingdom on earth. Faith in and a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is not the finish line. It is the start of a lifelong struggle to humble ourselves as Jesus did. If we would make meeting others’ needs our primary desire, the world might sit up and pay closer attention and maybe even be transformed.
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