If you know someone... Love them
DISCLAIMER: While I'm not really making a disclaimer here, I'm just letting you know where I'm coming from with this. I make no apologies for my love of Christ and that much of, if not all that I talk relates to faith and belief in GOD. I'm not trying to preach, nor am I claiming to be a great Theologian or scholar. I know the Lord, and I'm just someone who thinks and prays and these are the things that are written on my heart now. Through a series of events that have transpired lately, as well as reflection on certain things from my past as well, I feel like the following thoughts are things that people, myself included, need to hear and remember. Please, give it a chance.
I feel like we as a people, as Church, as Christians, as humans in general have a hard time loving the people around us who are weak. We seem to have developed a culture where people with addictions are shunned more than loved. Christian or not, everyone deserves to be loved, no matter who they are or what they may fall slave or victim to. I know a lot of what I write about has a Christian overtone, but even if you don't believe, I feel like this should apply to everyone.
If you know someone who is addicted to anything (drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, eating or eating disorders, gambling, etc.) these aren't the people we should be casting aside. Jesus spent His entire ministry spending time reaching out to the imperfect, the sinful, the addicts, the broken. Why should we, Christian or not, not try and do the same? Where is the wrong in loving people simply because they deserve that much? Everyone deserves to hear and know how much they are loved, regardless of their situation. The entire message of Christ is a scandalously inclusive, no disclaimers, blatant genuine love. This total, unabashed love is even what eventually what led Him to be killed. He loved us so much that He came to help us and lead us back to Him, and He was killed for loving us so completely and perfectly. Where is the harm in loving?
If you know someone who needs help, please, help them find it. How are those who are hurting and suffering from addiction and sin any different? It's extremely easy for us as people to take pity or mercy on the homeless, the poor, the hungry, and those who are ill, and there is by no means nothing wrong with that. The Lord teaches us that these are our brothers and sisters, and when we help them, we have done so for Him as well. But aren't those bound by these chains in just as much need of help? Aren't we affecting the Body of Christ by not responding to their cries? 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' Matthew 25:45.
Please, I don't go out and beg people often, but if you read this, I beg you: Do not shut those in pain out. Please give them the unconditional love that they need to get help. Coming from someone who has experienced the pains of addictions and sin in his own life, one way or another, it's not a polite suggestion, it was given as a command. "...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Matthew 12:28-31
I know not everyone who might read this is a Christian, and if this offends you, I can't really say that I'm sorry. If you can take anything away from this, please remember to love those around you who need your love. There's is nothing greater than love and grace that we can give to one another. Please keep those who struggle in your prayers, keep those you love in your prayers, keep those you don't, and I will keep you.
Shalom and Love,
- Adam (aka Ogie)
1 Corinthians 13 (yeah, the whole thing)
I feel like we as a people, as Church, as Christians, as humans in general have a hard time loving the people around us who are weak. We seem to have developed a culture where people with addictions are shunned more than loved. Christian or not, everyone deserves to be loved, no matter who they are or what they may fall slave or victim to. I know a lot of what I write about has a Christian overtone, but even if you don't believe, I feel like this should apply to everyone.
If you know someone who is addicted to anything (drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, eating or eating disorders, gambling, etc.) these aren't the people we should be casting aside. Jesus spent His entire ministry spending time reaching out to the imperfect, the sinful, the addicts, the broken. Why should we, Christian or not, not try and do the same? Where is the wrong in loving people simply because they deserve that much? Everyone deserves to hear and know how much they are loved, regardless of their situation. The entire message of Christ is a scandalously inclusive, no disclaimers, blatant genuine love. This total, unabashed love is even what eventually what led Him to be killed. He loved us so much that He came to help us and lead us back to Him, and He was killed for loving us so completely and perfectly. Where is the harm in loving?
If you know someone who needs help, please, help them find it. How are those who are hurting and suffering from addiction and sin any different? It's extremely easy for us as people to take pity or mercy on the homeless, the poor, the hungry, and those who are ill, and there is by no means nothing wrong with that. The Lord teaches us that these are our brothers and sisters, and when we help them, we have done so for Him as well. But aren't those bound by these chains in just as much need of help? Aren't we affecting the Body of Christ by not responding to their cries? 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' Matthew 25:45.
Please, I don't go out and beg people often, but if you read this, I beg you: Do not shut those in pain out. Please give them the unconditional love that they need to get help. Coming from someone who has experienced the pains of addictions and sin in his own life, one way or another, it's not a polite suggestion, it was given as a command. "...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Matthew 12:28-31
I know not everyone who might read this is a Christian, and if this offends you, I can't really say that I'm sorry. If you can take anything away from this, please remember to love those around you who need your love. There's is nothing greater than love and grace that we can give to one another. Please keep those who struggle in your prayers, keep those you love in your prayers, keep those you don't, and I will keep you.
Shalom and Love,
- Adam (aka Ogie)
1 Corinthians 13 (yeah, the whole thing)