What would Jesus do?

   In Sunday school this week, the ideas of the world's immorality came up, and we were asked our opinions of the question, "What would Jesus do?" I was not sure how to respond exactly so I held my tongue, however, I believe I now know the answer.

   In the world today we are surrounded by leniency. As Christians we enter most situations asking ourselves "What would Jesus do?" The world uses this to tell us not to be judgmental, and to be accepting of their choices whether we agree or not. However I take "what would Jesus do?" much differently; in fact, I am completely contradictory to the world's view of this question.

   I believe that in many circumstances when the time comes and that simple question arises in our minds we already know what to do yet we second guess ourselves. We not only know what Jesus would do, the Holy Spirit has convicted our hearts to tell us what WE should do. When faced with things like murder, rape, child abuse, etc. we know it is our place to step in. When faced with homosexuality, drug use, and abortion we turn the other way and say, "it is not my place to judge; it is their choice." while this may be true, murder, rape and child abuse are also choices. What would Jesus do?

   When Jesus came across a town wallowing in sin did he accept those sins and calmly tell them their lifestyle was okay because it was a choice? In Matthew 21:12-17it states, "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,  And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves'!" Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there."

   What would Jesus do? Would he become complacent? Would he allow the world to fall to sin as to not judge others while they stand in judgement of him? What then gives us the idea that those are to be our actions? As Christians stand around the earth trying to keep the name of their religion sacred so that none may call it judgmental or intolerant their savior's name is thrown out as their excuse to allow the corruption he lived to prevent. What would Jesus do? As I believe it states very clearly in the scripture I have provided, Jesus would show sinners the error of their ways and then bless them and love them dearly in the name of the Father. So next time you find yourself asking, "What would Jesus do?" it is important that you remember that Jesus accepted sinners, but he never accepted sin.

Not His Cross to Bear

   

      Easter, like Christmas, often has a meaning - the true meaning - which is overlooked. As this holiday approaches, many people focus on presents for their children, colored eggs, and the fanciest dinner many of us will have until Thanksgiving. However, it is in fact none of these things that cause us to gather in church and praise God for the day.
     Thursday night, my church (Community Fellowship Free Will Baptist) took communion in remembrance of the Last Supper. Pastor Leroy stood before his parishioners and spoke of the meaning behind this sacred meal. He began by reading scripture which depicted the last supper then moved on to read that whoever took the bread and drank the wine (or in our case grape juice) and was not in good standings with the Father would be judged greatly. This being the first time I had hear this particular scripture, I began to panic. I was saved in November of last year and Baptized only weeks ago; I felt as if I was not a good enough Christian to take of this meal. As my mind was filled with doubts, my heart suddenly became full of peace and I realized God had not placed doubt in my mind - it was the work of satin. We were given a moment to pray personally and as I closed my eyes and confessed my sins, I began to cry. Our deacons prayed over the bread to bless it and to ask that each member keep in mind it's representation as Jesus' broken body. Then the juice was given a similar blessing, and we took communion. The children in the room were noisy however their inquiring minds touched my heart. As I watched their innocent bodies take in the words spoken at the alter, I became proud to be present during this beautiful ceremony.
     Tonight is Good Friday and my family sat in our living room watching the Passion weeping as we saw our Lord and Savior be beaten not for his own sins but for the sins of each of us and though I have seen the movie several times, I could not contain my tears as this depiction of his death unfolded in front of my. Each time Jesus was hit or kicked or fell to his knees under the weight of his cross I cried out absentmindedly as I could not contain the turmoil within my own heart for both the guilt and the gratefulness I was feeling. I watched and was amazed at how truly human he was and I wonder if I could do what he did - I still have no idea. I looked to my mother and said, "How many times did Jesus stumble while carrying the cross yet push forward to carry every burden of every man? Yet many cannot even handle carrying their own." It is because we carry so many of our burdens alone and we seem to forget that He has already carried them for us once and it is simply our job to ask him to help do it again.
    I am writing this tonight because on Sunday I will be in church praising God and thanking him for sending his son to die for the sins I have committed. I will be thanking Jesus for saving my soul and not giving into satin's temptations. It is more obvious to me now than it ever was before that  when they asked a man to assist Jesus in carrying His cross and the man asked the crowd to remember that he was an innocent man forced to carry the cross of a condemned one that it was in fact the other way around. Were it not for Jesus bearing my cross and yours that I would be condemned. I ask that as Easter approaches you remember the true meaning of the holiday; I ask you to remember that it was not His cross to bear.