Would you consider yourself a follower of Jesus?...a "Christian" (which literally means "little Christ")? If so, then hear this: The world we live in could care less about the doctrines we believe, because they don't believe that we care.
The way we live our lives, the way we gather together, the way we position ourselves in the world, our financial priorities...everything must reflect Him. If not, then we are missing His intent, thereby missing Him within us, and mis-representing him to the world around us...and falling into the same trap as the Pharisees.
What was Jesus' reputation in society? A man of extravagant grace to the weak and sinful, but strongly opposed to the religious establishment that put up barriers between people and God. He personally sought relationship with His Father through holy living, fervent prayer, and personal sacrifice...but in His dealings with the surrounding culture was characterized by such scandalous grace for those in need, and mercy for those living in sin, that He was excommunicated and murdered by those who thought that godliness was about upholding all the rules and keeping impure people out of the fellowship.
In our world, in our culture, in this day, we need to reflect the truth that each of us has been forgiven of much. We need to be known and appreciated as people of self-sacrificial love for people who don't believe what we believe, rather than a bunch of self-righteous zealots who shut the door of the Kingdom of God in peoples' faces.
What pattern is your life weaving?
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