Many of us were a part of… or were affected by… the Jesus People movement back in the 60s and 70s. Watching the compelling movie The Jesus Revolution reminded us of how mainstream USA is being bombarded by fringe and crosscurrent people groups again, in our present day. The $100K question is; “How well will we do this time when the current deviant culture begins to show interest in addressing their heart issues and responding to the love of God. Will we be able to love them well? Will we meet them with Heaven’s responses?” We will likely be stretched as we embrace this golden opportunity to love well!
Case in point is found on a Sunday morning last year at The Well of Nashville where my bro-in-law and sister are pastors. Three obviously-trans-people walked in, having been invited by a church member. During worship, the Presence of God was so strong that they responded to the Love of God and found themselves sitting on the floor around the front of the room with copious tears and repentance. They were saved, delivered and filled with Holy Spirit that morning. Everyone rallied around them with prayers, prophetic words, hugs and lots of love. And to top it off, later that day they asked to be baptized in a local river. They were loved well. What a story! I think Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie would be proud. 🙂
On a relevant note, most of us probably remember that one of the times when Bob Jones died, he was asked, “Did you learn to love?” He was sent back to learn to love. And I believe he did! As a most unusual indicator, he died on Valentines Day – ‘love day’ – 2015. That same mandate and quest to learn to love, rests on us, too.
But as we mature, we realize that love isn’t always pleasant and nice. We could quote many NT verses to make this point. Real Heavenly-type-love must be able to offer a wide spectrum of responses. This verse about two seemingly opposite virtues – Mercy and Truth – captures the point well.
“Mercy and truth are met together…” – Ps 85:10
Mature responses in the ‘harvesting’ process will require that we become skilled at a full spectrum of harvest tools. For sinners coming in, we must discern the appropriate response for each person. Different people could all have the same M.O. but they could be ‘acting out’ because of very diverse reasons. Consider this:
Different responses for each ‘source problem’
- For the immature… we must accept and gently instruct into a better way
Jesus – “neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more” - For the insecure… we must fill up the lacking self identity with Father’s perspective
Jesus – “Zacchaeus, I’m coming to your house today” - For the wounded… we must pour in the wine and oil and heal up the bruised areas
Jesus – Good Samaritan parable - For the religious… we speak assertively and definitively
Jesus – “you white washed sepulchers” - For the demonized… we must aggressively command the enemy to stop
Jesus with Peter – “Get thee behind me satan” - For the mentally challenged… we must be tolerant and seek a miracle
Jesus – the young man who threw himself into the fire
Obviously, there are more potential responses… and all are a part of God’s great big comprehensive expression of love to meet every person right where they are.
Most people wouldn’t say that “get thee behind me satan” and “you white washed sepulchers” are very nice or pleasant. But since God is love, then everything He does is an expression of real love whether it feels good or not. If it doesn’t feel good in the moment then it’s His intention that it will work good in us eventually. For a real world example, consider the love-inspired ‘temporary pain’ that our child feels when we correct them. That temporary pain was love-inspired because we believed in the improved character that they and everyone would appreciate later.
Knowing how to respond 1) above reactionism, 2) above sentimentalism, 3) above cultural norm, 4) without insecurity, and 5) not from our brain only, will be a huge learning process. Our tool box is getting outfitted!! It’s part of the mandatory growth process of becoming ‘God’s called-out ruling ones’ – His ecclesia. We’re invited to become His equipped and skilled co-ruling ones!
Check your love tank… is it full? Get ready for fun times ahead.
Mark Hendrickson
Beyond the Map 