May 24, 2002

The Untouchable Christian

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Have you ever met an "untouchable" Christian?
They are aloof, they are hard to speak with and harder to get to know.
Most of the time, all you feel is their eyes wondering over you, causing a
dreadful feeling of rejection second only to judgmental ism.
How is it that the very people that are supposed to be the MOST touchable, as
well as salt and light to the world, are not only lacking in the love
department, but rather are the complete opposite?
It is very hard to trust someone like this with any type of
personal burden one may have upon their hearts.

Many feel they cannot share their problems with other Christians most of the time.

The Compassion and the Complete Mercy of Jesus

All we need to do is to look at our Savior.

He was the epitome of encouragement to others. Jesus was selfless and ready to
listen. The ones who were burdened down with troubles, sorrows, sins, as well as
sickness, would get their burdens lifted from off of them when in his presence.
Those who were already brought low by the troubles of this life, he would lift
up.

The following is a description of Jesus from Isaiah Chapter 42

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I

have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench:

he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

In this third verse, we can see that this pertains to those who came to him that
WERE bruised. "A bruised reed shall he not break".
The people of this earth, the very ones that he created were bruised
from life itself and all of the pain and misery that can and does devastate a
person that is downtrodden and heavily afflicted with sorrows. The fall of man
really did create tremendous havoc among men and women. Jesus knew this. He even said that
they were as "Sheep having not a Shepherd".

Now I don't know about you, but I just wish that Christians would let their hair
down, get real and only be who God intended them to be instead of resembling some kind of
machine.

What kind of "machine" do I mean?
Well, sometimes I have just prayed that someone would listen to me talk, just to
get my feelings out. Many times have I needed a listening ear. What did I get
instead?

I got a scripture machine and that's about it.
I love scripture. The Word of God is utmost in
my life but what about some listening and feedback from the heart? What about
someone just sitting down with you and listening and comforting you instead of an
unrelenting stare only to be followed by quoting scripture?

Somehow, I just don't see it, nor do I condone it.

Jesus tells us to clothe the naked and feed the hungry in addition to preaching the Gospel.
Ok, we are not only to quote scripture at a person who comes to us hungry are we?

To the contrary, we are to let them know what scripture has to say on their particular situation, we are to do that but NOT to leave the other undone.
We are to also take care of their needs if we are able, which in this scenario
would amount to fixing them a meal and telling them about the Lord and what a
difference he can make in their lives if they do not know him.

It seems to me that the untouchable Christian is just like this. They do not
want to take the time to really listen. The untouchable Christian isn't much on compassion and
forgiveness. To them, it is very hard to understand why you are going
through what you're going through. After all, to them, if you were living like
THEY were, your life would gain some stability.

You do not need to be like them if they do not even care to take the time to
help, listen, and encourage their fellow man.

God wants us to be transformed into the image of his dear Son.
If you think for a moment about Jesus, his character, his message, his life, you
know that we have had it very wrong because our actions and Jesus's actions and
teachings do not agree much of the time. And this is not what he intended at all.
We are to love the unlovable, touch the untouchable.
His Holy Spirit working through us is to be his heart here on this earth to those who
need refuge, solace and comfort.
Are we understanding to those who need someone to help them out of a seemingly hopeless situation?

Do we jump at the chance to criticize, blame, and rebuke rather than let the love
of Christ shine through us to them?

I fear that we have hurt many more than we have helped in this world.

But it is never too late to treat others the way that Jesus has told us to in his word.
Romans 13:14 :
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no
man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
And Paul Said in Corinthians:
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not
one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when
his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Now, what do you think Jesus did when the disciples rebuked those who had
brought their infants to Jesus to be touched?

16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto

me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a

little child shall in no wise enter therein.

The Nature of Mankind
God can keep us humble can't he? When we lose our humbleness, it is inevitable
that bad things will happen to us sooner or later. Why? because we are to be taught a
valuable lesson. One that God must have us learn. He wants us to learn about
meekness and humbleness because it is GOOD for us and helpful to others.

God takes pleasure in seeing each and every one of us being there for others in
this earth. In fact, I believe that every time we are touchable and are there
for our brothers and sisters in this earth that God could not be happier! The
very ones that we have offended because we are too distant from them are the
ones that we will be required to answer for when we get before the Father in
Heaven.

God sees our every action and reaction. I pray that we would be much
more available and close to those who are needing us the most in this turbulent
time on the earth before his triumphant return.