segment

Recently I have had the topic of not only segmented society, but a segmented church that keeps coming up. Of course this "issue" is also one that pops up in dealing with our individual selves and especially how we as people approach others. I think the real deal, the heart of the matter, with society, the church and ourselves is a "but they are not like me" or "thank God I am not like them" mentality. That type of mindset is toxic.

A recent example happened a few days ago when I was attending a meeting about the homeless situation in Greensboro and how the emergency shelters can help. I encountered some attitudes there that were not at all intentional, but still a reality. It reminded me that even those who do have a desire to help still have this separatist mentality and in volunteering want to help "those people."

Now, on a more personal level. I struggle with being accepted. Since my childhood I have been one to crave acceptance, validation, etc. and that opened me up to all sorts of peer pressure and terrible choices. It led to experimentaion with all kinds of unhealthy junk.

So what does all of this with society, the church and the individual have in common? The answer is in Acts chapter 10. I went for a nice run in the woods today and was praying as I ran. I just simply asked the Holy Spirit to do whatever He needed to do in my heart to make be a better listener to Him and to be able to listen more when I pray and not talk so much (as I tend to do most of the time). The prayer was answered and I was reminded very personally of the following verse: "The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."" (v. 15).

I needed to hear this as a "word" specifically for me because I do question myself and continue to fear rejection. Granted the primary context of this verse is God's "reversal" of Levitical dietary laws, but the Lord was also dealing with Peter on how He looked at other people. The Spirit used the verse to remind me that I am His, no matter what I may or may not do, or regardless of how I may "feel" about myself at times, that HE has made me clean. HE has made me pure and neither I nor anyone else is to question that.

The same appplies to the way I view, you view or we view members of our society or within our churches. It is God who makes us clean and the person I think may not measure up (or when I think I don't measure up) is just as clean and pure and righteous in God's sight as the so-called holy ones among us. The bottom line is that the cleanliness, purity and righteousness of Christ makes it all the way that it is and nothing else! IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF JESUS! IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU AND IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. IT IS ABOUT HIM!