Our worship team played this song after our service this Sunday (go watch the official video here).  This, after a seriously powerful message by this guy.  Needless to say, I lost it.  I can’t watch/listen to this song without losing it.  Driving Gabe to the babysitter this morning, I was playing this song, bawling.  I missed the ATM (sorry babysitter, you will get paid, promise).  Your task: listen to the video, but look at these pictures.  Think of these people.  Don’t think “how he loves us, sitting in this church, in this room.”  Think “oh, how he loves us in Haiti.  He loves us in New Orleans.  He loves us in Chile.  He loves us in downtown Oklahoma City.”

If His grace is an ocean, we are all sinking…

                          

I have been reading the comments on this post by Carlos Whittaker, regarding a note sent to him by a homosexual friend who was kicked out of ministry.  You can, and should, read Los’ reply here.  I am grateful for his response.  Here is what gets me.  His blog is ranked #3 in “Christianity” blogs.  He has over 200,000 unique visitors each month.  Yet there was some serious, serious hate spilled in the comments section yesterday.  Stuff that would (should) make you cringe.  I was crazy angry.  And sad.  And ashamed.  This is a serious issue in the Church.  We are becoming known for what we are against, rather than what we are for.

It is easy to be against something.  It is easy to degrade somebody’s beliefs.  Somebody’s opinion, religion, sin.  It makes us feel good about ourselves.  We believe that we are so much better than John who looks at pornography or Thomas who is pro-choice.  Or Tiger Woods who, well, you know what he did.  There is no risk involved in being against something.  Just find an angry mob and join right in with your plank-eyed hatred and protesting.

But to be for something?  To show mercy, love, forgiveness, support?  To fight for the man being exiled from his church, family, work, and friends for his sexuality.  To sit with him over coffee and pray for him.  To listen to him.  To hurt with him.  That isn’t easy.  That is out of the ordinary.  That is risk.  That is what we are called to be and do.  Jesus was known for what he was for.  And what he was for changed the world.

Are you being identified for things you are against?  What are these things?
What are some things that you need to stand up for?