As Christians, we are to be representatives of the Father, here on Earth.  We, as citizens of Heaven, seated with the Father in Heavenly places, are supposed to be bringing Heaven down to Earth.  If this is so, (and it is) why is it commonly stated that Christians are some of the most nasty, mean and judgmental people on Earth?  Why is it so common that when hurting people come into a church building, they are often pushed right back out the door by some leader in the Church?  Why are we often seen as some of the biggest hypocrites? Why do we, as Christians, try to hold non-Christians to Christian standards when these are people who do not know God and cannot identify with things that are of and from His Spirit?

I received an answer to these questions on Sunday in church. Simply put, Juan stated that, how we see God is how we will represent Him.  This was a big deal for me.  I thought about some of the things I’ve witnessed and experienced in the church-bullying, shaming, condemnation and more.  Ask most any Christian to finish this sentence and they can in a heartbeat-“God is…” You’ll hear that He is good, He is love and so many other attributes that unfortunately don’t always come shining through in interactions with Christians.  This has got to change. We need to represent our Dad better than this. If you find it hard to love people, perhaps you need to drink deeply from the Father’s well of love for you. When you do, you can’t help but love others.

According to Romans 13:8, we are to owe no man anything but love.  This is the only debt that is to be ongoing. We don’t need to feel like we have to condemn, convict or shame anyone into the Kingdom.  That’s not how Jesus operated.  God draws people unto Himself through love. That’s the example we need to be preoccupied with following, just loving people. It is only His love that will draw and change the hearts of men.  Love is what we need most. C’mon guys, we can do this…