How do we go about changing the culture in America? Do we have mass TV campaigns? Organize boycotts against entertainment or automotive companies? Do we frighten large segments of society into voting for "our" agenda (against "that evil" agenda)? Do we slap up a few more Ten Commandment slabs of stone (no one appears to read, anyway)?
Maybe, just MAYBE, if we followed the words of a simple Man from long ago we might just be a witness to the world, and change it, one life at a time.
The horrible tragedy that has happened in a small Amish community has shown the world what a real Christ follower is like. Not a Right Wing, Rush Limbaugh listening, teeth whitened, W stickered- SUV driving, denizen of the Suburbs, but someone that takes the Words of Jesus to heart and lives them.
They have thanked the police and firefighters that helped their community. Do you realize that they are even reaching out to the widow and children of the man who murdered their own children?
"As we were standing next to the body of this 13-year-old girl, the grandfather was tutoring the young boys, he was making a point, just saying to the family, 'We must not think evil of this man,'" the Rev. Robert Schenck told CNN. "It was one of the most touching things I have seen in 25 years of Christian ministry."
Turn the other cheek. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Pray for those who hate us.
These are hard words, easy to roll off our tongues, but to live out? Very tough. I certainly don't do them well, but I do want to.
Witness the TRUE power of Christ to change the world, witness the Amish.
My point exactly.
Posted by: TulsaGentleman | October 09, 2006 at 09:57 PM
TulsaGentelman,
You are right, but isn't Jesus' calling pretty radical for all of us?
Posted by: Monk-in-Training | October 09, 2006 at 06:23 PM
Clearly the Amish adhere to a radical theology, not for the faint of heart and much too difficult for most of us.
Posted by: Tulsagentleman | October 09, 2006 at 04:31 PM
forgiveness and repentence - we need both.
Posted by: Lorna | October 09, 2006 at 11:50 AM
Agreed. The truth is done, and only after that can it be spoken.
Posted by: Jathan | October 06, 2006 at 09:48 PM
Yip, if only we could live those words more often and in more parts of our life. I agree, forgiveness (the central theme of the gospel) goes unheeded too often, even in easy situations. If only we could live more like Christ and less like psychologists.
Posted by: societyvs | October 06, 2006 at 05:33 PM