Cherishing vs Karma

Today's message in church was about "Cherishing every individual".  In 1 Timothy 5, God expresses his concern for widows.  At the time the letter to Timothy was written, unmarried women had a difficult time making ends meet, especially older women.  Paul wanted to make sure that women with no means of support were supported by the church.

In James, God expresses his concern for widows and orphans--expanding the list of those the church needs to especially care about.  Throughout the Bible, there are examples of God miraculously and mundanely supporting those who struggle to survive.  The Father has a heart for the defenseless.  And so should we.

A good portion of people in the world believe in karma.  I do.  The bible says, "you will harvest what you plant".  "What goes around, comes around." 

However, some people associate karma with fate.  If a person is suffering in some way, they deserve it.  A person with a disability must have done something terrible in a past life to deserve it.  So, the logic goes, we should not interfere with karma.  Let people suffer.  It is the only way they will learn.  This is the universe dolling out justice.

Thank God that reincarnation and this type of karma are not the reality.  God gives us mercy, not justice.  God forgives us for Jesus sake.  There is no eternal wheel of punishment and rebirth.

Because of this, we also cherish everyone around us.  We do not ignore people's suffering.  We do what we can to help the vulnerable and give out of our blessings to be a blessing to others.  We do not view people who suffer as less than ourselves.

We were at the State Fair yesterday.  I saw something on the back of someone's t-shirt that said, "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."  On the front, it said, "Be kind".

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Loving Lesbians

About a month ago, we were out for my daughter's birthday, and her girlfriend made a comment that she wished someone would adopt her.  In my mind, I immediately wanted to say, "I will adopt you."  She needs a dad in her life and I have a heart for so-called orphans.

But I could not say anything because she is a lesbian who is living with my daughter.

I then thought about how Paul says God has adopted us into his family.  God made that decision before the creation of the world.  It was not because of anything I did but purely out of love for me.

Maybe I should offer the same kind of unconditional love to my daughter's friend.

One thing you learn in support groups for people with loved ones who are addicts is that you can't change the addict.  They have to want to change.  They have to make the decision.  They have to do the work.  It is similar for unrepentant sinners.  The healthy do not need a doctor but a seemingly healthy person may have cancer.  They need to see the test results and agree with the prognosis.  Pretending they are healthy does no good.  The disease inside will kill them.  All have sinned...

Also, Paul says, "It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the group of believers. God will judge them."  In other words, live and let live.  But I can't support someone who is hurting my daughter's faith.  How can I take her into my family?  There have to be conditions.

I know that conviction is the "strange work of the HS".  I cannot convict anyone.  However, I do pray that God would convict my kids (and me); that he would weigh them down with guilt and then comfort them with the sure hope of salvation when they cry out for relief.  That is all I can do.  I stand at the end of the road and wait.