I’m convinced the church looks more like Jesus when we are defending other people’s rights, rather than our own. When we are giving away and living generously, rather than demanding our own way. And if that scares you or makes you feel like you will lose something, then you now understand why this was so hard for Jesus’ disciples and why it feels so counter-intuitive in our world. We are Christians first, Americans second. Our primary identity is to be followers of Christ. Paul writes so much about how we are foreigners and aliens in this world. Our ultimate loyalty is to Jesus. That doesn’t mean we can’t be patriotic and fight for social justice. It simply means, my allegiance is to THE King.
What we think is very much a matter of what we wish and seek to think, and what we feel is very much a...
Following Jesus doesn’t mean sacrificing our happiness. By focusing on the present moment in relationship with Jesus, we can find peace in God’s presence.