Do Others See Jesus in You? Really?

Growing up in a Southern Baptist church, the old hymn “Let Others See Jesus in You” was a standard. While this is a good song, I’m not sure that people realize what they are saying as they sing it.

If Christians really believed and meant what was implied by this song, there would be no room for discourse even in the Christian faith much less between Christians and other “religions.” No class of people would feel condemned because of the way Christians look at or treat them because of their race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, social class, etc. By the way, who deputized certain Christians to be the lifestyle police? No person should be made to feel lesser than because another person thinks it is their right to pass judgment on them. What ever happened to loving and having grace on each other?

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

Notice that the scripture says “LOVE the Lord your God…….and LOVE your neighbor as yourself.” It does not say condemn, judge, ridicule, belittle, make to feel lesser than, etc. It says to LOVE! That’s it, period!

Mahatma Gandhi said “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” I tend to agree with him. There are some Christians that make it hard to like them. They go to church on Sunday and Wednesday. They go to small groups. They worship God and are sincere in doing it (or at least appear to be). But let one person live a life they disagree with or do something they deem unacceptable and they turn into anything other than a Christian. And Jesus is definitely not seen in them.

But no matter how judgmental, condemning and hypocritical these “Christians” are, I still love them. Because the same grace and love that Jesus showed me and constantly shows me is the same love that I should show them and everyone else I come in contact with. It’s all about LOVE!

So let me just say that no matter who you are – Christian, non-christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, straight, gay, rich, poor, black, white, etc. Jesus loves you and so do I!

4 responses to “Do Others See Jesus in You? Really?”

Kimberly Witz

September 15, 2011 at 9:32 pm

Well said. I look forward to reading more.

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savedbygrace

September 16, 2011 at 12:21 am

wow.. this is so interesting..

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

in fact, by doing this we, somewhat follow the Law.

after Jesus died at the cross and resurrected, Law has been made obsolete.

Heb 8:13 NLT
When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear

We are no longer under law, but grace.

Rom 6:14 ESV
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

In fact, when we subject ourselves under Law, SIN shall have dominion over us.

1 Cor 15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law

The more we preach Law, the SIN is empowered

Gal 5:4
You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace

What a horrible though. If we try to keep the Law, we are cut off from Jesus, Jesus is made of no effect.

But thanks be to God we are saved by Grace

Eph 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works so that no one can boast.

The Law, produces boasting and self righteousness.

The Gospel is Grace, The Gospel started after Jesus was hanged at the cross.

Grace and Peace to you

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Wayne Sutton

September 16, 2011 at 11:33 am

Awesome word brother – as we show love, and bring the light of Jesus, it will dispel darkness and eradicate false teachings. Love is the answer… for God is love.

Wayne Sutton
http://www.TheSecondAdam.com

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Karen Mertens Richardson

September 21, 2011 at 10:10 pm

I am a hippie love child wanna be!

In 1 Peter 4:8 it says: Above all love each other deelply because love covers a multitude of sin. So perhaps if we see “sin” or think someone is in “sin” maybe we should just love them, and let that love cover their sin and set them free. Be a savior to someone with your love. it might just cover all their sins, even those you can’t see….and even those sins in yourself.

I double dog dare us all, to try it.

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