Building Bridges

Should there ever be a line drawn when it comes to loving someone?

My father always taught me that finding a way to build the bridge of friendship is the most effective way to open someone's heart to genuine love in the hopes of giving them a taste of the love of the Father.

I am a miserable example of this, but it has always been at the heart of my intentions when making new friends. My problem has been in defining the line with setting a good example versus relating to the person where they are at as a human being.

How can one balance being like the 'least of these', yet still remain above reproach? Is there a balance between relating to 'the nonbeliever' in order to gain their trust, and still living in such a way that does not 'turn them off'?

'Your heart is in the right place.' I would tell myself, but is it really true?

Romans chapter six talks about this concept. Paul urges his readers to not live flippantly, even though we are covered by grace. He encourages a higher form of living, but how can one be better than themselves, if they have nothing to live up to?

Perhaps, I was only seeking friendship for myself, and nothing more. Perhaps, I sought sharing my faith with those friends eventually, but never got the courage to. I used to think living by example was a good ideology, but my example is shit. I am no better than my fellow man. In fact, I am not sure I can call myself a Christian anymore.
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No matter what, fear has been involved. Jesus claims no fear is needed, so I have decided to do my best to not fear anything. It is a work in progress. If it was truly 'finished', than nothing need to be feared, right?

As mentioned in previous blogs, I believe in the man Jesus Christ, and what He claimed, but my struggle comes in making His teachings livable. Perfection is unobtainable. His unconditional love is what keeps me interested.

How can we love like this? Without a surefire, personal experience, is there any way that flawed humanity can exemplify Christ's example?

Yes, there is the Holy Spirit, who is supposed to be our Helper, but I have yet to experience Him/Her..

There have been people in my life who have been an example of unconditional love. Maribeth is the highest example of this. She knows of all my vices, yet still chooses to love me. I still do not understand why.
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'All my friends are heathen; take it slow. Wait for them to ask you who you know.'

All of us want to fit in with those around us.

I share this desire, but I also feel I take it a step further in wanting to relate to others, so they may feel love unconditional.

This has led me to compromise in many ways.

I have joked crudely.

I have drank too much, too often.

Is it all for naught?

I am not wholly sure.

Jesus Christ was condemned by the religious of His time as being a drunkard, and a glutton, due to the company He chose to keep (prostitutes and thieves).

Due to Christ's example, I have never seen anyone beyond the reach of love. It is by Christ's example alone I remain confident that, though I fail and compromise more than I should, the love I try to show will make a lasting impact on those with whom I choose to keep company.

I have a good friend, who started out as a co-worker with me, that I have been able to see this in action. (If you are reading this, I promise you were not an experiment, or anything. My intentions were always to love you as a friend, as deeply as I was able.)

This friend is a self proclaimed Satanist. He believes in the Satanist religion, because of the logical humanitarian views it holds. 

Surprisingly, we shared similar views on loving one another as better than ourselves, amongst other beliefs. We also shared disdain for the widespread hatred that modern 'Christianity' has decided to define itself.

Any opportunity I had to love this friend of mine; I seized it.

He never failed to return the love.

It is because of him I can listen to music in my truck on a daily basis.

You have mirrored the love of Christ to me more than you may care admit. 

I really miss you man.
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As mentioned in previous posts, most of my closest friends are 'nonbelievers', yet still love me without any judgment. I have a few 'believers' who love me without judgment as well, but it seems a rare thing to find these days.

Why not have the boldness of taking shelter in a brothel? (Rahab, the prostitute with the Israelite spies.)

Why not have a whore wash your feet with her own tears? (Jesus Himself allowed this.)

Why not have a thief as not only your disciple, but one of your best men? (One of the first men He chose was despised by the very people He came to save.)

Why not choose a man who basically massacred your friends, and sought to extinguish all you had taught? (His name was Saul, but you renamed him Paul, even though he murdered Your followers.)

Oh, if only I could be renamed for Christ's purpose!
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All the dirty shit of the Bible may turn most off, but I believe there is a reason it was all recorded, and is widely considered the Living Word of God.

You see, we are all flawed, and there is a reason for that mentioned at the beginning of His breath.

God set a standard, and we broke it. His Word, the Bible, records all that ensues, as well as His valiant effort/brilliant plan to redeem His own creation that chose to defect.

People may read the Bible, and assume God to be quite a fucked up being, and many refuse to believe in Him because of it.

If one is to take that part to heart, than perhaps they should also take the Bible as a whole to heart.

This goes for 'Christians' as well; STOP TAKING EVERYTHING OUT OF CONTEXT!

Before you make an opinion, which forever changes the course of your life, you owe it to yourself to thoroughly research what you are choosing to follow.

Faith is funny, in that we are told something and, perhaps, have an emotional experience, and then we take that as truth without 'chewing on the meat' of what just happened. Yes, faith means to believe in something that may not be absolute, but we do not have to be stupid about it.

I guess that is where I land right now: figuring out what is really true, and why it is true. I am tired of faking it. I am tired of living in fear. I would like to have an 'experience' that helps 'push me over the edge', but that is something I cannot place confidence in. If that is my lot, I accept it.