How To Be Part Of The Solution

Dear American Christian,

If you have strong opinions on race relations, Baltimore, Ferguson, and the like but haven't shared a meal or deep conversation with a friend of another ethnicity this week, you're part of the problem...not the solution.

If you've used social media to share with others all the reasons why another faith group is wrong and evil, but you don't actually have relationships with people from that faith group, you're part of the problem...not the solution.

If you can lament endlessly about why a Christian baker shouldn't have to bake a cake for a gay wedding, but don't have one openly gay friend, you're part of the problem...not the solution.

If you pick your political candidate simply on his or her position on welfare reform, yet you don't give of your personal resources to care for the poor, you're part of the problem...not the solution.

If you've hopped from church to church to church, attending a new church every year because it better fits "your needs" you're part of the problem...not the solution.

Jesus said this in Luke 6: 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

What if we just started acting like Jesus and doing what He said? Let's be honest. It's hard and uncomfortable at times to be part of the solution. But Jesus calls us to it...so it's worth it.