Have You Seen Jesus?

           In case you have not noticed there has been a lot of discussion (if you want to call it that) about the pro/anti homosexual  debate lately. Between companies being boycotted, hateful slander (from both sides), and hurtful accusations I can barely keep my head on straight. I will not be making any stance on this topic, if that is what you are thinking. Truthfully my beliefs on these topics are absolutely none of your business and really I have no desire to know what you believe as well. But I have found myself on the verge of tears as I read Facebook comments and read articles surrounding this topic. I feel as though my heart has literally been broken in two just as our beautiful country has been. I mourn for Christians who have had their image and reputation destroyed and I mourn for the LGBT community as they feel hated and judged by the other “side”. Through all of this I find myself running to God in prayer. I want to fix this. It’s what I do, I fix problems. I make things better and yet this seems to be so out of control I wonder if the situation can be fixed. As I have leaned on God for support and guidance I have found myself asking the question “Where is Jesus?’. To be perfectly honest I don’t think he would have been standing on either side. In fact I don’t think he would have anything to do with the argument. I think Jesus would be in Colorado with the shooting victim’s families. He would be in Chicago washing the feet of the homeless man on the corner. Sitting with the girl who just got an abortion and telling her she is loved. In Africa holding a poor child who is starving and might not make it another night. I believe Jesus would be comforting a young woman who has just been mutilated because of oppressive thought processes. We would find him in Thailand protecting the victims of the sex trade. He would be holding the hand of the pregnant woman who just lost her child and wiping the tears off the face of the child whose parent just died in Iraq.

          This is the reality of our world and I hope I am not being too bold when I say that as humans we have totally missed the mark. There is a world of hurting people out there and we are stuck on this one issue. More PR has surrounded this highly debated topic than I have ever seen focused on the sex slave trade or world hunger. Now I have only taken a few Scripture classes and I do not profess to be a scholar in this area, but I believe Jesus spent his time with the outcasts, the sinners, the hurting, the sick, the widow, and the orphan. His time was not spent in the courthouse arguing against politicians. Yes he had his firm beliefs and yes he challenged ALL people to change their ways, but the majority of his time was spent loving and pointing people to His Father. Christians, we are not doing this by boycotting companies and arguing with others on Facebook. Jesus left a lasting impression not so much with his words, but with his actions. I choose to do the same. I choose to focus my time on the hurting and the broken. I choose to live in such a way that brings God’s Kingdom into reality. Will you join me?