Jesus wept~part 2

I think it is profoundly important to understand that each person is on a spiritual journey.

It is not up to you, or me, or any particular church to dictate what that journey should look like, or how it should be undertaken.

God meets each one of us right where we are. It is up to him to choose both the moment and the way in which he reveals himself to us.

Scripture tells us that Jesus himself stands at the door knocking. He waits for our invitation to enter. He is a respecter of persons.

I believe Jesus weeps when we cause one another harm by imposing our own spiritual beliefs upon one another. In essence, we wound Christ also, since scripture is clear that what we do to/for the least of our brothers/sisters we do to/for Him as well.

Yesterday, I shared an early church experience that was hurtful to me. I do not believe that any one of the eight women at that table meant to be hurtful. I think they were simply too unprepared and too inexperienced to deal with someone like myself, who was so unchurched, so afraid, and so desperate for a deeper sense of community.

They weren't sure how to embrace me in my own unbelief; but Christ does, and he did. Ultimately, Christ redeemed even that moment in my life and he continues to do so in ways that are still new and surprising to me.

So my brothers and sisters, I beg of you, let each of us individually, and collectively as the body of Christ, be a respecter of persons.

It isn't necessary for us demand or to push back one another's eyelids in order for anyone of us to see the "light". That's the Holy Spirit's job.

Nor should we fear the tough questions or one another's unbelief. Jesus never did. He never did, not once.

One thing Jesus did do though, is Jesus wept. I can testify to this truth because yesterday morning, Jesus wept for me, just as I believe he wept for each of those women who sat so restrained and aloof from me all those years ago.

Yes, that much I know.

Jesus wept.