Accepting Embrace part 1
I think the title of this Rant series is important. Because we're talking about "acceptance." But to me, acceptance is more than just tolerating something or someone. Acceptance--true acceptance that comes from true understanding--is an embrace. The same embrace, in fact, that Jesus wrapped us up in when His arms were open wide on the cross. When He was lifted up from the earth and He drew us all into Himself. And listen, I get that there's an aspect of tolerance in unconditional love. Otherwise it wouldn't be unconditional. I get that people are going to do things that you don't want them to do. But, as I think we saw in the last Rant series, that's where understanding comes in. Not judging what they do, but understanding WHY they did it. You can't love someone you don't accept, and you can't accept someone you don't understand. But when we begin to know and believe--to UNDERSTAND--the love of Christ that passes knowledge and understanding, that's when we can connect with literally anybody. That's when we can experience the connection of love. That's when we can live as different parts of the same body. See, an accepting embrace doesn't mean I agree with everything you do. It simply means I accept you. I'm not trying to change you. A big part of my ministry, right from the beginning, was an unwillingness to argue with people. If you're ok with what you believe... then I'm ok with it. You can--and will--believe whatever you want to. And, really, there's nothing I can do to change that. If you ask me what I believe, I'll tell you. But I won't argue with you about it. Because what I believe doesn't require you to believe it to. I can love you whether you agree with me or not. There's two sides to every story, right? And just because I may be on one side and you may be on the other doesn't mean I'm right and you're wrong. We spend a lot of time trying to be "right" when we ought to be spending that time loving each other. (And guess what: Loving each other is as right as you can be!) Acceptance means not trying to change someone. Being "ok" with them no matter what. But an accepting embrace is more than that. Deeper than that. There's a lot of things that people do that I don't like. But I can just shrug my shoulders and let it roll off me like water off a duck's back. I don't let it bother me. And that's one thing. And I think that's a good thing. Don't sweat the small stuff, right? But there's a more excellent way. Because even in the midst of someone doing something I don't like, I can still love them. I can still lay down my life for them. I don't have to PARTICIPATE in it--I don't think you should ever intentionally put yourself into a bad situation--but at the same time I don't have to condemn it either. Drinking, for example. I don't drink. But if somebody was drunk and called me for a ride... I can accept them as someone who drinks, and I can accept them as someone who needs help. And I always say, "I can't do everything, but what I can do I will do." So would I pick them up? I have, and probably will again. Will I try to get them to stop drinking? That's not my job. My job is to love people, not change people. To accept them and embrance them. To help them. But sometimes "help" looks a lot like "enabling" so we'll discuss that tomorrow.