Affirmation part 5
To affirm someone is to acknowledge them. To let them know that they have value. That they exist, and are important. As able bodied minsters of the New Covenant--the Government of Affirmation--that's our "job." That's what true ministry is all about. It's not about being on a sin hunt. Not about point out people's flaws and condemning them for every screwup. It's not about telling people what to do. It's about telling people who they are. Telling them who they are in Christ by telling them who Christ is in them. And guess what: If we stop condemning people and start affirming them, maybe they'll stop running FROM God and start running TO God. Hypocritical condemnation is not attractive. And, listen, I'm not saying we preach just any old thing to get people to come to church. Not at all. What I'm saying is, the TRUE Gospel is so attractive that people will see it and want it. They want it already. Because the true Gospel is love. And that's what everybody wants. But it's a rare thing. Especially when we present this angry, distant, taskmaster of a God who demands things from us that we can't possibly do and then strikes us down when we fail. THAT'S NOT GOD. God is love. The only way to accurately present God to people is by loving people. Not condemning them, but affirming them. Not kicking them when they're down, but helping them up. See, in the Old Covenant--the Government of Condemnation--everything was based on what WE did. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Love, and you will be loved. But in the New Covenant it's all about what JESUS did on the cross. Forgive, BECAUSE you are forgiven. Love, BECAUSE you are loved. Receive the gift of God and release it to everybody in your path. Don't try to change people--because that will only lead to frustration. People are going to do what they're going to do and you CAN'T change them--but instead just love people. Remember Paul said he was all things to all people? Which doesn't mean you put yourself in a bad situation, but it does mean you find a way to connect with every and anybody. That connection, in a Word, is love. Love is the glue that binds us together. Love is the true affirmation of life. Because to live is to love and to love is to live. You can't have one without the other. You can't do one without the other. You have to love someone in order to affirm them, because if you don't you'll get stuck on the surface stuff. Guys, love isn't blind. Love sees clearly. It sees PAST the surface stuff. It sees PAST what you do and into who you are. The inner man. The hidden man of the heart. The true you. Jesus. God in the flesh. Love in a body. God in YOUR flesh. Love in YOUR body. That's who you really are. And when you stop trying to be someone else and just rest in the truth of who you are... that's when people see something better. That's when they see a more excellent way. That's when they stop running from God and start running to God. When they know He loves them. When they know YOU love them. Affirmation: You exist. You have value. You're important. I like you just the way you are. It's you I like, not the things you do. I love you.