Raw & Unfiltered
I’ve always felt comfortable with people who are ‘rough around the edges’. I highly value authenticity & honesty. Maybe that’s why I enjoy #NickOfferman’s character #RonSwanson from #Parks&Rec. There’s a down-to-earth grittiness there. While reading Nick’s interview (Nov. 2021) with @outsidemagazine & enjoying some ‘raw & unfiltered’ honey with breakfast, I had a moment, and it all began to come together.
At times, we Christians can confuse Christ-like character exclusively with excessive kindness (American culture is adopting it as a cure-all for societal ills now too), but it can actually become a barrier, an obstacle, to Our Father’s desire for radical (‘to the root’) #transformation inside and through us.
In our efforts to engender a feel-good, cozy community of #faith, at times we could be jeopardizing the #freedom and fullness of #life that #JesusChrist actually won for all humanity through his life (at times offending certain people, and throwing over tables for the good), death (pretty gritty & real) & resurrection (a punch to-the-face of death & the powers that-be) because we make being ‘nice’ the end game of society (culture-at-large is excelling at this) in an effort to not upset the boat, or offend someone, potentially at expense of their character (priceless), life (precious), and even eternity (perspective!).
#Love is often defined by society as all that makes one feel safe, warm, comfortable, protected, affirmed & cozy.. but what about that tough love that challenges us, shakes us up when we need it, even slaps us in the face to pull us out of our self-saturated arrogance & helps set us on a good, new, life-giving (real, not synthetic) path that empowers us to become the people we have yet to become?
Both the comforting love and the challenging love are as necessary as two sides of the same coin. One is easier to offer and is usually more welcomed. The other is more difficult and generally not as welcomed. Both though are offered with the best interests of the one in focus.. a desire to see them live into life full and #free.
I’m definitely NOT condoning the toxic, soul-crushing, vehement exchange that we often experience online & increasingly in-person. This isn’t an opportunity to do harm to another, but quite the opposite.. a chance to see another become & experience more of the life they desire, and that our good God and Father desires for them. Oftentimes we enter that life through a difficult journey, but it’s oh-so-worth-it!
So, speaking to God’s people, let’s welcome the comforting love of Our Father, but also the challenging love that He offers, so that we can become the daughters & sons of God that we are. Then, motivated by that same love -as the Word and Spirit guide us- may we not be afraid to offer the same comfort and challenge of love for the good of another- so they can find what they’re truly looking for (and what we all need one another to find as well): a free & full life (see Jesus in John 10:10, 8:31-36).
Yes, Jesus was killed for doing just this -speaking the #truth in #love (Ephesians 4:12-16)- but it’s what He said He came to do (John 18:36-37) for our good, and He changed the #world for good. ‘Raw & Unfiltered’ can be an incredibly good way to live if infused with #truth, #love and the requisite self-sacrificial posture toward others.
I’m reminded of something that the late singer/songwriter #RichMullins wrote on his album when I promoted a show with him in 1996, “Shane- Be God’s. -Rich”, which was a shortened version of a phrase he often wrote when signing his name.. “Don’t [only seek to] be good, [just] be God’s” [additions mine]. So maybe the #Church could benefit from a little more Ron Swanson in it- or even better, a lot more Jesus.
[Further reading: Hebrews 12:3-13, Bible]