Second Thoughts – Blood is Thicker than Water

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes I will end the day with thoughts that are important to get out.  Usually I just write them and put them in my journal folder.  I have chosen that on occasion I will share them with you Dear Reader.

My heart is so hurt tonight.  I really believe that Christ followers are supposed to be an example to the world.  I really believe that through love and kindness we can make a difference.  I am ashamed that some of my fellow followers think for a moment that we should refuse refuge to anyone who is unsafe where they are.

In the country we are blessed.  We have more than we need.  We are mostly safe.  Still there are those who claim to follow Christ who say we should deny a safe haven to people because:

• They believe differently than us
• They might be terrorists in disguise
• They could possibly pose a threat
• We have our own poor to care for here
• We have homeless veterans
• We have homeless full stop

To all of this I say give up your lattes, summer cottages, or whatever excess you have and fix it all.  If the church would get off of their collective, tax exempt haunches and decide to end human suffering at any cost they could do it.  There are widows and orphans begging for bread.  How can we forsake them and say that we are righteous?  How can we sit by while children suffer?  How do we dare to care more about the football score than the statistics of those in need?

Mankind is OUR responsibility.  I heard someone self-righteously say that blood is thicker than water.  If God had that attitude he would not have shed his blood for these ugly bags of mostly water that we can humans.  I am conservative. I believe in God, the Bible, and that Jesus died for the sins of all humans. 

I also believe that he made it clear that our standard of success as followers is our love for the Father and our love for each other.  As I have said so often this includes friends, family, neighbors, strangers, and enemies.  Blood is thicker than water.  It is the God’s Blood that compels us to offer cups of cold water in his name.  It is Jesus that is the water of life.  We must not further shame the Gospel by ignoring the needs of others.  How can we hope for the world to hear us if we let them suffer, starve, and die?

We need to get off or our collective blessed assurance and make a difference in the world.  Please do this.  Please rise to the challenge and be more that banging gongs and crashing cymbals.  Please do something to end the human crisis that gives a foothold to those who murder and kill in the name of God.

If you find offence in my words please ponder this:  ISIS openly kills those who do not believe as they believe.  How are we any better if we do it through inaction and prejudice?  How can we call ourselves followers of the living Christ when turn away the needy out of fear?

Jesus took us in when the best we had to offer was filthy rags.  The Son shed is blood amidst mocking and torture to give us life. Now real humans with real needs are begging us for refuge.  We have the opportunity to pour the love of God into their lives.  What are you going to do about it Dear Reader?  In the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, our Anointed Redeemer, I ask you, what are you going to do?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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