Footwasher

It is rarely a good day when Christians make headlines. It may be that I never find the ones about Christians doing good, but it seems we have given our peers a pretty bad taste in their mouth. In the end, I can't blame them. The Crusades were absolutely devastating to countries like Turkey, and the pain still resonates deeply. It's not hard to grasp why some people see religion as anti-peace. At surface level, the Coexist movement is pretty endearing. Imagine a tolerant society where we all respect each other and their beliefs; a society where we live in peace.

I'll be honest that I don't truly understand the God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament. I don't know if that He truly changed. Don't misunderstand, the God of the Old Testament is often seen as intolerant and destructive rather than the protector of His people. I struggle with the notion that God has changed. I mean, He is God and all. I may be naive to think that God doesn't change, but the Bible is rich of texts where we have pleaded with God and been answered. I don't know why the contrast occurs, at least in my mind, but I am reminded of God's passion for the Jews. He was their deliverer, their savior, their Lord God. The Bible tells an incredible story of God pursuing the hearts of His people, even if it involved war and conquering. Imagine the fear in their enemies' hearts! To hear tale after tale of the Jews sweeping through Judea and the rumors of how great their God is.

I don't know the Bible well enough to determine why Jesus seems so much more peaceful and forgiving than God, but I see the similarities in heart. God was saving his people (Exodus 6:6-8) because He loved them. Jesus became sin for us so that we may all be redeemed by God's Grace. I think we get it wrong because we try so adamantly to defend our faith that we become combative. Our lack of faith makes us so uncomfortable that we choose to fight than acknowledge that we don't know the answers. I can't prove God to anyone, but God has proven his existence to me, and that testimony is the only one that I can give. It's not about outsmarting someone and finding the flaws in their lack of faith, but I think it is about love. It's what Jesus did, and it worked out well. It worked out so well people died for Him, and it is by those apostles deaths that we continue to have the gospel spread today. Jesus' love was so strong and true that it was worth dying for. It was worth suffering for. Even Paul confessed that if this whole following-Christ-thing doesn't work out that he should be the most pitied man on Earth (my paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 15:19).

When I get to the heart of Christ, it is hard for me to relate to his death. I know not love like that. It is very uncomfortable for me to think about what I would die for. What really moves me about Jesus is that He washed my feet. It's not something I've ever done for someone, but it is a symbol. It represents that when we are at our filthiest, Christ is still there. Isn't that what true romance is? I guarantee my wife wants me to love her like that. Through strokes, Parkinson's or cancer my wife desires me to still love her at her lowest point. I want the same. Love like that is powerful, it moves the soul to the point of tears virtually every time (i.e. The Notebook). That is the love that Christ has for us. Despite being the Son of God, He got on his knees and cleaned the dirtiest part of my body.

What if we loved like that? What if we washed people's feet instead of bombing Planned Parenthood clinics? Instead of protesting the funerals of soldiers? Instead of marching against gay & lesbian rights? Instead of burning the Quran?

Whose feet would you wash?