One Prayer

Today we heard the message by Craig Groeschel, pastor of this church, and he spoke on Father Make us One! It was his prayer for the One Prayer series going on across the world. It was awesome. He talked about 1 enemy, 1 heart and 1 purpose. When I came home Dances with Wolves was on. It made me think about the message we heard this morning - Father make us one.
I'm sure you're asking how did Dances with wolves make you think about church...well, it was because I remember the emotion this movie would evoke in me when I watched it. The same emotion that would drive me to tears in my history classes as we watched movies about the holocaust and the civil rights movement. The emotion - an indescribable love for people groups that I don't know, people that are viewed as different, that have been destroyed by another's pride, arrogance, and quest for something better.
Then it hit me, isn't that what we as Christians do on a daily basis? Isn't that what Craig was talking about this morning? How many times have we prayed "God close down that bar. Destroy that strip club. God judge these people who have done me wrong." In our quest to find a better life, a more Christian community, have we forgotten that the bar down the street may be someone's livelihood, that strip club may be what puts food on the table, that person who has done you wrong might be crying out for help. Is there a better way to pray? Is there a way to show God's love without loving the sin? Is there a way to say "God turn that bar into a place that brings you glory. Save the people who own that place, help me show the love of Christ to the community I live in."
But the truth is we can't love the lost if we can't love each other. We can't show the lost the love of Christ if we are so busy beating up our own brothers and sisters who maybe dress a little different, talk a little different, don't share all the same beliefs on issues.