We Weren't Worth It

Today is Good Friday.

Such an odd, but appropriate name for this day, the one that marks 2,000 years since the Son of God was brutally beaten and executed for no crime he'd ever committed. He was falsely accused, several legal proceedings were done incorrectly in an attempt by the religious and political leaders of the day to silence Him by putting Him to death as soon as possible.

This is the God who holds the world together, down to the smallest molecule. He was doing so while He was accused. While He was beaten. While He was mocked.

He could have stopped it at any time, but He didn't. Because He was obedient to the plan God has, because He loved you.

2,000 years ago Jesus hung between two thieves who were being punished for their sins. But He hadn't done anything worthy of punishment. YOU had.

If today doesn't move you, if you don't care, if you don't believe it has any significance, I'm pleading with you, please read the story. If you disagree still, if you find you 'can't' believe (though believe me, friend, if you WANT to believe, God will give you the faith you need), then that's fine. But I'm asking you to try. Mark, chapters 15 and 16, detail the story I think you should read again. Don't come at it with any preconceived notions, okay? Just read it. Think about it. 

And realize how little sense it makes.

My husband was preaching the other day on a parable (a story that has a lesson) that Jesus told. In it, the owner of a vineyard was trying to collect the profits and he kept sending servants and they kept getting beaten or killed. Finally, he sent his son, the only one he had.

And they killed him too.

I admit it. I got a little irritated (are pastor's wives even allowed to be irritated in church?) as I thought about this story. Seriously? The man sent random servants and they were killed. Yet he sent his son? To collect something of such little value as a portion of the profits of a vineyard? That wasn't worth the life of his son, not at all. As I sat there in my seat, thinking of how little sense it made, I felt like I'd been slapped.

God, the one who created the universe, sent His only son for us. Because He loves us and wants us back. Because He knew that the wrong we had done could only be atoned for by Jesus, a perfect sacrifice, dying in our place.

Logically speaking, we weren't worth it.

But God's logic isn't like ours. And to Him, we were more than worth it. 

If you're already a Christian, soak this in this Easter weekend. Remind yourself how unworthy you are of His grace, and of the fact that you've received it anyway.

If you're not a Christian, know this. I believe that Jesus' death provides a way of salvation for anyone who wants it. All mankind who acknowledge that He is the only way to Heaven. BUT I think if God had known that YOU were the only one who would accept that gift, the only reason for which His beloved Son would die? I believe He would have given Him for you anyway.

Wow.

Think about that this weekend. Let your mind try to wrap itself around the incomprehensible love of God. More to come Sunday.

Why I'm Not Boycotting Starbucks

And believe it or not, it has nothing to do with the fact that I love the taste of their coffee.

There are three things that are bothering me about this latest hate-on-Starbucks campaign. Here they are.

First, I don’t see what boycotting Starbucks is accomplishing. Yes, they’re pretty pro-gay marriage. I’m not. And if you’re a boycotter, I’m guessing you’re not either.  Let me make sure you understand where I’m coming from to start with.  I believe in marriage as I believe God defined it in the beginning. One man and one woman. I support that with my whole heart and will support that in public forums as it seems appropriate to do so. BUT if you’re a boycotting Christian, is this stance really the one you want a lost world to notice you making? Because the message they’re receiving is not that you care about your convictions. The message they see is that this issue is so above-all-else-important to you that you hate those who disagree with you. You want their businesses to suffer for the fact that they disagree.

And while I don’t think it’s what you mean, people who agree with Starbucks’ stance may think you hate them to. And that you think God hates them.

You don’t. At least, I hope not. He certainly doesn’t. So why would you risk sending that message?

Second, what is refusing to drink their coffee accomplishing? You’re trying to lessen their profits, right? It’s a “we’ll show them!” mentality. How is that appropriate as a Christian?

If you genuinely have a conviction against giving them your money when they support causes you disagree with, that’s fine. But please, be consistent and boycott Every. Single. Company. whose values are not in line with yours. Research them all. If you want to do that, by all means. That’s truly your choice and if that’s what you need to do, feel free. But don’t tell me it’s not okay to drink Starbucks and then turn around and support another company who’s less public in the causes they support that you disagree with, but that supports them nonetheless.

Third, as far as I can tell, the not-so-cutesy little photos going around facebook telling you to stop going to Starbucks are nothing more than gossip. Did you research that photo before you shared it? Or did you just think about the 85 likes you were going to get from fellow Starbucks-hating friends and not bother to fact check? According to my research, the CEO of Starbucks said something in the context of a meeting that made perfect sense. Someone pointed out that revenue dropped when they supported gay marriage. The CEO said if you don’t like it, feel free to invest somewhere else.

End of story. Anti-climactic, right? Nowhere did he say that if you’re anti-gay marriage, he doesn’t want your business. Isn’t that what the picture you’re sharing says? Turns out maybe that picture is a bit of self-righteous “telephone-telephone” gone wrong.

Think before you jump on the next bandwagon. That’s all I’m asking. Think, and pray.