waiting for someone to come to him. He did not want to intrude and face rejection.
I too have felt this kind of loneliness. It is hard to understand.
Depression is undoubtedly the most contagious emotion of today. It is even prevalent among Christians. WHY? We’re supposed to spread love and understanding. It seems we are more likely to give criticism and un-needed advise than to simply provide love and a listening ear.
I have personally been hurt by Christian “friends” than anyone else. I have experienced an example that I hope no one else can relate to. I was on the phone with a minister that I thought was a friend. During this conversation he began to criticize. I replied: “with this kind of criticism, if I wasn’t as strong in Christ as I am, I would want to commit suicide”. He replied: “Well, you go ahead and jump brother, you don’t even have the nerve to do that”. I don’t know how he could call this love. I forgive him but hope he doesn’t apply this “love to anyone else.
That old saying ”sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hunt me” is not accurate. Words do hurt a lot.
It seems that when one reaches out to another for love and understanding, the other person feels inadequate or they are suffering from their own despair. Sometimes the easiest way to get someone to leave you alone is to lash out at them instead of reaching out to them.
I have said that hate and love are from the same coin. When one hates, it is usually because they have been un-loved. To bring love to a person who hates, you must love them in spite of their hate.
How many people who have reached out to the church or a friend for love and understanding have instead, been met by criticism or rejection. The world feels that the church only loves money and that they don’t care about others. It is unfortunate, but many times, this is the exact message we convey.
The Bible says to “go out into all the world and preach the Gospel”. It seems that today, we are too lazy to go out so we create programs and have concerts and revivals to try and bring the world to us. This does not work!
Revivals are not to bring sinners in and save their souls. Revival is for the Christian who may be discouraged and frustrated and to “revive” their enthusiasm for God and the salvation given to them and to share this with others.
Another problem facing us is fear. We are afraid to love because that love may cause someone else to think we love for the wrong reasons. If you show too much love to a child, you are a pervert. If you show too much love to one of the same sex, you are thought to be homosexual. If a married man or woman shows too much love to another man or woman, they are looked at as an adulterer. |
