Weightier Things

"As a long time vine poster/blogger I can say without doubt the "believers" are the most hate-filled, intolerant, violent, un-educated hypocrites as a single demographic out there." -richard-795963

"If more of us were like these people the world would be a much better place." -Jane-3247326

"I really think that this is how we (america) used to be before party politics and talk radio divided us into little groups of people who dont like other little groups of people. I see lots of mennonites all of the time, at the mall, store, everywhere. Very quiet, conservatively dressed, just really nice people." -ksdemocrat

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. -Matthew 23:23

The comments quoted above come from two different articles on msnbc.com.  The first article had to do with a new poll done across a whole bunch of countries showed that around 51% of those polled believed in some kind of supreme being.  The second article talked about how Mennonites from Mennonite Disaster Services are quietly working down in New Orleans to this day to continue helping people recover from Hurricane Katrina.

I thought the contrast between the comments on the two articles striking.  Obviously the first comment I posted is not aimed strickly at Christians or "evangelicals" but it is the type of comment that I have heard directed towards "us" many times.  Why would that be?  Well, we're known for being against gay rights, against gambling, against Hollywood, against abortion, etc. etc.   Now I am not saying that we are not supposed to stand against sin, BUT, our world and our country is full of sin and the effect of sin.  Which sins do we choose to focus on and combat?  Micah 6:8 tells us that God has told us what is good and what is required.  To do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.  Now which group seems to fit that description the best as far as public persona?  "The Right Wing" or the Mennonites?  These Mennonites working down in Orleans wouldn't even give their name to the reporter who reported on them because they didn't want to be prideful.  How many evangelical leaders have made names for themselves in opposing things?

I think we as an American gospel-centered church need to do  a reevaluation of what we choose to focus on, especially before the world.  In our fight against the sin that is in our society, is legislation and lobbying the weapons of our war?  Is media the battlefield?  Do we find ourselves wrestling against flesh and blood?    Can we find ways to serve the oppressed and help the poor and show great humility, holding to our values, but fighting sin with the good news of Jesus Christ instead of the law?    The Mennonites do a great job of standing apart from society.  They reject the sin they see in society much better than the "evangelical" church.  They dress more humbly and and modestly than many of our young women, they shun wordliness more than we do, and yet they are known more for the mercy and humility than what they are against.  Maybe we're doing it wrong by adopting a favorite sin of society and being known for being a crusader against that.  After all, what did Jesus do?