Reason #7

7. I left the church because I didn’t want to be anyone’s “project.”  (Rachel Held Evans) 

I began to listen to Coldplay when I heard the song - Fix You.  Sure it is a great song for many reasons, but what a great message for life.  How many times has it been my desire to fix what broken in my family, friends and even in my own life.  What a natural desire for us to want to be someone who could fix someone else.  

Followers of Christ have a huge temptation in this area.  Jesus has so helped transform our hearts and lives that it is natural for us to want that for other people.  But the problem comes when we forget that it is God who is the one and only mediator between God and people.  (1 Timothy 2)   God is the healer!  God is the one who can fix the broken heart!  I may at time get to play a small role in God's plan to heal and or fix things, but it is only because the Holy Spirit of God lives in me.  

Followers of Jesus must invest their lives in other people.  It is our calling!  It is our purpose!  But we must realize that people are not our projects, they are God's projects.  We are called to love people and be an example of God's incredible grace and mercy.  I believe this shows up most if we are unwilling to continue down a path of friendship with someone who does not follow Jesus.  If you invest in someone because of the love of God is calling you, then you will continue to love them even if they never come to your church or never get any closer to God.  If they are your project, you will get frustrated with their lack of progress and you will quit investing in them.  If they are your project you will somehow try and take credit if God does transform their hearts and lives.  

We are called to love like Jesus - learning to love others unconditionally.