What if we bonded together with the desire to learn more about one another, to know one another, instead of only banding together on thoughtless, polarized issues?
What if conversation to understand one another was our goal, not just powerless claims of our beliefs; loud statements on where we stand, silently screaming "I'm right, & I don't care why you think the way you do"?
What if we took to heart the wisdom that tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, instead of placing ourselves on our altars of worship and life?
What if we shared more of our experiences and relationships, instead of our opinions?
What if we rallied around victims of injustice and gave them power back over their lives, instead of stepping into the recently-vacated position of perpetrator?
What if we could answer, intelligibly, the question of why we stand where we stand?
What if we shared the freedom of relationship in our spiritual lives, instead of trying to dictate rules for everyone's life, and calling that faith?
What if we saw people, and treated them like a brother or sister, instead of using anything and everything to divide us, and further separate us?
What if we let love drive our relationships, instead of fear, judgement, self-preservation, and self-exaltation?
What if we didn't run from people, relationships, and lives that challenge us?
What if we didn't look down our self-righteous noses at anyone who thinks or believes differently than we do?
What if we embraced those who think differently, or act differently, or look different than we do?
What if we saw the world that's "going to hell in a hand basket" as our opportunity to be the church as she's supposed to be?
What if we didn't shy away from conflict, or from connection because of our own discomfort?
What if we sought God in each situation, and in each relationship before we spout off at the mouth?
What if we left the judgement up to God, and actually offered people the opportunity of relationship with God, outside of our judgement?
What if we took personal responsibility for every one of our relationships, desiring "connection" more than "correctness"?
What if we allowed ourselves to be accountable to those we're learning from, and those learning from us?
What if compassion outweighed our hypocrisy?
What if our presence alone was more powerful than our judgements, suggestions, or rules?
What if people really encountered the love of Christ by knowing us, instead of running from the image of god we've created?
What if who we are, individually and corporately, is ten times more powerful than anything we do in the name of religion?
Derailed; we've become more of a misrepresentation of the Kingdom we claim than an expression.
