Compelled?

So. I am done with politics. It is too compelling to me. As it is or will be to others with an altruistic bent - though rarely will these people realize their addiction to the game. And yes, I know there are those of you who either can't comprehend this and/or think I am cracked; c'est la vie.

I realized some years back that I was addicted to life; not being alive but how I lived. I have wanted and still do want certain things in this life. Who doesn't, eh?

Tell me, how many of you feel compelled? Compelled to do what you ask. Well, for those of you who claim Christ as your Lord and Savior, do you feel compelled by His love? No, that doesn't answer the question of compelled to do what but it does define a state of being. A continual state of being because of Him.

Confused? Well, don't worry. Hopefully between prayer and talking to other Christians and just thinking about it, it will come to you.

In earlier times the word compel had a generally positive connotation but now... We feel compelled to do something about something we perceive as a wrong; we must right a wrong. To the political right maybe you have been caused to feel compelled to stop abortion. On the left, stop discrimination to .

To use politics as an example, whether you are on the political left or right, if you call yourself Christian then likely Pat Robertson or D. James Kennedy (though Doc Kennedy's been dead since 2007 - or as his former pastorate's web site says, "...(he) entered the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on..."), James Dobson or the folks with the American Family Association and the Wildmon family exhorted you, every chance they got, to get involved in picking the President of the United States. If only just to send money to their ministries to enable them to do the work better.

After scaring some of you witless about the impending doom someone like Barak Hussein Obama would spread upon the land should he become president - or to be fair to you "progressives" your information sources have you worried about anyone and everyone they say, John McCain being your worry in 08 - well, the feeling you had from their scare tactics is called Envy and the reaction you had to get involved was compelled by your envy.

Some of you, having written a check to James Dobson or Move On.org, will no longer feel compelled. If your altruism runs high maybe you have felt compelled (if you were alive then) since Richard Nixon was president and you haven't let up yet.

The question on the table though is for you Christians: do you feel compelled by Christ's love and if so, what is that feeling like? I don't know. Really. 

I have been too compelled to worry about the manner of my life: what I will eat, drink, wear, where I will live, what car will I drive, will I find a life companion, will I need Viagra or one of the other anti-impotency drugs for when the moment is right and on and on and on... Only, I shouldn't be (too compelled), should I? Should you?

II Cor. 5:14-20 (the words in all caps are my emphasis):

For CHRIST'S LOVE COMPELS US, because we are CONVINCED that ONE DIED for all, and therefore ALL DIED. And He DIED for ALL, that those who live should NO LONGER LIVE for THEMSELVES but for Him who DIED FOR THEM and was RAISED AGAIN.

So FROM NOW ON we regard NO one from a WORLDLY point of view though we ONCE REGARDED CHRIST in this way, we DO SO NO LONGER. THEREFORE IF ANYONE is in Christ HE IS A NEW CREATURE; the old things passed away, behold, NEW THINGS HAVE COME. NOW all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and GAVE US the MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION, NAMELY, that God was in Christ RECONCILING the world to Himself, NOT COUNTING THEIR TRESPASSES AGAINST THEM, and He has COMMITTED to US the WORD of RECONCILIATION.

THEREFORE, WE ARE AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through US, we beg you on behalf of Christ, be RECONCILED to God. He made Him who KNEW NO SIN to BE SIN on OUR BEHALF, SO THAT WE might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD in HIM.

Somehow, call me crazy, but I think that the apostle Paul has told us we Christians have something more to do than hit "church" once a week, listen to the local Christian radio station or work for peace and justice (and the American way?), whatever working for "peace and justice" means exactly, if you're on the left side of the house.

What prompted my eruption described in my inaugural post was this question and a hundred (thousand?) more and to attempt to live as my Savior compels me. And the thing is I find few, if any people in "the Church," who can help me grow and live in Christ as I believe the Scripture has commanded me. No offense.

Think of me as an alcoholic who can't find an AA meeting, a druggie who can't find an Alanon meeting, addicted to sex and can't find an SA meeting.

The point here is that my addiction is life. Who else will admit their addiction and then we can get together once, twice, five times a week and help each other out like the men and women at AA, Alanon, or SA (Sex Addicts Anonymous)?

No! - I am not hinting at a 12 step program and I am not talking about going to "church!" I'm talking about the alternate life that Paul directs our attention to.

I once told my agnostic - well she admits to once attending the United Church of Christ so...um - shrink that I could count on one hand the number of people I have known that I knew ON SIGHT were Christians; true believers. They have an air of peace about them. They had no worries or fears. They were being and are compelled by His love.

Well, just a thought, a provocation or two. Something to think about.

Until next time, may you feel compelled and feel His peace,

+Scott