What It's Like

I'm taking a little break from Mark today, I'll have a little bit longer post tomorrow, hopefully. For now, a little pop culture, albeit more than a few years old. I'm not a huge Everlast fan, but this songs message resounds with a theme that should not be unfamiliar to believers. (This is the edited version, I think it carries the same weight without the language"



Here's a song I have loved for a long time, despite a number of inappropriate lyrics, because the kernal of the message is one so close to the heart of Christianity. Christ came to earth to learn what it's like. He faced the temptations and issues that we face, so that he could never be accused of not understanding. He was tempted in all things in the same way we are tempted. In addition, He allowed Himself to be crushed under the burden of the sin of the world. But he emerged victorious, and because of that, we have victory, no matter what our circumstances or temptations are.

Furthermore, because of this redemption, we cannot force others to bear their burden of sin. When we see sin or temptation come into the lives of others, we need to respond with love, and point them to the cross. Forcing them to wallow in it, to carry the weight that Jesus has offered to bear, is not only unloving, its disobedience to what Christ has asked us to do. And I'm not just talking about unbelievers here. Many Christians need to unload their burdens at the cross as well, but we remind them, pointing them out as they try to take it off, reminding them of their sin. We need to allow our fellow believers to confess and move on. After all, isn't that what we want for ourselves?