Messy

Life is messy. Love is definitely messy. I suppose that anything worth investing in could be described as being messy at some point. But, why? Is it because people are stupid and don't know how to attempt life, love, and other mysteries successfully? Is there a formula that we have neglected to remember? Perhaps. Perhaps it's more along the lines of what Rob Hadding, Pastor at Harmony Ridge, has been talking about lately. Here's the low-down: We're made to be in community with one another. In Genesis, this idea is introduced when the Three-In-One God says, "Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness...(Gen.1:26a, emphasis in caps mine). Notice the words us and our. God speaks of Himself here using two plural pronouns. He creates us, male and female, to dwell together in unity...as one. Genesis 2:18 says that is isn't good for man to be alone. Notice that this is pre-fall. Even before sin entered into the picture, God said that it wasn't good for man to be without man. Rob said that the fall brought disintegration. There was a loss of cohesion. We like to be separate because of the fall. It's our bent since the fall. But in Christ, he says, this is reversed. Christ has restored the individual and He commanded that we be together, saying that it is evidence that we are kingdom citizens. But it's hard... right? "'Classic.' A book which people praise and don't read." Mark Twain Why? Because classics are generally hard to read. It's grueling at times. Rob says that it's hard to love people because they're annoying. They complain.etc. Sometimes we neglect to realize that WE are included in that "people." We isolate ourselves... Our culture is very anti-community...but Christ has commanded it from us. He will give us the ability to carry out this call. It's messy. It's labor. It's good. It's right. It's amazing.