Porcupine (Prickly) Christians...We Love You!

Beloved,

I hope and pray that you, your family, and your friends enjoyed celebrating the Fourth of July holiday, our nation's Independence Day; although, as I have taught and preached, as Christians, every day is "In Dependence Day" when it comes to our relationship with God.

In being "In Dependence" Christians, we must understand that we are duty bound by God to serve God and, in serving God, we are duty bound to serve others, each other.

And, it can be hard serving each other when some of us are hard to serve. Some of us can be prickly to deal with because of some inconsistencies and issues in our spirits, our hearts, and our minds that comes through in what we say and what we do.

I call such Christians, "Porcupine Christians". Porcupine Christians can look nice and easy until you have to deal with them on certain topics, issues, and situations. Then, you see another side of them. That easy to get along with brother or sister in Christ will prick you like when you try to pick up a porcupine and get stuck by one of it's quills.

Now, you might say, "Well, if I find myself dealing with a Porcupine Christian, I am just going to leave them alone and have nothing to do with them."

Beloved, if you adopt such a mentality and others do the same, we will have no church.

Why? Because, give any of us the right situation, circumstance or issue, and any of us can become a Porcupine (Prickly) Christian.

So, what are we to do when some of us Christians act like Porcupine (Prickly) Christians? We are to love each other through our situations, circumstances and issues.

In Romans 15:1-2, the Apostle Paul wrote, "We who are strong (in some situations, circumstances, and issues) ought to put up with the failings of the weak (in their situations, circumstances, and issues), and not to please ourselves (by ignoring the weak in their situations, circumstances, and issues). Each of us must please our neighbor (even if they are a Porcupine (Prickly) Christian) for the good purpose of building up the neighbor."

Beloved, as a church family, and I am not limiting this to Zion Memorial, we have to be there for each other when we fail and when we fall. Why? Because that is what it means to represent Christ.

As a Christian, each engagement you have with another person, even a Porcupine (Prickly) Christian, is a chance for you to represent, to re-present, to show again, Christ to that person. If they do not receive the love of Christ from you, then who are they supposed to receive the love of Christ from?

Beloved, the word of God tells us that our body is supposed to be the temple of the Most High God and the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Make sure that you let God come out of you, the God who is love, especially for those Porcupine (Prickly) Christians.

Beloved, let us connect, one and all, for Noonday Prayer to show and share the love of God to and for all.

Beloved, let us connect, one and all, for Zion's sermonic message at 3pm on The Light radio/internet station to show and share the love of God to and for all.

Beloved, let us connect, one and all, on Sunday to worship in unity and solidarity to show and share the love of God to and for all.

And, as you show and share the love of God to and for all, even for those Porcupine (Prickly) Christians, remember that God loves you and I love you too!

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain