Love the Sinner - not the sin!

Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.Martin Luther King Jr


     I knew a man who was so full of pain, bursting at his seams, that it came out in acts of violence against the ones he loved.  One day after inflicting his pain onto others I saw in his eyes a loss of hope.  All I could say is, "Why?"  I will never forget his response as long as I live.  It was not only in his words, but I saw it even deeper in his eyes, "It's all I know."
     That day changed me.  I had a fear of this man like I feared no other person on this earth, but I also had a love for this man that I am only now understanding.  I understood then and understand now the rage.  I understand the pain so deep that all you have is the ability to lash out, though you have no control over when or who.  I can see now the enemy screaming in his hear, because that was the familiar voice of his childhood that is who he listened to.  He couldn't hear God, because he couldn't trust God.  God was authority and abused little boys and girls learn quickly, "Don't trust those with the power."
     This is where my passion is.  These are the forgotten.  These are the abused of yesterday who are the abusers of today.  These are the children society has not only forgotten, but turned their backs on after pointing an accusing finger.  How many of us were screamed at as children only to turn around and scream at our own children?  How many of us were laughed at, only to turn around and laugh at our children?  How many of us were broken and broke our own children?  People who were hit, hit others.  People who were neglected, neglect others.  People who hurt, hurt others.
     Breaking the cycle is difficult.  It's taking everything you know and throwing it out to be replaced by all new thoughts and ideas.  In our society we throw out the old and buy new.  We hire young kids fresh out of college so we can train them to think the way we want them to think.  "They are old and set in their ways."  "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."  God can.  God can get in somebody's brain and totally redecorate.  We find out through Him that the weak are really strong.  That a true Spiritual Warrior fights the enemy by resting in Him.   Fighting by resting?  God's thinking is soooo opposite of the thinking of this world.  We want to "Keep up with the Jones", then find out that the richest man has nothing but all of Jesus.  
     Paul killed, tortured and abused Christians.  God turned him around by making him blind so he could see.  Who are we to judge?  God loved him. 
     There are demons roaming around this planet wreaking havoc, and likely you will encounter a person under the influence of a demon screaming in his ear.  Remember the words of Paul.  (Ephesians) ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Love a broken child in an adult body.

“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” -C.S. Lewis