"Lord Save Us From Your Followers" Personal Reflection
I asked KGF attendees Heidi Weins and Lorna Corbin to write their reflections on Sunday night’s movie presentation of “Lord Save Us From Your Followers. Pastor Mike
Heidi - Dan Merchant embraces the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 1:7: empowered, loving and self-disciplined. Through the film, “Lord save us from your Followers” Merchant takes us on a journey through America challenging us to be the hands and feet of our Savior and learning what Americans truly think of Jesus vs. Christians. Not a task for the timid!
Throughout the film Merchant shares many stories of Christians building relationships with: Hurricane Katrina victims, gay sisterhood of San Francisco and the people of Portland’s streets. And just as many stories of heart break where judgment and hypocrisy had turned beautiful people from the loving arms of Christ.It was such a blessing to be able to be a part of an intimate table discussion afterward. Individuals began to put words to some unsettling feelings brought out by the film. The discussion was a place to explore what it means for us as KGF to love our neighbors. I left feeling that building relationships and listening are two active parts of love here at KGF. That excites me because I am drawn to a community that values relationship and listening. And my guess is that others too find such individuals and community attractive.
Lorna - There were many emotions that swept over me while I watched this documentary, but I will only touch on three. The first was an empathy with the people that were turned off and away from Christians. I have been there and it caused me in my young adult years to not want anything to do with Christians and church again. But God in His grace drew me back to himself.
The other emotion was the need for me/us to repent of all the thoughts, words and deeds that have turned people away from seeing the love of Christ. I came home and did that. I asked the Lord to forgive me/us for religiosity that is so damaging to others in the name of Christ.’
The third emotion was the elation of seeing a person set out to discredit the work of Christians and come to see the incredible work that Christians are doing all over the world to help others in need.