Jesus redefines who we are, what we are about, and where we focus. We are under threat to miss his walk in our shoes for we who are committed in the church tend to look toward the reverent rules and not the needy people.
It is the strangest of all strangenesses to watch Jesus. He consistently bucked against the religious trends in favor of nameless societal underdogs. The woman at the well. The good Samaritan. The lame. The blind. The littler man up a taller tree. Jesus was obsessed with those who were unfortunate.
Why did this bug the religious leaders of Jesus' day? They weren't into people. They really weren't into legalism. They were obsessed with being right which leads to narrow-minded and deadening legalism. This is why the word righteousness is to grab our attention anytime it is used in the New Testament. His righteousness versus our self-righteousness is of constant contest.
I write via email to one of our members, who is in a federal prison, everyday. I have for months now. Just this week she told me about a block-mate who is in desperate need of encouragement. She has no family, no friends, and no funds even to receive emails....it costs 5 cents per minute of computer use.
My heart goes out to my friend...and now to this other woman who is in prison basically alone except for a random prison friend. That's all she has.
So it is where you walk. People need you. Some are trying to sneak to the well in broad daylight without being noticed. Others are atop balconies of wishfulness just hoping to get a glimpse of someone who knows the better road. Yet others would love it if the religious sort could put down our busy schedules long enough to notice that they are hanging onto the next day only by a thread.
Much needs to change in Washington. But first much needs to change in the church. May we increase in our drive to be obsessed with helping those who are in terrible binds. There are many...and we can/do make a difference....just like Jesus did.
If we are not caring for the needs of others (including strangers) among us, we are very wrong while we tell ourselves how we are the only ones right. People need help. We are in the helping business.
No comments:
Post a Comment