| From the Pastor’s Heart….
Is following Jesus just good theory or is it really our lifestyle? |
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What would you think
about someone who stood up, made a proclamation, and then lived a life that was
in violation of what they said? The word “hypocrite” comes to mind. Is it
really possible to say one thing and live another? In the purest sense of the
idea I’m afraid I may be guilty of preaching one thing and acting another.
What I mean is that if you followed me around long enough (especially my
impatient driving) you might find me violating some of the very things I preach
against or at least not always doing something that I preach about that we
should do. It isn’t that I live in rebellious, unrepentant sin; it’s just
that I am not perfect. I think I would be safe to assume that all Christians are
in the same boat, daily battling sin and not always overcoming. It isn’t that
we don’t desire better, it’s just that sometimes we fail. The problem comes
though, when the gap between how we live becomes so wide that our life no longer
resembles what we say. That is when the word “hypocrite” seems fitting, but
the matter of theory VS practice is something to think about.
I have been reading
through Exodus and in chapter 19 God prepares the people for receiving the law.
He tells Moses to relay to the people that if they obey and keep His covenant
then they will be His special treasure, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Moses then called the people and told them all that the Lord had commanded him.
The people listen to what Moses says and they respond, “All that the Lord has
spoken we will do.” What a proclamation! It is quite a statement to fulfill.
We know that they were not able to keep that promise but it was a great thing in
theory to say. I see Israel as a pretty clear picture of how we are. I think it
probably is pretty easy to say what we believe, what we should do, or what the
Bible says, but much harder to live it. Sometimes we may find ourselves
repeating truths and realizing they have just become theories and we don’t
really practice it in our daily lives.
Not long ago Bev,
Renel, Kayley and I were returning home from a mission trip in Peru. Flying home
we went through customs and then gave our luggage back to the airlines to fly on
to our last stop. As I approached the lady working for the airlines, she was
obviously having a bad day as she very impatiently told me to put our suitcases
in a certain place. She then proceeded to grab our bags and throw them onto the
conveyor belt. I was sure everything that was breakable in the luggage did just
that. We exchanged some words, not nasty or bad ones, and went on our way, up
the escalator and on to our terminal. I then proceeded to the customer service
desk and lodged a complaint. I’m ninety nine percent positive that it didn’t
make any difference but somehow I felt better. Afterwards I mulled over what I
did wondering if it was the godly thing to do or not. Was she wrong? Totally.
Was she disrespectful and unkind? No doubt. Did she deserve a reprimand? For
sure. The question that kept haunting me though, was I the one to reprimand her
or could I have done something different. I came to the conclusion that I should
not have complained and I should have tried to say something to the lady that
would have helped her deal with her day. The truth of being able to bless others
when they abuse your suitcase was all theory and no practice. The deeper
question remains: am I able to be wronged and still be a blessing to those who
have wronged me? In theory, yes. In practice, it is so hard! If it is too hard
then my tendency is to take the easy road and do the easy thing.
Jesus’ asks us as
His followers to do impossible things. That’s a good thing. We can’t follow
Him without the empowering and changing work that God does in us. It is ongoing
and it is daily. It’s no lie when we sing the song, “I Need Thee Every
Hour.”
Looking back, I
missed a good opportunity to show grace to a lady that at the moment seemed to
hate life, her job, and not liking customers too well either. I could have
helped her; I took the easy, fleshly way out. The good news is that I’ve
repented, and I realize anew that daily, moment by incident, I’m called to
live in such a way that resembles Jesus. The Bible says that living that way
brings glory to God… even if it’s the hard thing to do.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
Your pastor, Tim.