Have you ever played this game before? You are stranded on a deserted island and you can only take three things with you to survive…what would you take? It has gotten a lot harder now because you could answer it with smart answers like, “an international cell phone” or “global positioning system”. But a few years back you really had to think about it. Would you take a book? If so which book? Would you take a person with you? If so which person? It really made you think about what was really important in life; what things you value.
As a follower of Jesus we are faced with a very similar question in today’s world…what is important to us? Much of what we have held as important is being stripped away and we have to discover what really matters. We can look back at days of yester-years when Wednesday nights were sacred in the community and everyone was involved in church functions. That does not happen anymore. There was a time when prayer was as much a part of school as reading and writing. That does not happen anymore. It causes us to re-think what is important in our relationship with Christ.
We also have to think about what is important when we gather together? As we study God’s Word what are the essentials to be the Body of Christ? There were things that growing up I was told were essential that I have since discovered are not found in scripture. We live in a culture that desires authenticity. They not only want to know what works, but why it works. As we look to allow God be relevant in our lives and in the lives of those we encounter we have to be able to answer the questions that are given to us clearly as to what is important.
What the Church in America is experiencing is no different than what was experienced by Calvin, Luther, Augustine, Aquinas and even the leaders within the church immediately following the original apostles. This was part of the reason why in the 2nd Century The Apostles Creed was developed. It defined what was essential. What was important. Everything else could be debated, but these things that are included in this creed were important.
That same thing was asked of Jesus. What is really important? The religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus all the time and would ask Him questions hoping to capture Him. What they discovered is what was really important to Jesus. He was not concerned about the trappings of religion that the leaders had added to their faith. He was concerned about their heart. He was concerned about their concern for their neighbors. He scaled back all of the other “stuff” that had been added and made it simple. Change your heart and change your world.
This question needs to continue to be discussed…what is important? What is essential? Jesus answered it already…Change your heart and change your world. How are you going to answer it?
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Howdy Tim there is a picture in the beginning of John 8 of a women caught in the wrong bed let us say. i believe Jesus gives a clear picture here of two apposing forces.
ReplyDeleteTeacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him." The trap is laid, they all had their stones.Then Jesus disarms these religious killers with one statement."If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Thump thump thud go the stones and from oldest to youngest away they went. Jesus said Woman, where are they? Has no-one condemned you? No-one, sir, she said. Then neither do I condemn you, Jesus declared. Go now and leave your life of sin." To me this is the difference one group has its rules and it s rocks at the ready. the other merely says i have no condemnation for you go and stop sinning. The weapons that were to take this woman's life were in their hands and the power of Jesus words disarmed them. Change your heart and drop that rock.