The Romans were famous for polytheism. Their soldiers carried the typical reputation of tough guys with little regard for local people. Yet, in this account the Romans actions were more noble than those of the Jewish leaders. The elders and chief priests engaged in a murder plot while the Roman commander and centurions worked to save Paul. If I were a simple bystander, I would never have been influenced to seek to know God via the priests. Actually, I might have asked the commander what guided his steps?
A couple of days ago I watched a popular athlete thank his Lord for an award he received. Often this happens in sports -- crossing the end zone, after a win or receiving a trophy is followed by some recognition of God. The same guy may also be in tabloids for his sexual escapades, may live with someone other than his wife, may make millions of dollars that he spends on himself but at the right moment he knows when to sound noble. At the same time that I watched the athlete on TV, I counseled a person who had been sexually and financially abused by a Christian. Actually not just a Christian but a Christian leader. It struck me that things don't really change a lot. If I were a bystander, I would not be inclined to ask the Christians about their God but I might be drawn to ask the athlete.
It is a dangerous thing to be a representative of God. We influence lives without thinking. Our mistakes often speak louder than the sum of our victories. Due to our errors, people seek God in all the wrong places. I don't think I want to be like the soldiers or athletes that seem to flip a switch of goodness at certain times. Nor do I want to be the priests and elders who totally lost sight of how to represent God. I guess the other option is to be Paul, the guy in chains for his convictions. Most of us don't want to be there but he seemed to be the only one in the story that really lived out his professed beliefs. He was probably the only one that could sleep well at night. He is certainly the only one whose name has endured in a positive light throughout the centuries . . . and the only one whose name is still connected with representing God.
So here's to the powerless people in the story of life; those who live their convictions and let the consequences fall where they will. May I be blessed to be counted in that number.
Showing posts with label leaders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leaders. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Mark 15:1-15; Truly Right
The drama plays out with three groups, i.e., Jesus, the leaders and the crowd. Jesus was the same throughout the events; he was resolute from the moment he entered Jerusalem. His message, demeanor and confidence never changed. The leadership never changed either. The priests had worked for quite a while to stop Jesus; now they pulled in Pilate out of necessity to achieve their goal. The crowd changed by the minute. On Thursday they shouted "hosanna" but on Friday they shouted "crucify".
Jesus lived for a higher goal and was controlled by a heart that put the Shema into practice. The leaders lived for their personal goals and were controlled by the Shema when it was convenient. The crowd had no goals and were controlled by others.
So which one am I? As a good North American middle-class boomer, of course I have goals. Boomers hate to be part of the crowd; we were weaned on the book "The Pursuit of Excellence". So most days find me pursuing something. But for whom and how? Honestly reading Jesus' encounters with the leaders always makes me nervous because they acted in the name of their beliefs. Many of them were just misguided; some were manipulative but others surely were honest. That is what terrifies me, i.e., I have been honest and earnest and dead wrong before. How do I avoid falling into that category again? It seems to me that both the priests and Jesus claimed to act in the name of God. The difference was who lived out the Shema. Who acted like God acts towards others? At any given moment, who looked like they were embodying the first and second commandments?
For that reason, being right is not nearly as important to me as it used to be. For I have been right doctrinally and violated the second commandment at the same time. Ultimately, there is no way that combination can truly be "right". Only if my neighbor (friend, enemy, student, etc) feels my love for him at the same time that I hold to "truth" can I be truly "right".
Jesus lived for a higher goal and was controlled by a heart that put the Shema into practice. The leaders lived for their personal goals and were controlled by the Shema when it was convenient. The crowd had no goals and were controlled by others.
So which one am I? As a good North American middle-class boomer, of course I have goals. Boomers hate to be part of the crowd; we were weaned on the book "The Pursuit of Excellence". So most days find me pursuing something. But for whom and how? Honestly reading Jesus' encounters with the leaders always makes me nervous because they acted in the name of their beliefs. Many of them were just misguided; some were manipulative but others surely were honest. That is what terrifies me, i.e., I have been honest and earnest and dead wrong before. How do I avoid falling into that category again? It seems to me that both the priests and Jesus claimed to act in the name of God. The difference was who lived out the Shema. Who acted like God acts towards others? At any given moment, who looked like they were embodying the first and second commandments?
For that reason, being right is not nearly as important to me as it used to be. For I have been right doctrinally and violated the second commandment at the same time. Ultimately, there is no way that combination can truly be "right". Only if my neighbor (friend, enemy, student, etc) feels my love for him at the same time that I hold to "truth" can I be truly "right".
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