What Do You Mean "Change?"

Why do you see the splinter that’s in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye? How can you say to your brother or sister, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when there’s a log in your eye? You deceive yourself! First take the log out of your eye, and then you’ll see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye. 

--Matthew 7:3-5

Q: How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer 1: At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad.

Answer 2: Change?????

As a pastor, it is a constant part of my role in preaching, teaching, and leadership to point people toward change.  In fact, the church stands up to the world and invites it to a better way of life by putting Christ first – if the world would only listen.

Here is the hard truth: we want others to do what we are unwilling to do ourselves.  When we can point back 20, 30, 60+ years to the way that we have done things, do we think this compels others to examine their bad habits?  When the world cannot see the difference that our church members make in the community (much less the church as a whole in the surrounding area) why would they listen to our call to be different.

Before we begin to ask others to change, we are called to be changed ourselves.  This does not mean that we change the paint on the walls or (God forbid) change the color of the carpet.  Those are actually superficial changes.  Instead, we are called to change the nature of who we are and the basis upon which we make our decisions. 

 

What if the church was transformed into the Body of Christ that consistently carried our acts of justice, mercy, and humility?  What if we stood firm with those who cannot stand for themselves?  What if our love for each other was so strong and so apparent that the whole world looked amazed and said, “See how they love each other!”

We want to change the world for Christ and, at times, we feel that there is nothing that we can do to change ‘them.’ Our assumption points to our mistake.  Christ invites us to change. He invites us to be transformed.  He calls us to go and teach and make disciples – every one of us.  As we change and let the light of Christ shine through us, others will see our work and give glory to God (Matthew 5:16).

Grace and Peace,

Not a Spectator Sport

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles,[e] some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 

--1 Corinthians 12:12-17

As fall approaches, the days begin to shorten, the mornings begin to cool, and people everywhere seem to be infected with a most curious disease called football.  Football, especially college football,  is like a religion in many places around the US. 

Rising before the sun, scores of faithful fans begin the trek across the state to spend all day tailgating in preparation for the big game. The crowds roar and are filled with a passionate frenzy that hits a crescendo if their team wins following a close contest. Many pastors have longed for people to “get ready for worship the same way they get ready for games.”

I don’t.

Football, by nature, is a spectator sport.  We show up to watch the players on the field.  We listen to the commentary.  We might even get a bite to eat.  When we return to our cars, we leave the game behind.  Win or lose, the contest is over, and it is time to get on with our lives.

I don’t want Christians to approach worship as they do football because following Jesus is not a spectator sport.

God has called us by name, claimed us in the waters of baptism, and empowered us through the Holy Spirit.  Each one of us has a role to fill; each one of us has a ministry for which God has prepared us.  Only as the whole church, the entire Body of Christ, answers the call of God can we fulfill God’s mission as intended.  No person is insignificant. Not a single person is unimportant.  We all have a place in this journey of faith. For in the life of a disciple, we can never be content to simply sit and watch. We are all part of the team, part of the Body of Christ, sent out for mission and ministry every day of our lives.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor James