With every fantasy football season, I have to name my new team. I usually try to come up with a name that has a deeper or double meaning. For instance, to honor my big brother the season after he died from Covid, I named my team “Lil’ Box Truck” because he had named his team “Big Box Truck” a decade earlier in the league because of an inside joke. Another year I named my team “Enter the Dragon” based on my favorite Bruce Lee movie. Another season I named my team “Sodapopinski” based on my favorite character to fight in the Nintendo game, Mike Tyson’s Punchout.
“Yeah, but…” “What about…” . Yep that pretty much sums it up for me. Do I really have to do all that Jesus? Tough to swallow indeed, but it's right there for us to read.
I have been part of the Church for decades and I fear that much of what others outside the Church think of us is well deserved. The last 6 or 7 years has been especially troublesome for me. to the point I no longer want to be categorized as an evangelical Christian. When I read this post the thought that came to my mind was - You cannot grasp for earthly power and be the servant that Jesus has modeled for us. Sadly, this is what I see today in much of the Church in America; the grasping for political power (no matter the damage to our Christian witness) to protect our inalienable rights. And while this may not be directly preached from the pulpit, it is what I have seen and experienced with a large portion of the Church’s people. And what is the Church other than the people who populate its sanctuaries.
I am just as guilty of this as the next person, but I don’t want to be that person anymore.
I appreciated your point regarding the American obsession with unalienable rights. Paul is especially clear that we should surrender our rights for the salvation of our neighbors (1 Cor. 8:13).
I am a bit confused, though, about the servant list and what you are implying. This may be because of how our culture (and thus myself) has come to define the word "rights" - namely, as having or possessing something as your own. Could you elaborate more on this portion of your post? Thanks
This one was so rich! My favorite part was “Dying to Self”. . . again, thank you Kent!
“Yeah, but…” “What about…” . Yep that pretty much sums it up for me. Do I really have to do all that Jesus? Tough to swallow indeed, but it's right there for us to read.
I have been part of the Church for decades and I fear that much of what others outside the Church think of us is well deserved. The last 6 or 7 years has been especially troublesome for me. to the point I no longer want to be categorized as an evangelical Christian. When I read this post the thought that came to my mind was - You cannot grasp for earthly power and be the servant that Jesus has modeled for us. Sadly, this is what I see today in much of the Church in America; the grasping for political power (no matter the damage to our Christian witness) to protect our inalienable rights. And while this may not be directly preached from the pulpit, it is what I have seen and experienced with a large portion of the Church’s people. And what is the Church other than the people who populate its sanctuaries.
I am just as guilty of this as the next person, but I don’t want to be that person anymore.
jfp
Great words, Kent. Thank you for sharing.
I appreciated your point regarding the American obsession with unalienable rights. Paul is especially clear that we should surrender our rights for the salvation of our neighbors (1 Cor. 8:13).
I am a bit confused, though, about the servant list and what you are implying. This may be because of how our culture (and thus myself) has come to define the word "rights" - namely, as having or possessing something as your own. Could you elaborate more on this portion of your post? Thanks