First the bad: “…a family in Texas pretends to be Christian so that their children won’t be excluded from play dates.” (h/t Kottke)
We found by experience that if we were truthful about not being regular church attenders, the play dates suddenly ended.
This just makes me sad. At the same time, it’s behavior like this that exposes false religion for what it is. Until people realize much of what goes under the guise of Christianity has nothing to do with what Jesus taught, they won’t go in search of the real thing.
The good news is that Wayne Jacobsen has published a new issue of Body Life, a semi-regular online magazine. I recommend the feature article, How do I…?
It’s a wonderful reflection on Luke 14, Jesus’ story about taking the seat of least honor when invited to a banquet.
I don’t think Jesus’ point was to take the last place as a way to get to what you think is first place. Maybe his point was that the last place in a room is really the best place to enjoy him and love others in a way that is meaningful and transforming. Maybe that is why he washed the disciples feet as the greatest demonstration of his affection for them, and encouraged them to do the same.
It seems the message of Jesus is still bouncing off the ones who seem to be insiders and sometimes landing on the anonymous servants who prefer to keep it that way. I pray God will continue to free me from my own ambitions and selfish pursuits after things, good and not so good, that fall short of living loved and loving as he loves me.
Sometimes my kids get it
Related posts: