Being the critically acclaimed and accomplished international writing phenomenon that I am , (alright already...I know, I'm a pastor, so I can't lie)... being the phenomenon that I am, (yeah), I'm sure you all read my last BLOG titled, "Love all, serve all." This title was a take on a slogan made popular by the "Hard Rock Café" restaurant chain. In it I highlighted the experiences a friend of mine and I had one day as we visited a couple of stores...one which rubbed us the wrong way, another that did just the opposite. I attempted to apply a spiritual principle to those experiences to show that when we take the time to look beyond ourselves and actively engage people, showing them how much we care about them, that such an approach will go a long way in giving us an opportunity to impact their lives.
And no sooner had I posted that BLOG than I started noticing this whole, "service" to "others" issue keep coming up. I was hearing it in messages preached (at church and on T.V.), seeing it as a point of concern in peoples' Facebook postings, and very prominently in the Book of James as I was studying it to develop a series for our "Connection" small groups here at Church52. No, I don't take credit for starting this apparent recent trend; then again, maybe I should...just kidding! Certain groups have already been stressing the social justice aspect of Christianity in recent years; but unfortunately (in my opinion) they've done so to the exclusion of some other vital things. Still, considering the source of some of these recent mentions of "service", It feels good knowing I'm in the flow of what appears to be an important emphasis to God.
The truth is this issue of service has always been important to God. Matthew wrote of our prime example, Jesus, in (Matthew 20:28), "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." Another translation says that Jesus "gave away His life in exchange for the many who are held hostage." (Emphases mine). This whole concept of serving others, especially as seen in the radical way that Jesus literally gave His life for us, is foreign to this world. So much so that Wayne Watson once wrote a song that spoke to this perception when he said of Jesus..."what a strange way to save the world."
Wouldn't it be nice, though, if this type of selfless sacrifice wasn't so strange? That the slogan "Love all, serve all" would actually be what characterized Christianity rather than a business? But how many of us really give away our lives...consistently? And by consistently I don't mean every single opportunity without fail. That would be great, of course. But usually that type of "work" is legalistic and is wrongly motivated by how it will bless us, not others. Look, we all make mistakes. But what I'm talking about is: what is the norm for us? What is our outlook in life? What motivates us? Is my general focus on me only, or am I purposefully looking for opportunities to bless others? Does this type of approach characterize my life? I have to confess that it doesn't, but I wish it did. And if we'd be truthful with ourselves, we would have to admit that more often than not we miss these opportunities to give our lives away. And while we are not called to necessarily die for God, we are called to die to self for God. How strange, yet appealing would it be to those whose lives we seek to impact with God's love,( the many who are held hostage), if we could get a hold of this idea...not just in theory, but also in practice.
Again, I'm not speaking of some legalistic bondage where we try to attain salvation and righteousness by works. Still, those who are saved by faith will live righteously, and this can only happen as we resist the urge to make it happen ourselves and then lean on God for the work He's already done. Abraham wasn't considered righteous by his works. His works proved the righteousness that had been applied to his life by God because of his faith. But that's a subject for another time.
The only way we can effectively "practice" this, then, is to embrace the truth Jesus shared in the Gospels and that I saw as the cornerstone in my study of the book of James that, with all of the issues he addresses it all came down to the two greatest commandments..."love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind"...and, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37, 39b). It sounds simple enough, but as James shows us, they seem to have had quite a bit of trouble doing it.
So, how can this type of practice come to characterize the people of God? With man it is impossible, but we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). As we submit ourselves to God and His plan, (James 4:7), we then have the power by God's Spirit to live victoriously over our natural tendencies. This is how we can win the battle of doing what is right in the Garden of Gethsemane in our lives. This is what will enable us to fulfill the law...Love God and others.
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perry meade
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