This weekend I was listening to the song Blood Bank by one of my favorite artists, Bon Iver, and thought, "Wow, I have to write a blog about that!" The part of the song the inspired me is the first verse that reads:
Well I met you at the blood bank
We were looking at the bags
Wondering if any of the colors
Matched any of the names we knew on the tags
You said see look it that's yours
Stacked on top with your brothers
See how they resemble one another?
Even in their plastic little covers
And I said I know it well
Do we all know it well? And if we do, do we understand its implications? I am not sure, but I am willing to share the thoughts that were stirred up in me by these provoking lyrics.
First of all, let’s not get hung up on the weirdness of two people meeting at a blood bank. I see it as a story telling tool used by the artist to get him in a position to talk about a profound observation. So, this blog is not about how to pick up girls, or guys, while also supporting your local blood bank. It is about the often disputed, yet always true, fact that at our most basic level of existence we are all the same.
As the couple looks at the bags of blood stacked on top of each other at the blood bank, they realize that only by reading the names would they be able to distinguish their difference. Through their plastic covers, they look so alike, that any difference in race, ethnicity, sex, religion, political stance, sexual orientation, or any other label that we place on one another, is completely indistinguishable. The same blood flows through our veins, and is one of the cornerstones of our existence. At our most basic level of existence, we are all the same.
So, what does this mean for people of faith? Some of its meaning is common sense things that we all like to talk about, but often times have trouble with the follow-through. Some of its meaning is controversial, even though we know in our hearts it is what God commands of us, our pride, stubbornness or being fooled by false teachings gets in the way. Some of its meaning is a call to action, and those who are willing to answer the call will be blessed by the promises of God.
Even if you believe in the theory of evolution, the common denominator is that all humans are descendants of the original human. It is just common sense that it had to start somewhere. For most believers, we understand that we are all descendants from Adam and Eve of Genesis. We can get hung up on their names, or how they were created, or who was fooled by the Satan possessed serpent, but those things are not relevant in our understanding that we come from the same mold. The understanding of good and evil, and the existence of free will, leads us all down different paths, but we all start with the same blank slate. We all start with the blood of our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, all the way back to the original man and women.
If this seems logical, then why is it so much easier to find the differences between each other than it is to find common ground? Why does hatred and violence seem like the right answer rather than love, compassion and understanding? We see this contrast of understanding and actions in all areas of our life. Whether it is having love for family members who you have no idea how you could be related to, having an open mind to someone whose understanding of their faith might be a little different than yours, or having love for someone who has a completely different set of values than you, it is so hard for us to remember that at our most basic level of existence we are all the same.
There are a lot of directions I wanted to go with how this idea relates to the Church, but based on the happenings of the last few days I feel there is one thing I must address, and the rest can be in another blog. It seems that we have completely lost sight of what it means to love one another the way God loves us in this country. There are hundreds of verses about love, but as I was researching for this post, a section from 1 Peter 3:8-12 really struck me:
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,
"Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
The last couple of days, as I have read the news and seen the comments of people on Facebook, I have been appalled at the anger and hatred that has infiltrated our society. The most disheartening aspect, for me, is that the majority of this hatred is coming from individuals who would claim to be Christians. This isn't the beginning of this horrible separation of the Church and the love that God commands us to share with the world; it is only the most recent chapter. Throughout history Christians have been known to spur on hatred. In studying the Holocaust while in Poland, we were taught how the Catholic church preached anti-Semitism from the alter, and in the 21st century we have churches hell-bent on ruining the lives of homosexuals at whatever the cost to their families and communities. Now, we have politicians, whose books are sold in the Family Christian Book Store, posting maps with gun sights on the home states of politicians who voted for the health care reform bill, while others are making death threats, busting in windows and endangering the families of individuals because they disagree with their politics.
When did we give up harmony for discord? When did we decide not only to repay evil with evil, but be the people creating the space for evil to take hold? When did we forget that underneath our plastic little covers we are all the same? We are all loved by God and called to share that same love with each other. If the Church does not set this example, then who will? If no one sets this example, what’s next?
Please love one another! Jesus did not shed his blood to teach us a lesson of hate. Jesus died to show us what true love is, and He calls us to love one another as He loved us. It isn’t too late to decide to love.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
"Is this a sales pitch?"
The following is a post I wrote in July of 2008. As the waters begin to rise again, it reminded me of this post, so I thought I would repost it on my new blog. Hope you enjoy!
“Is this a sales pitch?”
The question was posed at a disaster relief meeting in Parkersburg, Iowa where an F-5 tornado ripped through the town, destroying homes and taking lives. It was asked to a group of good hearted people trying to help the community recover from its collapse.
Besides FEMA and the Red Cross, faith based organizations make up the majority, if not all, of the organizations that enter communities after disasters. They offer a myriad of helping services that in some ways overlap, but they all work together. At the table that day in Parkersburg there were four faith based organizations eager for the community to ask them for their services. The Lutherans, the Methodists, the Reform Church of America and Church World Services were all present. A virtual smorgasbord of service were presented, which all sound great, and all claim to be free.
However, as I said before, the cost is giving up control. Rural communities stick together. The community members at that table wanted to help their fellow men and women. They want to be the ones finding the needs and meeting them, but the fact is that they have the needs themselves and are underequipped to meet the needs of others. So, they give up control, reluctantly.
The interesting thing about the comment of, “is this a sales pitch?” to me was that I had heard something very familiar before. It took me back to the first day a newly created Young Life team and I entered the West High School cafeteria. We were prepared with fliers about club, information about camp at Crooked Creek in Colorado that summer, and a general excitement about meeting kids. After five minutes of talking with a group of kids at a table one kid stopped me and said, “what are you selling?” See, young people are in a similar position as those affected by a disaster. They have little to no control over their lives, and they are constantly on the lookout for the next person that wants to take advantage of them. They know that something is not right, but they have no idea where to turn. They are grasping for truth, but coming up empty handed.
When these thoughts were entering my head it brought me back to a very dark spot that I had covered up for a long time. It reminded me of my trip to Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland where possibly millions of Jews were killed by means of gas chambers. As a college student I studied the Holocaust in Poland, and we concluded our studies with a trip to Auschwitz. It was a day that will forever shape my life. The entire tour was a heart wrenching experience for me. My hands and knees shook, I could not stop sweating, and tears pooled in my eyes and ran down my face continuously. I could feel the presence of evil in that place. Towards the end of the tour I approached what looked like a concrete shed sunk in to the ground. I knew what it was at first glance, but I tried not to think about it. I wanted to experience it, and if I thought too much I would have fled. As I walked down the couple of rotting steps into the dark, cold, musky room my legs almost fell out from under me. I went to find support on a wall but instead found images that haunt me. The claw marks of innocent Jews trying to escape something that they knew was wrong, but had no idea where to turn for truth. Lies were all they were told, there was no hope for future once they entered that chamber. Water would not come from the shower heads above them. Even as I write this now my chest tightens, and I feel the darkness that was so present there.
People need to have hope to let go of the reigns. They need to have faith that, because of their loss of control, they will find comfort. I was asked by a leader of another faith based organization why I want to help people. My answer was that I have seen the darkness in the world and it tried to drown out all of the light. I had to search long and hard to find a flicker of light to start the fire in my heart again. I want to make it easier for others to find light in this world that seems pitch black so often. I believe that is what faith based organizations are trying to do in our communities that are ravaged by disaster, and I know it is what we, as Young Life leaders, were trying to do at West High School.
Only when we have faith that something is bigger than us; that we are out of control in the first place; that we can have hope that there is a plan for our lives; can we truly begin to recover. Whether that recovery is from a natural disaster or from natural sin, we must give up control to faith. We must give up ourselves, everything we have, to God in order to give others hope that love can shine through the darkest shroud of fog that tries to envelope this world.
Philippians 3:7-11
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
“Is this a sales pitch?”The reply was a stunned pause and a forceful, “No!”, but in reality it was. Was there any money needing to be exchanged? No, but there are costs; the cost of giving up control in a situation when many feel like they already have none.
The question was posed at a disaster relief meeting in Parkersburg, Iowa where an F-5 tornado ripped through the town, destroying homes and taking lives. It was asked to a group of good hearted people trying to help the community recover from its collapse.
Besides FEMA and the Red Cross, faith based organizations make up the majority, if not all, of the organizations that enter communities after disasters. They offer a myriad of helping services that in some ways overlap, but they all work together. At the table that day in Parkersburg there were four faith based organizations eager for the community to ask them for their services. The Lutherans, the Methodists, the Reform Church of America and Church World Services were all present. A virtual smorgasbord of service were presented, which all sound great, and all claim to be free.
However, as I said before, the cost is giving up control. Rural communities stick together. The community members at that table wanted to help their fellow men and women. They want to be the ones finding the needs and meeting them, but the fact is that they have the needs themselves and are underequipped to meet the needs of others. So, they give up control, reluctantly.
The interesting thing about the comment of, “is this a sales pitch?” to me was that I had heard something very familiar before. It took me back to the first day a newly created Young Life team and I entered the West High School cafeteria. We were prepared with fliers about club, information about camp at Crooked Creek in Colorado that summer, and a general excitement about meeting kids. After five minutes of talking with a group of kids at a table one kid stopped me and said, “what are you selling?” See, young people are in a similar position as those affected by a disaster. They have little to no control over their lives, and they are constantly on the lookout for the next person that wants to take advantage of them. They know that something is not right, but they have no idea where to turn. They are grasping for truth, but coming up empty handed.
When these thoughts were entering my head it brought me back to a very dark spot that I had covered up for a long time. It reminded me of my trip to Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland where possibly millions of Jews were killed by means of gas chambers. As a college student I studied the Holocaust in Poland, and we concluded our studies with a trip to Auschwitz. It was a day that will forever shape my life. The entire tour was a heart wrenching experience for me. My hands and knees shook, I could not stop sweating, and tears pooled in my eyes and ran down my face continuously. I could feel the presence of evil in that place. Towards the end of the tour I approached what looked like a concrete shed sunk in to the ground. I knew what it was at first glance, but I tried not to think about it. I wanted to experience it, and if I thought too much I would have fled. As I walked down the couple of rotting steps into the dark, cold, musky room my legs almost fell out from under me. I went to find support on a wall but instead found images that haunt me. The claw marks of innocent Jews trying to escape something that they knew was wrong, but had no idea where to turn for truth. Lies were all they were told, there was no hope for future once they entered that chamber. Water would not come from the shower heads above them. Even as I write this now my chest tightens, and I feel the darkness that was so present there.
People need to have hope to let go of the reigns. They need to have faith that, because of their loss of control, they will find comfort. I was asked by a leader of another faith based organization why I want to help people. My answer was that I have seen the darkness in the world and it tried to drown out all of the light. I had to search long and hard to find a flicker of light to start the fire in my heart again. I want to make it easier for others to find light in this world that seems pitch black so often. I believe that is what faith based organizations are trying to do in our communities that are ravaged by disaster, and I know it is what we, as Young Life leaders, were trying to do at West High School.
Only when we have faith that something is bigger than us; that we are out of control in the first place; that we can have hope that there is a plan for our lives; can we truly begin to recover. Whether that recovery is from a natural disaster or from natural sin, we must give up control to faith. We must give up ourselves, everything we have, to God in order to give others hope that love can shine through the darkest shroud of fog that tries to envelope this world.
Philippians 3:7-11
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Thursday, March 11, 2010
"B" Team All-Stars!
I am not a competitive person. I would rather win than lose of course, but if winning is not in the cards you will not see me getting angry, frustrated or disappointed at my teammates. I am not someone who is motivated by others screaming demeaning words at me, which seems to be a prerequisite of an athlete. I usually avoid game night, as to not be a privy to the dark side of my friends creeping out in the heat of an oh so important game of Catch Phrase. As a young person, my pattern was one of going out for sports, and quitting at the first sign of my coach taking it way to seriously in my eyes. I remember, in 6th or 7th grade, deciding to try out football. My parents paid the fees to the league, bought me all the pads, jerseys and shoes, and sent me off to the first practice. Soon after, the coach started taking it to seriously. I don’t remember what the coach was yelling at me about. Maybe I wasn’t running fast enough, or wasn’t picking up on a play. Whatever it was, I did not think it negated yelling. So, I took of my helmet, turned to the coach and said, “I don’t need this,” and never played organized football again.
During my 8th grade year, I had a different experience with competitive sports. I decided to give it a shot again, and went out for basketball. I made the “B” team. A normal kid may have been upset about being on the “B” team, but I actually thought it may be the perfect place for me. Maybe, since it was the “B” team, people wouldn’t be so crazy competitive. To my delight, this was the case. The coach was a bit of a “B” teamer himself. He was a shorter guy who had a limp from an injury as a child, and a wandering lazy eye. He had a compassionate disposition, and embraced the idea of having a team that was just there to have fun, even if they were horrible at basketball. He related with us on a level we did not really understand, but looking back, the image of his support of the “B” team is something I will never forget. We even had a chant, and throughout our games, whether we were winning or losing, losing being the more likely course, we would chant, “ ‘B’ Team All-Stars.” Everyone on the “B” team was an all-star. We would chant even louder when one of us got to play in an “A” team game because of injury or complete blow out scores. Our fellow “B” teamer would touch the court with his sneakers, and the chant would go on until he sat back on the bench. We were proud to be on the “B” team. We played because of a love for playing, not because we really cared if we won or not. We played because our coach lets us have fun, and not worry about some record that would disappear at the end of the season. We played out of love for the game, and felt the love of our coach and each other.
I am calling for a paradigm shift in our thinking of what it means to be successful in this life to one of a “B” team attitude. I propose that we can make this shift in three extremely hard steps. I know, you wanted them to be easy, but to grow nothing can be easy.
1. Level the playing field, and realize that everyone is a part of the “B” team. Some are just too proud, and unwilling to admit it.
2. Accept your offer to be on the “B” team, and be excited about the games that are ahead.
3. Love your “‘B’ Team All Star” coach and teammates.
The first step in the journey is leveling the playing field. We have to realize that no matter what the world tells us, we are all a part of the same team. We all come from the same mold, and return to the same maker for judgment of our lives. We all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, placing us securely on the roster of the “B” Team. This goes against what the world tells us. The world places some people on the “A” team because of wealth, fame or power. People place themselves on the “A” team out of pride, prejudice and hatred for others. Others place themselves closer to God because of education, illusion and false teachings. However, Jesus warns us that, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” He goes on to say that, “many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:25,31)
If God had a special place for the people who the world claims to be on the “A” Team, those would have been the people He chose to be the disciples of His Son. On the contrary, he picked what the world had cast off as the “B” Team to be the megaphones of His love on earth. Disciples were followers of a rabbi. They strived to mimic their rabbi’s whole way of life. Discipleships of rabbi’s were held for the Jewish boys who had outperformed all the others in school, and proven to be the best of the best, the “A” team, of the Jewish culture. Jesus could have pulled from this pool of individuals, but instead he went to the laborers, the nobodies, and the people who the Jewish culture would have gawked at if they were to ask to be a disciple of a rabbi. Jesus called out to the “B” Team, and they were asked to affect the course of history forever. He took the power out of the hands that society had chosen to lead, and leveled the playing field for every Jew or Gentile to be a part of His Kingdom. It is time to do the same in our society.
Next, we must accept the offer to join the “B” team. It seems like a simple choice when we think about the benefits, but it is so counter-cultural that our mind is outraged at the thought. In our society, we are hard wired to want to be on top, to be the winner, to be the supervisor, manager or boss. We teach our kids to be educated so they can rise to the top of the organizational ladder and receive the American dream of wealth and prosperity. We playfully talk about the dog-eat-dog world in which we live. Success comes by taming the bulls and bears or surviving the shark tank. We are inundated with this idea that it is okay to destroy others in our wake if we are headed to the top of our organizational hierarchy.
It reminds me of the word “ain’t.” In elementary school, when someone would use that word we would say, “Ain’t ain’t a word cus it ain’t in the dictionary so I ain’t gonna use it.” Well, people used the word so much that the wonderful folks at Merriam-Webster decided to add it to the dictionary and ruined the fun for millions of elementary kids. The purpose behind that story is to remind you that just because someone, or some society, has been saying something is right for so long that it becomes a societal norm does not mean it is right. I mean, check out Sodom and Gomorrah. Now don’t twist my words and think that I am saying capitalism is the same as sodomy, because that is not what I am saying. However, the way in which free market capitalism has manifested itself in our society does not represent the model of leadership that Jesus taught, and the model that is required to be an active part of the “B” team.
Jesus called us to be servant leaders. He called us to consistently put others needs before our own, and lower ourselves to complete humility. Hebrews 10:24-25 says: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” What it does not say is, “find out what you can get from others, and take advantage of them to improve you own position.” In fact Jesus gave a very clear example of His method of leadership hours before his death as He was anxiously trying to share His final lessons with his disciples. John 13:2-15 says:
“The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
How counter-cultural is that scene. Jesus is in full understanding that He has the power to do absolutely anything He wants. What would our capitalistic society tell us to do with that power? Would it tell us to ignore the possibilities of wealth and fame, and lower ourselves to the job of a servant? Not a chance. However, what would happen if we all began to realize that power is nothing without faith in God; That our excess wealth when we die will be like the excess manna that some Israelites hoarded in the dessert, full of maggots and wreaking of a horrible stench, but the good deeds we do for our sisters and brothers will be treasures waiting for us in heaven.
So, are you willing to join the “B” team? Are you ready to stop worshiping money, competition, and success, and start worship the God who has freed you from the slavery of that brokenness? If so, there is one command. Love God and love your teammates! Isn’t it crazy how it always comes back to love? Well maybe it seems redundant, but if I had to narrow the entire Bible down to one word it would be love. So, for me, the point cannot be made enough.
Who are your teammates? Mankind (See my previous post :-) )
Not everyone has accepted the offer to join the team, but whether they want to admit it or not they are already on the roster. No one is out of reach of God, and if you believe any different you do not believe in my God. No one can run too far for Him to reach out His hand. No one can deny Him enough for Him to stop asking for them to believe. No one can earn His love and no one can lose His love. A relationship with Him means a denial of the world. Jesus said that we are not of the world just as He is not of the world. We are in great danger when we begin to have faith in the systems of this world, and lose sight of the example God gave us through His Son.
So, here is your offer to join the “B” team. It is always your choice, but there is only one right decision.
“‘B’ Team All-Stars!”
During my 8th grade year, I had a different experience with competitive sports. I decided to give it a shot again, and went out for basketball. I made the “B” team. A normal kid may have been upset about being on the “B” team, but I actually thought it may be the perfect place for me. Maybe, since it was the “B” team, people wouldn’t be so crazy competitive. To my delight, this was the case. The coach was a bit of a “B” teamer himself. He was a shorter guy who had a limp from an injury as a child, and a wandering lazy eye. He had a compassionate disposition, and embraced the idea of having a team that was just there to have fun, even if they were horrible at basketball. He related with us on a level we did not really understand, but looking back, the image of his support of the “B” team is something I will never forget. We even had a chant, and throughout our games, whether we were winning or losing, losing being the more likely course, we would chant, “ ‘B’ Team All-Stars.” Everyone on the “B” team was an all-star. We would chant even louder when one of us got to play in an “A” team game because of injury or complete blow out scores. Our fellow “B” teamer would touch the court with his sneakers, and the chant would go on until he sat back on the bench. We were proud to be on the “B” team. We played because of a love for playing, not because we really cared if we won or not. We played because our coach lets us have fun, and not worry about some record that would disappear at the end of the season. We played out of love for the game, and felt the love of our coach and each other.
I am calling for a paradigm shift in our thinking of what it means to be successful in this life to one of a “B” team attitude. I propose that we can make this shift in three extremely hard steps. I know, you wanted them to be easy, but to grow nothing can be easy.
1. Level the playing field, and realize that everyone is a part of the “B” team. Some are just too proud, and unwilling to admit it.
2. Accept your offer to be on the “B” team, and be excited about the games that are ahead.
3. Love your “‘B’ Team All Star” coach and teammates.
The first step in the journey is leveling the playing field. We have to realize that no matter what the world tells us, we are all a part of the same team. We all come from the same mold, and return to the same maker for judgment of our lives. We all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, placing us securely on the roster of the “B” Team. This goes against what the world tells us. The world places some people on the “A” team because of wealth, fame or power. People place themselves on the “A” team out of pride, prejudice and hatred for others. Others place themselves closer to God because of education, illusion and false teachings. However, Jesus warns us that, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” He goes on to say that, “many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10:25,31)
If God had a special place for the people who the world claims to be on the “A” Team, those would have been the people He chose to be the disciples of His Son. On the contrary, he picked what the world had cast off as the “B” Team to be the megaphones of His love on earth. Disciples were followers of a rabbi. They strived to mimic their rabbi’s whole way of life. Discipleships of rabbi’s were held for the Jewish boys who had outperformed all the others in school, and proven to be the best of the best, the “A” team, of the Jewish culture. Jesus could have pulled from this pool of individuals, but instead he went to the laborers, the nobodies, and the people who the Jewish culture would have gawked at if they were to ask to be a disciple of a rabbi. Jesus called out to the “B” Team, and they were asked to affect the course of history forever. He took the power out of the hands that society had chosen to lead, and leveled the playing field for every Jew or Gentile to be a part of His Kingdom. It is time to do the same in our society.
Next, we must accept the offer to join the “B” team. It seems like a simple choice when we think about the benefits, but it is so counter-cultural that our mind is outraged at the thought. In our society, we are hard wired to want to be on top, to be the winner, to be the supervisor, manager or boss. We teach our kids to be educated so they can rise to the top of the organizational ladder and receive the American dream of wealth and prosperity. We playfully talk about the dog-eat-dog world in which we live. Success comes by taming the bulls and bears or surviving the shark tank. We are inundated with this idea that it is okay to destroy others in our wake if we are headed to the top of our organizational hierarchy.
It reminds me of the word “ain’t.” In elementary school, when someone would use that word we would say, “Ain’t ain’t a word cus it ain’t in the dictionary so I ain’t gonna use it.” Well, people used the word so much that the wonderful folks at Merriam-Webster decided to add it to the dictionary and ruined the fun for millions of elementary kids. The purpose behind that story is to remind you that just because someone, or some society, has been saying something is right for so long that it becomes a societal norm does not mean it is right. I mean, check out Sodom and Gomorrah. Now don’t twist my words and think that I am saying capitalism is the same as sodomy, because that is not what I am saying. However, the way in which free market capitalism has manifested itself in our society does not represent the model of leadership that Jesus taught, and the model that is required to be an active part of the “B” team.
Jesus called us to be servant leaders. He called us to consistently put others needs before our own, and lower ourselves to complete humility. Hebrews 10:24-25 says: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” What it does not say is, “find out what you can get from others, and take advantage of them to improve you own position.” In fact Jesus gave a very clear example of His method of leadership hours before his death as He was anxiously trying to share His final lessons with his disciples. John 13:2-15 says:
“The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
How counter-cultural is that scene. Jesus is in full understanding that He has the power to do absolutely anything He wants. What would our capitalistic society tell us to do with that power? Would it tell us to ignore the possibilities of wealth and fame, and lower ourselves to the job of a servant? Not a chance. However, what would happen if we all began to realize that power is nothing without faith in God; That our excess wealth when we die will be like the excess manna that some Israelites hoarded in the dessert, full of maggots and wreaking of a horrible stench, but the good deeds we do for our sisters and brothers will be treasures waiting for us in heaven.
So, are you willing to join the “B” team? Are you ready to stop worshiping money, competition, and success, and start worship the God who has freed you from the slavery of that brokenness? If so, there is one command. Love God and love your teammates! Isn’t it crazy how it always comes back to love? Well maybe it seems redundant, but if I had to narrow the entire Bible down to one word it would be love. So, for me, the point cannot be made enough.
Who are your teammates? Mankind (See my previous post :-) )
Not everyone has accepted the offer to join the team, but whether they want to admit it or not they are already on the roster. No one is out of reach of God, and if you believe any different you do not believe in my God. No one can run too far for Him to reach out His hand. No one can deny Him enough for Him to stop asking for them to believe. No one can earn His love and no one can lose His love. A relationship with Him means a denial of the world. Jesus said that we are not of the world just as He is not of the world. We are in great danger when we begin to have faith in the systems of this world, and lose sight of the example God gave us through His Son.
So, here is your offer to join the “B” team. It is always your choice, but there is only one right decision.
“‘B’ Team All-Stars!”
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