Released in the HJC Bulletin on 1.17.10.
Not all Gospels are equal. How’s that for an intro? And not every approach to Life in the Spirit of Christ lines up with reality. We need to have the courage to say so. Don’t just stay with something because it’s the only something you’ve ever known. Your loyalty is not to a ministry or movement, a denomination or doctrine, your loyalty is to Jesus Christ the King!
I love what Orwell said along these lines, “Sooner or later, a false belief bumps up against a solid reality.” Several months ago I found this quote by him, a writer who, beginning his career as a Socialist / Communist, understood very well the tyranny of those who are convinced they alone are right and thus, by default, everyone else must be wrong. And if wrong, must be corrected, herded, and directed by those who know better than they what's good for them. The last thing “they” need is a taste of Freedom and of Life. It reminds me of so many men and women I’ve known through the years within the Faith who were utterly convinced their ‘way’ of doing things— be it their theology, their attitude toward others who differed some way spiritually, or their very approach to teaching or worshiping or serving or praying— was the only way. There could be no other. “God cannot work in ways other than those of which I have personally approved.” Think about that mentality for a moment. Then get a nice, long, hearty laugh out of it.
How grateful we all must be that after two thousand years of getting it wrong, Abba has sent us a new set of saviors so we can finally ‘get it right.’ It would be hilarious, if not for the unbelievable arrogance it exemplifies. ‘O Lord, whatever You do in all our lives to break down the barriers between us and You, save us from ourselves. {And while You’re at it, save us from our self-appointed saviors… please.} Amen.
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