Stepping Into 2013

The kingdom of God is an inside-out, upside-down phenomenon. It operates on totally different principles and motivations. It is virtually diametrically opposed to this world system.

The kingdom of God eschews evil, while this world system operates on it. One portrays love for others as the primary motivating factor, the other esteems love of self. The one has a hopeful worldview, looking to flow from this life into the next, God himself dwelling with us, the other sees life as a dead-end, and esteems getting as much as it can, as fast as it can. One recognizes the spiritual reality of Christians’ involvement in a cosmic battle with the authorities in the spirit world who are in opposition to God, while the other either nebulously admits to spiritual authority of any kind, or leans on a fuzzy, universal, we-are-all-one-with-the-universe type of thingy … and on and on. Opposites. At odds.

As we walk into another year on planet Earth, maybe we should be resolute and resolve some things up-front, things that reflect this inside-out, upside-down mindset.

One that strikes me right away is spoken of by Jesus. It strikes to the heart of God himself; it smells of mercy, one of the characteristics ascribed regularly to him in the First/Old Testament. Luke 14.12-14 refers.

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Wild mindset! This speaks to me. Does it speak to you?

I wonder if we really lived by something like this what it would translate into for the world as a whole… I think it would be a better world, by far.

The concept is rooted in love. It invokes a freeness of life that offers my wealth to the needy and the hurting, while disregarding the common human outlook of giving for reward, giving to get. I am free enough to disengage my relatives and friends, my clique, and to make the underprivileged a priority. This mindset sets off social alarms. It is frowned upon and misunderstood. You are regarded as a freak … or a nut.

Jesus never seemed to care much for opinions. He set his mind on the kingdom of God and went in that direction, under the direction of the Spirit, head first. Let the opinions fly … He didn’t care even for the opinions of his disciples. There is a verse that speaks to this:

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need human testimony about them, for he knew what was in them. (John 2.23-25).

A fascinating passage. These were ‘believers’. They probably thought (rightly so) him to be Messiah, and wanted to see him step out and stake his claim, is one theological view. But there must be more to it than that. The last sentence is pregnant with implications for his unique genuineness, and the lack thereof in those people, and in mankind in general. Everyone has an agenda. Jesus moved how he moved, without respect of persons.

So then, if there is any truth in that (and indeed, regardless of the truth of it), let us step outside the gate and do Jesus’ bidding. Look out for the hurting, the sick, the hungry, the clotheless, the homeless, the fatherless, the abused … there are many of them out there. 

Even though they cannot repay you, your reward will come at the resurrection, kingdom-style, Jesus-stamped for approval. What better reward is there?

Apostle Paul once said to thieves that they should give it up, and get to work so they would have enough to share with those in need – imagine the turnaround in that thought. 

My thought, then, for the year ahead is to get off my barstool and look to be a help, rather than a hindrance, an encouragement rather than a gossip and a critic, a provider rather than a user, a heart rather than a mind, a disciple rather than a church member … a lover rather than … .

In the wise words of the Word himself, ..whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.

For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table?

But I am among you as the One who serves. (Luke 22.26,27).

That attitude is the crazy mindset of the servant-king, himself King of kings, and Lord of lords.

Crazy. My kinda crazy.

Yours?

Shalom.