Our wiring has been gerrymandered by sin; What should charge us, doesn't, what shouldn't charge us, does.
As educated political addicts, we Christian have learn to see everything through a default wiring influence. The church is constantly looking for the next method to incorporate, so to 'power over people' and show them the way.
People have begun to wonder, "Is there a better way than 'powering over people?" In a word, yes.
Jesus saw it differently, and even He struggled to get the religious people to understand. In Luke's letter, Jesus was speaking to the day's politically involved church people.
When Jesus was asked of the new kingdom that he had come to establish, he rhetorically asked aloud, "How can I picture God's kingdom for you?" As if to muse over our situation as sinners, removed from the correct naked wiring found in the garden, Jesus searched for a word picture that could help us see our most sincere mission.
"It's like a pine nut that a man plants in his front yard. It grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches, and eagles build nests in it." It wasn't good enough to satisfy, so he tried again. "It's like yeast that a woman works into enough dough for three loaves of bread - and waits while the dough rises."
The method of real reach is real relationships.
The method is being planted in the front yard, growing to create a nesting - a resting place for the high flying eagle. It's a small amount of yeast that is added into the dough, kneaded with patience, causing the dough to rise to its hunger satisfying purpose.
What Jesus was describing was not 'power over' political influence. He was not describing a new formula, calculated works, self-righteousness, religious status or an ego-driven identity covering resume.
What Jesus was incorporating in the front yard and the dough of life was his reach of restful grace. An addition of love in relationships, accepting others with 'power that comes under someone', versus a 'powering over' campaign.
As you journey further in Luke's letter you'll read Jesus' reference to the 'power over' people complaints.
"You'll protest, 'But we've known you all of our lives!' only to be interrupted with his abrupt, 'Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don't know the first thing about me.'
"That's when you'll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace."
In that last moment of prerequisite referral, I want to be associated with Jesus' healing, delivering grace...planted in the front yard of the community, providing a resting place for those looking to nest.
Count me in, I want to be added 'into the mix', but not powering over it. I want to help the culture rise to an occasion of Abba purpose, knowing that God has chosen and determined each, everyone for His kingdom nest.
I don't want a life in Graceland addicted to 'powering over people' according to a formula of politics. I want a campaign of grace, to be a citizen of grace; It is by grace that we find our re-wiring in salvation's program of Graceland.
Comments: talkback@erichogue.com
Web: www.erichogue.com
