In adapting some of Richard Rohr’s writings, Mike at Waving and Drowning (see link below) raises an interesting question:
How is it that after two thousand years of meditation on Jesus, we’ve managed so effectively to avoid most of what he taught so unequivocally?
He then goes on to show how this is true by stating:
All of us, for example, have evaded most of the Sermon on the Mount.
All of us have evaded the unmistakable teaching of Jesus on a simple life-style, non-status-seeking, non-greed.
All of us have evaded Jesus’ teaching on non-violence (except for the Amish, the Quakers, and the Mennonites).
All of us have evaded his straightforward teaching on loving our enemy.Richard Rohr, Adapted from Simplicity, pp. 161 – 162
This is a truth that I often ponder when I consider my own life and the lives of the churches I have served. It is so easy to pick and choose what we want to take seriously and base our lives around. Likewise, it is also easy to ignore or discard the teachings of Jesus we find too difficult or impractical for modern (or postmodern) life.
I am left to wonder how different my life and the church’s life would be if we actually started paying attention to everything Jesus said. And I am all but sure that my wondering will not end in this lifetime. That, my friends, is more than a little sad, if you ask me.
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Quotes taken from Unequivocal Avoidance posted by Mike on Mon, 18 Jan 2010. Click the link to read his original post.
Olive Morgan sent me your way. Interesting that we are struggling with the same things. Reading Shane Claibourne doesn’t help.
The question is what am I willing to do to change ? Ouch indeed!
Olive is great. Love her blog. And yes, reading Shane Claibourne doesn’t help at all. He is very convicting.
Unfortunately, I think that many of us are in the same boat. I just wish I knew what to do, or better yet, had the conviction to do what I know I need to.
Thanks for stopping by. I will definitely check out your blog as well.
Thanks for the mention – and encouragement, because I tend to think I am not sharing the Gospel as much as I used to do when my readers (on Modblog, which ‘died’) were young people. I think our Covenant Service is responsible for these self-examining kind of thoughts. There are still some Covenant Services yet to be held, so perhaps you will both join me in praying for the work of the Holy Spirit in many hearts.
I think you are right, that the Covenant Service can help us in self-examination, if the participants take the service seriously. Of course, I will join you in prayer, and I also wish to thank you for your encouragement this past year, which was a difficult one for me personally and professionally.
So sorry to hear that you have had such a difficult year and I hope and pray thay 2010 will be much better. Judging by your blogging, I feel that perhaps the New Year has begun well.