Abbot and Costello, a
comedy team from an earlier era, had a routine they did about baseball titled
“Who’s on First?” The audio of that bit is frantic and funny.
Figuring out who or what comes first with us turns out to be a real challenge. It’s not a comedy bit!
Some of us went to camp or worshipped in churches where we sang the chorus Seek Ye First. The words rolled off our tongues easily enough. Looking at us standing there, singing the song, side-by-side you would think putting Christ first would be an easy thing -but it’s not easy. It turns out to be a challenging, hard, controversial thing.
I remember the first time I worked with a confirmation group, and we laid out the expectations of those who said they wanted to explore joining the church and following Jesus. We said confirmands needed to participate in worship, Sunday school, and youth fellowship. One parent was furious with me. “What does being in worship have to do with joining the church?” he asked. (I hunch the same parent would not have raised an objection if the basketball coach had laid out a practice schedule, or a drama coach had handed out rehearsal dates and times.)
Following Jesus, being a disciple, means we will be different from other people. Being a disciple will mean our relationship with him will shape how we spend our money instead of our money shaping how we live out our faith. Being a disciple will mean our love for him and his way will shape the way we fill in our calendar with commitments instead of having soccer/gymnastics/basketball/work determine how much room we will have left over for God.
Will Willimon was a pastor in South Carolina years ago, and he talked to a rabbi who said Jews in the Deep South told their children, “You are going to be different than the people around you.”
We have a class of confirmands meeting now. We are challenging them to take a radical step.
I wonder if we as adults still realize what a radical commitment it is to follow Jesus? A friend came back from Africa last week and tells the story of people saying, “I want to follow Jesus.” I wonder if they know how that decision will complicate their lives?
“Seek first the kingdom and God’s righteousness,” Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, “and all these things -your basic needs- will be given to you as well.”
Singing the song is easy. Living the life is tough! (But this tough decision sets us free in all sorts of ways…)
Figuring out who or what comes first with us turns out to be a real challenge. It’s not a comedy bit!
Some of us went to camp or worshipped in churches where we sang the chorus Seek Ye First. The words rolled off our tongues easily enough. Looking at us standing there, singing the song, side-by-side you would think putting Christ first would be an easy thing -but it’s not easy. It turns out to be a challenging, hard, controversial thing.
I remember the first time I worked with a confirmation group, and we laid out the expectations of those who said they wanted to explore joining the church and following Jesus. We said confirmands needed to participate in worship, Sunday school, and youth fellowship. One parent was furious with me. “What does being in worship have to do with joining the church?” he asked. (I hunch the same parent would not have raised an objection if the basketball coach had laid out a practice schedule, or a drama coach had handed out rehearsal dates and times.)
Following Jesus, being a disciple, means we will be different from other people. Being a disciple will mean our relationship with him will shape how we spend our money instead of our money shaping how we live out our faith. Being a disciple will mean our love for him and his way will shape the way we fill in our calendar with commitments instead of having soccer/gymnastics/basketball/work determine how much room we will have left over for God.
Will Willimon was a pastor in South Carolina years ago, and he talked to a rabbi who said Jews in the Deep South told their children, “You are going to be different than the people around you.”
We have a class of confirmands meeting now. We are challenging them to take a radical step.
I wonder if we as adults still realize what a radical commitment it is to follow Jesus? A friend came back from Africa last week and tells the story of people saying, “I want to follow Jesus.” I wonder if they know how that decision will complicate their lives?
“Seek first the kingdom and God’s righteousness,” Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, “and all these things -your basic needs- will be given to you as well.”
Singing the song is easy. Living the life is tough! (But this tough decision sets us free in all sorts of ways…)
In Christ and for Christ,
Mark
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