There is a running trail close to my house which is pretty nasty, in an altitude sort of way. I only go to it if I am short on time and need to stay close to home. If you go one way on the trail it is downhill and lazy, but the other way feels like it is straight up. Most everyone goes the easy way. I've never gone that way cause I'm a bit proud and a snob when it comes to stuff like that. Their were a ton of people running on this particular day, mostly with dogs and baby strollers and stuff. I caught myself saying "hi" to people who were younger than 40ish, but not anyone else. It was subconscious, but I saw how consistent I was at doing it.
I've never considered myself a racist. In fact, when it comes to skin color I'm not. That is why I'm not sure "racist" is the best term to use. Part of me just knew you would read this post if I put such a provocative word in the title. Jesus showed me yesterday how partial I am however, and I think I might have acted like a racist, except instead of skin color being what drives my partiality, it is age.
I'm such a pragmatic guy that to me youth represents future potential, energy, flexibility, blank slates, hip, current, refreshing, and other such descriptors. The older generation represents pretty much the opposite, and so I am so messed up I caught myself only saying "hi" to people I saw as a potential investment (gospel, discipleship, church, etc...). Even where we live, we are the youngest couple by almost two decades out of 80 homes. I hated this when we moved in. I wanted the young messes up families, who grill outside, hunt, watch football, etc... God showed me how much this stinks to him.
In James 2, God speaks to us concerning our partiality. He uses terms like "gold ring" and phrases like "sit at my feet". We don't really talk like that anymore, but good Bible exegesis can lead us to exactly what he is talking about. I have always understood it to not be partial, distinguishing favor based on wealth or skin color, but the truth is I have ignored it concerning age. I have been an age racist...I think. Instead of wealth being my rudder of favor, it has been years of age. I haven't wanted to pour into people who won't return investment well. Shame on me.
When Christ died on the cross, there was no partiality. He didn't consider the return on investment we were going to give, which is a relief. He didn't look forward into history (whatever that is supposed to mean) and decide who he was going to save based on what we could offer him. He gave his perfect life for our tragic ones - and not just to the young. The cross was impartial regarding those who would call Jesus Lord. If we are to be Christlike, we are to be impartial with God's image on us, as his Son was.
The truth is that we didn't come here to plant a church, we came to tell a city about Jesus and his legacy. Jesus will build his own church around that. If that is true, I am a missionary everywhere, not just among the young and seemingly promising crowds. I might have a grace there - but am in the reconciliation business everywhere. Legacy Church, in order to be a church on mission, understands that we are on mission everywhere. This means in our homes, work, and yes...running the hard way up a trail.
No comments:
Post a Comment