Person-2-Person - February, 2021

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa

Note: This installment of Person-2-Person was not part of the Maplewood UMC newsletter because our pastor decided it was “divisive.” Our church proudly displays a “Black Lives Matter” sign but Person-2-Person was “divisive.” In other words, I was “cancelled” and our pastor didn’t feel compelled to share her reasons. I hope it doesn’t happen again but if it does you can always find Person-2-Person right here at this web address. – David P.

It would be a severe understatement to say that our nation has recently experienced a time of serious upheaval. We saw a challenged election, followed by rioting on the Capitol grounds. Those who participated not only represent a different mindset but a different perception of the world. Their version of reality is very different from mine, and possibly from yours. During his inauguration, our new President extolled unity but it can be difficult to have unity with someone who doesn’t see the world in the same way. Some of us may be faced with the unhappy choice of reevaluating ties with friends and loved ones.

For persons of faith, the notion of a choice between two opposing narratives is nothing new. That’s what faith is about, seeing the world in a different way. When he was near his death (Josh. 23), Joshua challenged the Israelites: “‘If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.’” (Josh. 24:15 World English Bible). Their choice would determine the course of their nation for all time and Joshua knew it. He called them to see the world as their God, Yahweh, did.

The people responded, “‘Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods; . . . Therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God.’” (24:16b, 18a WEB). But Joshua warned them, “‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him.’” (24:22b WEB). Once they made their choice, they would be expected to remain with it.

Centuries later, some potential disciples made excuses for why they couldn’t follow Jesus (Luke 9:57-62) but he rejected them all. Anyone who made the choice to become a disciple, to see the world as he required, was expected to continue on that path to the end. They could not both follow Jesus and remain where they were, they could not have “double vision,” they had to do one or the other, and we must do the same.

Jesus warned his disciples, “‘[W]hen the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.’” (Matt. 25:31-32 WEB). They would be responsible for their choices, whether to see the world as he taught or to see it as the world teaches. They could choose service or selfishness (vs. 34-46), his vision or the world’s vision, but not “a little bit of each.”

Paul wrote to his young friend, Titus, of the “hope of eternal life, which God, who can't lie, promised before time began;” (Tit. 1:2 WEB). The only thing worth clinging to is the everlasting message of the gospel. Solomon wrote about, “a way which seems right to a man,” (Prov. 14:12, 16:25 WEB). But human ways of looking at things are not the same as God’s.

When John wrote Revelation, he addressed the church in Laodicea, saying, “‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.’” (Rev. 3:15-16 WEB). They could not choose both God’s vision of salvation and the vision of the world.

Jesus told the disciples, “‘where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’” (Matt. 6:21 WEB). As persons of faith, the choices we make matter. Either we see the world as we preach or we don’t. The values we learned in Sunday School either matter or they don’t. And if they matter, we should live as if they do. When those around us see the choices we make, they will know what matters to us and where our “treasure” is.

“‘But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’” (John 4:23-24 WEB.)