CWW Week 28 – Day 1 – Spiritual Rigidity
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1 Thessalonians 2:7–8
“We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children… we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well…”
Paul emphasises relational ministry—getting close, living among people, and sharing life. That often requires adapting to their ways of living.
I have chosen a topic for this week based on some headwinds I have faced recently from “well meaning” Christians who have expressed concerns that I may not be following the script in my efforts to help people to see the joy of a relationship with Jesus.
I have always had to keep things simple in my own learnings both spiritually and in my chosen career in aviation. I find joy in turning complex problems into simple solutions. It’s very satisfying.
I like communicating the same way to others. When I was flying I always addressed my commentary to passengers as though I was talking to the little old lady who was sitting down the back, who had never flown before. If I made her feel safe then everyone else would too.
It often got eyes rolling with the frequent flyers though, who were seasoned travellers and found my commentary tedious as they tried to read the Financial Review.
As Michelle and I toured the nation on the Community Of Unity Tours visiting over three hundred communities, the talks were similar but variations occurred as we read the room at each event.
As you read the room you tend to taylor your words and language to provide the greatest effect on the audience. It’s kind of like a variation on the bible theme of speaking in tongues. This gift was given to the apostles at Pentecost when they were gifted with the language of their audience as they proclaimed the Good News.
It’s very important to get into rapport with your audience.
Many staunch and dyed in the wool church goers, tend to frown on a less religious approach to spreading the Good News. They can be quick to judge and indeed condemn less orthodox methods of preaching as they forget that the primary purpose of the good news is to bring people into relationship with Christ and not scare them away from Him. They seem to think that if you’re not using the language they’re used to and quoting the message as they were taught it, then your are leading people into apostasy. Our job is to plant the seed for the Holy Spirit to nurture, and God to harvest at maturity.
We must be flexible while remaining true to the message.
A jet airliner is designed to flex in turbulence. The wing tips on larger aircraft can flex up and down several meters before it cracks or breaks. It’s designed to do that so the wings don’t break.
It also helps to keep the ride less jarring for the passengers. This is a great analogy to describe the difference between flexibility in faith and rigidity in religion.
With rigidity of religion in the trappings of ritual and routine, it is hard sometimes to see Jesus. There is no one size fits all when sharing the message with others.
Some people come willingly to faith when they are preached an end time message, while others may walk away from such teaching. These people need to know who Jesus is before they commit.
This is a task we are all called to participate in. Jesus said in James 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Understanding this is, and should be, the foundation of our Christian walk and the rock on which we base our testimony to others.
This requires flexibility, an ability to read the room and an understanding of the many ways in which the seekers of truth can be reached.
A tree that will not bend is a tree doomed at the next big storm. The importance for us as the tree, is to make sure are roots are firmly planted in truth.
Questions.
- Can you remember what you read or heard that turned your heart towards Jesus?
- Have you been able to reach others by your example of a life changed in Christ?
- Who can you share the good news with in your life right now?
Prayer.
Dear Lord, Papa God.
Build in me a heart of flesh with the strength of a lion that I may not be discouraged by the condemnation of others. May the Good News pass from my lips to ears primed and ready to receive it is my prayer in Jesus name. Amen.
Graham Hood.
