What’s Missing?

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to making changes in how Christians practice what they believe. For nearly 2000 years we have ascribed to a few basic concepts. Humanity is basically sinful. Jesus came to save that world lost in that sin. To be redeemed from that sin, we need to repent and believe that Jesus came to this Earth to be the ultimate sacrifice. And once we believe that we cannot save our selves, but only through Jesus can we be saved, then we will go to Heaven when we die. What about the rest of the message of Jesus? It would be different if all that Jesus did were come to Earth and die on the cross to be the ultimate sacrifice. If we believe the Bible and the stories in it, then we have to realize that Jesus was much more than a substitution sacrifice for our sins. In other words, it was about more than salvation!

If what Jesus came for was to show us a new and different way of living, what is that way that He was trying to show us? In Mr. McLaren’s book, “Everything Must Change”, he says that there are two basic questions to look at. The first, “What are the biggest problems in the world?” And to follow up, “What does Jesus have to say about these global problems?”

Okay, in my prior writings, I told you a bit about myself and what this whole topic means to me. I have known for some time that in order to make a difference in this world, there needed to be a different attitude towards the world issues we see growing closer and worse every day. Now I need to tell you what the information in this book has caused me to think about. When I think about the questions posed, I automatically think of some of the most serious problems we face. It really comes down to what the Catholic Church calls the “seven deadly sins”. Greed, Sloth, Lust, Wrath, Envy, Gluttony and Pride. Or at least that is what is most basic. To be more specific we have to talk about our world condition. Because of all these deadly sins, we have genocide, global warming, poverty and extreme hunger. Then there are the problems regarding the love of power. Nations rising up against nation and violence against the innocent. I could go on and on, but at this point it seems overwhelming, doesn’t it? Mr. McLaren also provides some lists that different leaders or groups have published of what they believe are the most serious issues of our day. For those lists you will need to read the book.

It would seem that we as Christians would know what the message of Jesus has to say about such problems. Maybe it is just too simple for some. Jesus healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, raised the dead and generally ministered to those with whom He had contact. What is so complicated about that? This is the part where I believe that the head talk started coming in to play. I mean, I am a pretty simple and direct person and to me the answer is pretty clear. Do what Jesus did. Sometimes we make things way too difficult.

For the time we have spent talking, in the book study, I had known something was missing. I believe I knew what it was, but last week, at lunch, Matt said it, the thing that was missing in this whole discussion. LOVE Love is what’s missing. We have talked all around it, but it has all been head talk. I mean you can talk about change all you like, but if any of this is going to work, the love of Christ has to be in the equation. Just what is the Love of Christ? You tell me…