Rev Gav

Humility

Reflect

Luke 7:31-35

“To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,

‘We played wedding songs,
and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn’t weep.’

For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”

Reflect

Jesus pointed out to people that their expectations of John and Jesus were contradictory, and to get across his point he used a metaphor (in the form of a riddle) of children playing. The children complained that their friends did not get happy at their happy songs or get sad with their sad songs. In other words, it did not matter what song they played, the others did not join in. In the same way, John did not drink alcohol — in fact his diet of locusts and honey was a bit odd — and because of this, some people accused him of being possessed by a demon! Jesus, on the other hand, turned up eating and drinking alcohol and they accused him of being a drunk!

Jesus told the people that wisdom was shown to be wise by the fruits of that wisdom and, as we say in England, ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating.’ If John and Jesus were truly wise then this would be proved to be the case. Both John and Jesus had different styles but both led people to God, and it was not the style of ministry that was important but the call to turn back to God. John backed up Jesus and Jesus backed up John — even though Jesus was ‘The One’ for whom John was preparing the way.

In the same way, Christians have different styles of connecting with God (I am not talking doctrine here). Some like traditional worship, others contemporary worship. Some like silence, others volume. Some like formality, others informality. Some like lots of words, others fewer. Some like singing, some do not. It is not the style that is important but the substance and the heart. The danger is that when we put our own expectations on churches or leaders — thinking that our style is the ‘right way’ and belittle or invalidate the style of others — we have lost our own substance and our hearts are no longer in the right place.

Do

Today, can you think of a Christian community or a church that does things in a style you think is weird or irrelevant? Take a bite of humble pie and recognise that it is substance and not style that matters, and thank God for them!

Pray

Holy God
Forgive me for thinking
that my way is right,
and that everyone
else’s way is wrong.
Get me on my knees,
that from the floor,
I might gain
a correct perspective.
Thank you that we are all
so wonderfully different,
and that as Christians
we express your
diversity and creativity.
Help me be part of a
Christian community
where I can be me,
and make a difference
for you in the world.
Now and forever.
Amen.

Think

How did you come to God ? Was it quick or slow, overt or covert, noisily or quietly, or are you still on the journey?

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