Doing the right things for our own reasons

Around every issue there are two types of people: People Like Us (PLU) and People Not Like Us (PNLU). When PNLU advocate for change, PLU tend to resist. We dismiss the issue altogether or we fight back. But what if the change is for good?

We may not like what PNLU stand for. We may be wary of them and their agendas. But PLU have the freedom to do right things for our own reasons. We should carry every issue to Christ, surrender it to the Gospel, and act accordingly.

Foot washing: beyond ritual

“Jesus said to [Peter], “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.”

— John 13:10 ESV

When Jesus washed his disciples' feet, foot washing was a normal part of everyday life. Not so today. So how do we follow Jesus' example in ways that go beyond ritual?

Jesus served. Washing feet was a way of serving people. In fact servants did the washing. Today, we can follow Christ's example by serving others in normal, everyday, practical, ways.

Jesus stooped. Jesus broke with social convention. People on the bottom rung of society washed feet—not masters, teachers, or leaders. Certainly not lords! Today, we too can do the unexpected. Elites, the powerful, and the esteemed can serve the poor, the powerless, and the unseen.

Jesus shifted. So typical of Jesus, he speaks on multiple levels. When Peter resisted the idea of Jesus washing his feet, Jesus challenged him. And Peter's response was "then not just my feet, but my head and hands too!" To this Jesus alludes to our complete, forever cleansing by his coming death. Still, walking in this world, we will pick up worldly residue. And together we must help each other recognize what's clinging to us, then help us deal with it. What an amazing picture of Christian community!

Testing to failure

I was trained as a chemical engineer and early in my career I actually did engineering work. One of my first assignments was to operate a pilot plant filled with an explosive gas at high temperatures and pressures. If anything failed, everyone in town would know it!

So it was important that all the tanks were pressure tested before they were installed. Some tanks were tested to failure. Every tank was tested at high pressure so it could be used at some lower pressure.

Here's the thing: when tanks are pressure tested, they're tested with water, not a gas. When a tank full of water fails, some water rushes out. When a tank full of gas fails, shrapnel flies everywhere. Safety first.

At our church we use three indicators of spiritual maturity: stability, gratitude, and generosity. So how do we discover our limits—or whether we've grown? We have to be pressure tested. Of course, real life pressure tests us every day—sometimes to the point of failure. But real life conditions aren't the safest. Failure can be explosive and damaging.

A better way to know ourselves is to engage in Gospel-centered community—with safe people—that will test our maturity. Everyone in the group should anticipate failures. And everyone in the group should be quick to extend grace.