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!

Relating eyes to sight

Yesterday I happened to have two separate conversations about sight. First was a question I get pretty often: How do I have a relationship with someone I can't see? (Jesus, for instance). And the second was a question about Ephesians 1: What does Paul mean by 'the eyes of your hearts'?

It occurs to me that the answer to question two might also be a good answer to question one. The 'eyes of our hearts' refers to our imagination and understanding. Genuine relationship—even with people we can 'see'—is so rich with imagination and understanding (experience). It hardly depends on physical sight at all.

On this basis, we're at almost no disadvantage to Jesus' first disciples. And like any genuine relationship, the more time we spend with Jesus, the narrower the gap between our imagination and our understanding (experience).