Rouge River Community Church

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Paper Cuts

I walk to the library every work day. It's a nice walk, through an older village-type downtown. There are lots of cars at that time in the morning, but they move slowly and i find them thoughtful of pedestrians. That is, until I get to a major road. This road is the main east- west artery in this area, and it is busy! As is usual with every busy intersection, drivers have a tendency to cut some corners, literally and figuratively. More than once I have had to dodge a Dodge, or a Honda or a Ford.

One particular time, a couple weeks ago, one driver was turning right, and just didn't see me. He missed me by millimeters. The car actually brushed my coat. The funny part was the shocked look on the face of this guy's passenger. She looked me right in the eye with a look of horror, an "Aaaaah!" still on her lips. "Didn't you see that guy?! You almost killed him!" is what I imagine she was saying to the driver It was pretty funny, in hindsight.

But at the time, after jumping out of the way of umpteen drivers not seeing me (somewhat surprising since I am a big guy), I was really annoyed. No, to be honest I was pissed off. I responded accordingly.

I wish I could tell you I waved and smiled and made the sign of the cross, but I didn't. I hit the back of his car with my hand. In my defense, I didn't do any damage to the vehicle, at least not as much as my bloody corpse would have done squished into his grill. But nonetheless, I lost my cool and hit his car. t was wrong. He didn't stop, and I didn't chase him.

All it was was a paper cut, a little annoying prick (no pun intended) that stung me for a second. That's all. But my response was based on the previous dozen times I almost became the main dish at the road kill cafe. I let all those other paper cuts from the other times build up until all together they were a major emotional wound. And that's my fault.

What are the paper cuts in your life? The dirty dishes in the sink- again? The dirty clothes on the bedroom floor- again? The toilet paper role left unchanged- again? The milk put back in the fridge, empty- again? We can all have a ton of paper cuts in our lives. They happen. The challenge is to keep them from building up until we react like a major offense as taken place.

Check out this advice from Jesus about paper cuts:

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."

(Matthew 5:38-42)

What does Jesus suggest we do? Let it go. Take the hit. Go the extra mile. Give the jerk the shirts off our backs. Great advice, but really hard to do in real life. Why? Because after enough of these paper cuts, where our perceived rights have been violated, we lash out like a junk yard dog. We feel we can only take so much before we're ready to snap. Jesus says the trick is to have no perceived rights.

Wow. And just to show that Jesus practiced what he preached, look at John 18:22;

When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?"

Jesus didn't hit him back. He didn't shout. He didn't scream or threaten. Meh, just a paper cut. He shook it off. There was a lot worse to come (crucifixion), why sweat this?

So, what are you sweating today? What paper cut are you letting get infected? Take a moment right now and think about it. What are the paper cuts in your life? Try to shake them off before they become something that controls your mood and impacts your relationships. Seriously, it's not worth the hassle.

Peace.

Posted By Andre Lauzon At 3:42 PM •

Friday, June 04, 2010

Fortress Church

So, we think our society is in bad shape, do we? Try ancient Crete, say, about 2000 years ago. Alcoholism was almost universal, no-commitment relationships were the norm, and violence against women was epidemic. It's into this culture that the apostle Paul dropped a very young protege of his, Titus.

In his letter that survives to today, Paul gave Titus specific instructions on how to begin to rebuild a society in chaos. In chapter two of the epistle, Paul focuses on gender, age and position to begin the renovation project. He has pointed instructions to Titus on expectations the young minister should have of older women, older men, younger women, younger men, and slaves. The catch? All of the people in these varied groups shared one thing in common: a faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul's instructions to Titus are to draw lines of accountability within the community of faith he is leading. He doesn't tell Titus to go change Crete by lecturing people in the streets, or complaining how bad society is to those in the church who would listen. You want to make an impact on society? Start with those in the church. Teach them and model for them a holiness lived out that is attractive and pure.

How have we done, as the church in North America, in following Paul's advice? Ya, not that good. Much of evangelical Christianity in North America still sits in fortress churches, lobbing judgement bombs at their non-believing family and neighbours because they do not live like Christians. Boy, talk about setting yourself up to be constantly disappointed. Expecting people who want nothing to do with church to act like Christians ought! At least there will be a never ending supply of examples to go "tsk tsk" about each Sunday.

Legalism in the Cretan church was especially tempting because of the chaos in society. When all the world around you is seemingly out of control, a life of rigid discipline can seem attractive. And if you throw in a belief that living that disciplined life will earn you extra favour with God, all the better. But Paul is clear that is not the answer either. Trading enslavement to our passions with enslavement to legalism is still enslavement.

Paul asserts that there is a third way. He calls Titus to teach his flock to live out of an overflowing of gratitude for the grace shown by God in the work of Jesus Christ. No longer enslaved to sin, we can experience freedom of living. Freedom to live a life of renewed purity that honours the grace of God, but also expands His kingdom. The way we live communicates the work God has done and is doing in our lives. Church, our lives are either the Gospel, or they aren't. Our lives either draw our neighbours and friends to ask about our hope, our they do not. Legalism is a form of selfishness that puts the focus of faith on self, not God Our motivation to live free and pure must come from the same attitude that God expressed to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, an attitude of sacrificial love, gratitude, relationship and grace. No fortress church, no walls, no legalism, no judgement bombs lobbed at our neighbours.

I'll end this blog entry with this: Read all three chapters of Titus. Had Paul left Titus in Markham, in Toronto, or in your neighbourhood, what would be different in his instructions? Try rewriting some of the letter to make it fit your context. I wonder What insights we'll gain from this exercise.

Posted By Andre Lauzon At 9:56 AM •

Andre's Blog