Bridging the gap...

I worry sometimes about the distance between what we say is important and what we really believe is important as evidenced by our actions. For example:

There's not a person among us who doesn't want a better, safer, more just, equitable and peaceful world. Well...OK. Maybe there are a few really sick, twisted folks among us who don't want those things. But by and large, the desire for the world to be a better place isn't merely the aspiration of Miss America contestants. All of us want that.

As Christians, we confess that there is a way in which the world can be better. Not perfect, mind you. That won't happen until Christ himself returns to reign. But better nonetheless. And it begins with willing obedience to the not-so-new commandment which Jesus gave his disciples: Love the Lord your God; love your neighbor as you love yourself.

God first. Others second. Then me. It's a pretty easy formula to remember. It's a bit more difficult to live, however, because it gets in the way of so much of what the world promises. Awash in a celebrity culture that fawns over the self, we have a hard time fighting off the urge to draw attention to ourselves at the expense of God and others. The result is a narcissism that poisons human culture and makes real peace, justice and equity practically impossible.

And the really tough part is that it is so subtle. We get sucked in by the smallest of things...the praise of others at our successes (when we really should be thanking God for the ability to accomplish whatever we manage to do)...the desire to give our kids (or is it really ourselves?) so much of everything that there's no time left for regular worship or Christian nurture or real "family" time.

And as subtle as it is to fall into the trap, it's even harder to get out. Can you imagine the uproar if folks demanded that there be no more soccer games before 2:00pm on Sunday. Outrageous!

And yet, that kind of outrage may be just what is necessary. We need to re-assess...make some intentional decisions about what's important in our lives and the lives of our children. For some folks that will probably mean leaving the church and her faith even farther behind. I am sad for them. But hopefully for others it will mean a reclaiming of some control over their lives (something I'm guessing that most of us would like) based on a humble and grateful obedience to Christ...a re-prioritization (if there is such a word) that loves God first, that loves others second, and that is unafraid to love "me" third...knowing that God already holds us in love that is unfailing.

Such confidence in what Jesus promises...now there's the key to the world we all want.