Better or Best

I don't always associate myself with the women of the Bible.  In fact, I never do.  There's something about relating with a feminine Biblical story that messes with a guys manhood.  Perhaps I'm insecure.  Regardless, why would I want to try and associate my story with a woman named Mary?

I'd rather associate my story with people like John the Baptist - a barbarian of a man who wore a mixture of leather and camel hair, ate grasshoppers and wild honey, and appeared out of the wilderness.

Or people like Paul - one of the fiercest advocates for Jesus.  A guy who had one of the most messed up pasts you could imagine.  A guy who spend a significant amount of time in prison.  A guy who was relentless for Jesus.


But Mary?


Because I want to be like her!  Does that sound weird?


As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.  She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!"  "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."      ~Luke 10:38-42


So…as Martha was being hospitable, Mary was sitting and listening to Jesus.  This story is about the difference between better and best.  It's about the best kind of discipleship.


Why am I interested in Mary's story?  Because I want to be like her!  Unlike Mary, I find myself getting caught up in the same kind of thing Martha was doing.  I'm not cleaning the house or baking bread or making dinner (although my wife would love that) for Jesus; the kind of hospitality I'm participating in is a little different.  My focus is sadly confined in my attempt to work out Jesus' intellectual hospitality.  Instead of soaking in every word that comes from Jesus, I'm busy putting together proofs and trying to intellectualize the Christian faith.


Instead of listening to Jesus, I'm busy writing about the compatibility between evolution and the story of Adam and Eve.  Instead of listening to Jesus, I'm trying to figure out who's theology is more biblically accurate, Jacobus Arminius or John Calvin.  Instead of listening to Jesus, I'm busy doing intellectual dirty work as I attempt to preserve the idea of Biblical inerrancy.


If I'm not listening to Jesus, what am I doing?  I'm being like Martha.  In Martha's attempt to serve Jesus, she was called out due to her misguided priorities.  Jesus wanted Martha to hear and be changed by the wisdom of his words.   Martha wanted to foster the situation by complimenting it with perfect preparations (food, decorations, ethos,…).  Instead, Jesus would rather have Martha sit and listen like Mary.


I often wonder how many of us fail at listening to Jesus.  We can be so busy in the chaos of life that perhaps we never sit and listen (or read).  And I wonder how well we can follow Christ if we never listen to him.  If I'm always trying to be intellectually hospitable for Jesus and I never listen, how screwed up is that?  And for some of us, the Martha activities we participate in are different.  Some of us have busy families, activities, jobs, hobbies, ministries, high-maintenance friendships, and etc…


I've been challenged and I challenge you to hear from Jesus on a daily basis.


So before I rush to the flurry of daily activities ahead, I'm going to read some "red letters."  As Mary was complimented for her ability to simply listen, I invite you to listen as well.  Not just by reading the following quote, but by reading the Jesus of your Bible too.


Jesus said:
"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."        ~Matthew 11:28-30    (The message)

Creatively Speaking...

Words are powerful; sometimes.  Unless you're like me and have had someone fall asleep while you were talking.  Seriously?  Did I just talk for five minutes to a sleeping person?  Am I really that boring?  Are my words really that weak?  Many of us have had the chance to be around phenomenal communicators  It's easy to be jealous of that person who has the perfect tone of voice complimented with the ability to wax eloquent.  That person is not me.  That person can keep people awake.  It seems as if that person can generate beautiful images and ideas out of mere words.  It seems as if that person can produce something from nothing.


A few years ago, I remember a myth suggesting that humans are able to only utilize 10% of their brain power.  This myth obviously alludes the the point that 90% of the human brain remains unemployed.  I'm not completely convinced about the 10% statistic, except for perhaps a few people I know.  This myth also suggested that if humans could tap into all their brain power, they might have the ability to mentally compute pi or have telekinetic powers (the ability to move objects by the force of thinking).  Although this statistic is a myth, I thought it seemed to interestingly imply the power and potential involved in human intelligence.


It's fascinating to observe humanity's ability to communicate compared to that of other species.  Although we cannot fully understand how other species communicate, we can observe that humans communicate on a much higher dimension than any other animal.  Human intelligence teamed with communicative ability makes amazing potential.


A question arises in regard to the level of human intelligence and communicative power in comparison to other species.  Why is there such a gap between humanity and the rest of the animal kingdom?  Why doesn't the communicative ability and intelligent power in monkeys (humanity's closes relative according to evolution) partially compete with humans?  Sure, birds and dogs communicate through chirps and barks, but one has to admit how amazing it is one realizes the depth and sophistication of human communication and intelligence.  Then again, I have seen some incredible dogs and birds talk better than some people I know.  Anyways.  The simple fact that you can read this is amazing!


Words are powerful.  But God's words are especially powerful.  The book of Genesis displays a scene showing just how powerful God's words are.  When he speaks, people don't fall asleep.  When God speaks, something is created from nothing.  The first chapter in Genesis demonstrates and describes God's communicative power.  He speaks and the universe explodes into existence.  He speaks and nature organizes itself and flourishes according to his commands.  At one point, God tells Isaiah: "my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."  God's words always produce, accomplish, and execute.


We find something interesting when we compare the poetics of Genesis to our observation in regards to human communication and intelligence.  Genesis says that "God made man in his own image, in the image of God he created them."  This statement is interesting taking into account that humans are the most advanced and sophisticated in all the created order.  This would make in sense in understanding humanity to be the only creature made in God's image.


A friend of mine who loves to learn about the Jewish side of the Christian faith told me something interesting about the story of "Jesus and the Sick Woman."  Jesus, as others did in his day, wore a garment (called a Tallit) of clothing around his neck.  On each end of the garment were five tassels representing the Word of God (each tassel representing one book of the Bible known as the Torah).  As the story goes, while Jesus was teaching, there was a women in the crowd who had been sick for twelve years.  She believed that if she reached out and touched Jesus' clothing, she would be healed.  The thing is, she wasn't simply reaching to touch Jesus' clothes, she was reaching out to touch the garment (tassels) which represented the Word of God.  Why?  Because she believed God's Word possessed power.  Perhaps she recognized the power of God's words in the Genesis account.  Perhaps she recognized the power of God's words in the Torah.  Whatever she believed, her faith in God's Word was what healed her.        (Matthew 9:18-22)


Words are powerful.  In fact, the book of John goes on to describe who Jesus actually is, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  he was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  Apparently, John believed that God's words, his speech, and his commands actually became a person; that person is Jesus.  Jesus became known as the Word of God because in him, God perfectly speaks.  To reiterate this, God's speech becomes a person: Jesus the Christ.          (John 1:1-3,14)


Nobody's words are as powerful as God's.  Whether I put someone to sleep, or whether I have the ability to wax eloquent; the power and literal creativity of God's words far outweigh my own.


I heard a national speaker recently say, "Perhaps we're using our words carelessly."  I couldn't agree more.  I'm not sure about you, but I can't count how many times I've said something negative, hurtful, or "careless."  Perhaps I should remind myself that I've been made in the image of God and my words also carry power with them.


In the study room at the seminary I attend, there's a big quote from Ed Dobson hanging on the wall.  It reads, "Preach the Word…Love People."  Perhaps I'm starting to understand this...


Therefore, as people created who carry God's image, our words should mirror the words of God.  As Jesus is the materialization of God's Word; his words should be our words.  These words are transformational, creative, and powerful.  However weak our words may be, if we speak according to God's Word, there is strength.  When his words are spoken, they retain the potential to produce.  His words will not return empty.


May the words that flow from our lips resonate with the words of the LORD.  May we allow the words of God to continually produce fruit in our lives.  May our words continue to bring and give life.