The sign on the building says “Church and Christian Education,” a rather
large, rich imposing church set in an industrial area. A church with many
programs, stressing being in the word via daily devotions in the Bible. And
like any other church, wants to set itself apart from others, by its motto or
creed. For just down the street sits another huge building, advertising they
are a church of the gospel. And still within shouting distance, another boasts
of a huge cross on the property. Beautiful campuses, well manicured, modern,
and inviting. All wanting to welcome you and have you join their fellowship,
and bring you closer to God. All very admirable in their mission statements,
but so many based on education. A buzzword of today, as many espouse the more
education, the better chance for success. In the world we find low end
managers, who we used to refer to as clerks, now need a Master’s Degree to
qualify. We place a high, or higher value on the education of the person,
hoping in the process to have learned something. But finding that like, most of
us only studied to pass the test, to get the degree. And then it is forgotten,
while turning to the current lesson at hand. Did we really learn anything at
all?
Ironically one of the best college professors I had I can’t remember his
name, but I remember his class. On the first day of class, in a small
auditorium, on stage he sat with a table, a wooden chair, and an old metal trash
can. After getting our attention, he stood up and introduced himself, a former
executive from IBM, and then held up the text book. “This is what they want us
to use,” and promptly dropped it in the waste basket. “But in this class you
will not learn theory, in each study we will go through a problem that we
encountered in real life, and see how we either succeeded or failed. You will
learn to experience the problem,and have to think for yourself. There will be
no wrong answers, but some will work while others will be based on theory. You
will experience rather than learn about business first hand.” And we did, but
almost instantly the students of grade versus the students of learning were
separated. Rather than study from a book, we studied from experience, and were
made to think and apply our education. Which made us explore potential most of
us didn’t know we had. Yet some didn’t get it, they needed to be taught, and
had a very low threshold of learning.
I am blessed to sit among a generation of the smartest Bible teachers and
students in history. With more Bibles, study tapes, notebooks, and how to
books, the church is overwhelmed with education. But yet recently one church
needed some volunteers to feed the poor, and out of 7000 who attend, 16
inquired. Where is the application of their education? Have we all become mind
numbed robots to education? Like progress, it was a good thing, maybe it has
just gone on too long. For me, God put it plainly. “If the seat of your pants
is wearing out faster than the soles of your shoes, you have a problem.” Maybe
we need to check our wardrobe. For the ones I see out in the battle field, the
ones who get it, who experience Christ first hand, are low on education. They
may not know the Roman Road, the Four Spiritual Laws, or name the parables of
Jesus. But they have the heart of Jesus, and it shows in their life. And
others see it. They care, they love, because the spirit drives them, not
religion, not even church. A problem Paul addressed 2000 years ago.
Paul refers to the men who promote the outer man, in a religious setting as
dogs. Dogs were the worst then, and both Gentiles and Jews referred to low
lifes as dogs. And here he found them in the church. Concentrating on the
external, what they knew or did publicly, how they earned their reputation. But
at a cost to salvation and spiritual growth. They taught Jesus and the law,
circumcision, and knowledge as requirements to be saved, or to grow in Christ.
Sound familiar. They pushed their views on people, usually picking on the
weakest, and spreading their false religion. Serving God’s people trash like
the dogs ate, and expecting them to be loyal to a teaching. A philosophy. But
never wanting to make it personal. A desire to advertise their holiness by good
works, recognition, and knowledge. Sincere in their endeavors, they were
sincerely wrong, as they missed the mark of Jesus, that we change from the
inside and it is Jesus who changes us. It is the experience of knowing Jesus
Christ, not knowing about him that changes us. When is the last time you were
invited to experience Jesus first hand?
Application of education will upset the traditional church. Safe and
secure behind a pulpit, the pastor has a safe audience. Try the teaching out on
the streets like Jesus did. True some knew him as Rabbi, but when it was
personal, when they knew him it became Lord. And that same Jesus wants to make
it personal today, to go beyond education and have you apply the love he gave
you to others. And you have a huge audience waiting to be loved, not educated.
When Jimi Hendrix sang “have you ever been experienced?” how many can refer to
Jesus as saying “I have!”
My friend who happens to be a pastor, taught yesterday about sharing Jesus
in a crisis situation. While many quote scriptures and try to influence the
afflicted, why not try love? Compassion? Listening? People only care about
how much you know when they know how much you care. Maybe it is as simple as
meeting a need, which is what ministry is. When I met two businessmen
yesterday, and they inquired as to my ministry, I told them it was simple.
Sometimes the need is spiritual, sometimes physical, sometimes emotional. Just
like Jesus told the church in Matthew 25. And they offered to help, and donated
free delivery of a mattress. They wanted to be involved, to experience the love
of Jesus, in a simple non-religious way. All from a guy who who has 3 semesters
of the same teachings from college. You see it is not what you know, but who,
and I know Jesus.
Have you ever been experienced? Do you want to be? Or are you content to
hide behind your degree, your studies, your DD after your name? Or do you wish
to see all the blessings of Christ? You may be a dog and not know it, just
fitting in, or willing to share scraps from others relationship. Make it
personal, and Jesus offers to do it. The things that are seen are temporal, the
things not seen are eternal. If you were a building, what would your sign say?
The genuine experience starts in the heart, then changes the life. Faith begins
in the spirit and grows from there. Studying to find yourself approved, or for
people to see the gospel alive in you? Some are content to listen to a song on
the radio, I want to sing it. Application of your education, the first lesson
Jesus taught was love. What can we learn from you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com