The Core

I just got back from a Worship Conference in Nashville called the “Look to the hills conference.” Shelly and I were able to spend Wednesday through Sunday in the Tennessee hills communing with God and with each other. This was vastly different from the Chicago “Willow Arts Conference” that we went to back in June. The conference was about the ways in which we see our people and our church relating to the world. Although I was a bit disappointed with the organizational aspect of the entire week, I was encouraged by some of the content.

My wife has such a good way of seeing and putting things-so discerning. She has a gift. Something I can only hope to one day attain. But she said, some of these topics, the things talked about by Mike Cope, Jeff Walling and some of the other speakers hit right at the ‘core’ of what the message of God is all about. The Incarnation of Jesus - how can we be Jesus to the world? It was so poignant to me. I realized that at times Christians become disgusted with the world and with what our nation has become. We become upset at how TV has gotten so trashy and how films have become so frivolous with morality. I have heard voices of hatred for the world from some Christians…at times I have been that voice.

But, what I’m being reminded of is that Jesus did not hate the world. (John 3:17) He was not shocked by the world’s lack of morality. He Loved The World. And when he approached us he didn’t do it with an attitude of Judgment. He didn’t expect us to meet him where he was. He didn’t have make people see that he was God before he would get to know us. He lived his life in relationship with people. He lived his life respecting people and showing them their value.

That is what it means to be Jesus today. It may mean not caring if someone is Jehovah’s Witness, or Muslim or Hindu…It may mean respecting their past and building relationship with them. It may mean that we love them and not expect them to come to church with us. Being Jesus isn’t getting someone to see God and then moving along to someone or something else. It’s letting them see God through me. My life, my friendship and hospitality. Breaking bread shouldn’t be restricted to Christians. I should be inviting others to break bread with me. That’s what Jesus did. And when we talk about the core of Christianity, we’re talking about Jesus.