When we were kids we always chose up sides for virtually any game we played. Kickball, baseball, wiffleball, war, football, basketball, capture the flag any game that required two teams the process would be the same. The group would first choose two captains. Then everyone else would line up. The captains would then pick who would be on their team. Depending on the game and whether we were playing with mixed company, often the teams would be separated as "shirts" and "skins." Shirts kept their shirts on. Skins took their shirts off. It was easy to identify your teammates that way.
Reading through this passage in Mt. 25, I always think of those childhood experiences. But instead of "shirts" and "skins," Jesus is separating those gathered into two camps as sheep and goats. In our athletic events or games, your abilities, as demonstrated by past performances, got you picked early. The better you were at a particular game, got you picked first. Jesus is kind of doing the same thing. He's choosing who gets to be on His team based on past performance.
The performance, however, Jesus is looking for doesn't have to do with abilities, talents, intelligence or athletic prowess. It has to do with heart. Have you demonstrated a servant's heart? Jesus has a distinct set of requirements to be on His team. Ironically, the criteria isn't how much you know about the Bible. It isn't how often you attended church. It isn't how many committees you served on or Sunday School classes you taught.
Jesus' criteria for being on His team is who and how have you served? The people on His team fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, sheltered the strangers/the homeless, clothed the needy, cared for the sick, assisted the imprisoned. Those who did these things are welcomed into His Kingdom. Those who didn't, don't get to go into heaven.
I've been to and a part of a lot of churches. If this is the criteria for getting into heaven, I know a lot of Christians who'll be playing on the goats team. There is very little focus on "the least of these" for many followers of Christ. I know many churches that are focused more on doctrine and programs that appease their constituents, than they are on the needs of "the least of these" in their communities. They are more passionate about the style of music or what they sit in on Sunday morning, than they are about "the least of these."
Instead of building massive structures to meet and play in, wouldn't it be better for God's people to be investing in community health clinics, food and clothing banks, homeless shelters, transitional housing, job training, home care or appropriate housing for the elderly and prison ministries. God's church had 3,000 converts on the first Sunday. They grew to tens of thousands in relatively short order. The amazing thing is that they didn't have a 200 acre campus with a gorgeous 3,500 seat worship center, state of the art educational wing, multipurpose center, interactive children's wing and full sports facility. They had nothing. They met in the existing temple courts and from house to house.
I can't really criticize. I have to ask myself the question, how much do I focus on "the least of these." If you took a good look at my history and my daily life, I'd be found lacking in this area. My heart is there, but my actions are questionable.
But the good news is that instead being chosen by the captain for this team, I can choose what team I'm going to be on. That's been the goal I've had for our new church; that we'd be a church concerned about "the least of these."
God, forgive my blindness to the needs that are around me. Forgive my stinginess, too. Help me lead my church to become the kind of church that has this type of servant's heart for people. Give us the vision and the resources to meet these needs. Allow people in need to see you through us.
No comments:
Post a Comment