See the "Other"

Notes From the Pastor...

My favorite song lyrics come from Tim McGraw:

Just to see you smile

I’d do anything

That you wanted me to

And all is said and done

I’d never count the cost

It’s worth all that’s lost

Just to see you smile

The self-sacrifice of discipleship has everything to do with denying self, taking up the cross, and following Christ to crucifixion. In such life-giving behavior you and I no longer consider the wisdom of cost versus benefit analysis.

In my observation there are two times that we as human beings naturally counteract our propensity to measure cost versus benefit.  First, when we see disaster.  Henryville, Indiana and West Liberty, Kentucky are only our newest images of self-sacrifice.  People from surrounding communities loaded up some food and tools, jumped in their trucks and with no care for time and energy were there to aid whatever the need.   This phenomenon happens even when the disaster hits a place where our enemies reside.  The second
time we counteract our evolutionary decisionmaking process is when we operate in family relations.  Few of us would not, or have not, given all that we have to a brother, daughter, father, or cousin.  These two subversive motivations against our normal operating procedure have one thing in common; in both disaster and family we see the “other” as human.

The great act of crucifixion, divine emptying of self, taking on the form of humanity, and sacrificing self for the sake of humanity, came to pass because God is love.  There is no greater love than to sacrifice all for the sake of the “other”.  This is why all of us who call First Christian Church our home, no matter our age, wealth, or background, have a position to fill in the “family of faith.”  We must participate in the crucifixion, and in so doing we start to see humanity in one another and act with no care for self.

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.      

- Jesus of Nazareth

Grace,
Pastor Ryan