“...a man, an Asian man, possibly Chinese or Thai. He walked carelessly through the crowd of people, which is not to say that he walked with out paying attention or straggled through lacking self control; No this man walked without care. Which, yes, is an improper use of the term; however, this man could not care-lessly (which isn't even a word) about anything in life. He walked with a shine on his face, a strut in his legs, a smooth saunter of his shoulders outlined his every movement. This man had found a pivotal character trait that humans suffer eternity seeking: freedom. Freedom of the cares of outward judgement, freedom of the cares of inward judgement, freedom of that little voice that haunts you saying 'you don't belong'.”
The Pastor of our church has recently started a session on judgement. (The main verse being Matthew 7:1-5) He discussed how we as people and we as Christians can come to conclusions about others upon viewing their outward appearance. He used the scripture as a mirror aimed towards the listeners, giving us a direct look into the judgement we cast onto others and revealing to us the same judgement being cast back at us. Quite the revelation was planted in my heart as I heard illustrations like “That boy is wearing a hat in church!” or “He has tattoo’s, he must be bad!”. My heart was turned and disrupted knowing that I had fallen to such trivial judgements towards my fellow human beings. My mind filled with memories as I looked around the sanctuary of the church. Memories of bitter judgements and petty flaws, some from long ago and some from that very morning. The Pastor concluded that Sunday’s message with the remembrance of our call as disciples, to love one another and to look at the hearts of one another and that there was room for correction when needed but not to assess somebodies heart by there hair colour or apparel.
That afternoon a few friends and I travelled to the city for the day to hang out, grab some food, and check out a jazz festival. Being around so many people reminded me quickly of how many times a day I cast stones at others. Having heard the sermon about judging others so recently my soul became convicted and felt ashamed of my nature. Latter that evening we sat down in the middle of an open field with a thousand others to enjoy some very interesting music and I began to watch people.
Staring at a man setting up a lawn chair with his wife I studied his facial features. Two lines creasing around his mouth upwards towards the outer edge of the nostrils, a rounded chin, ears that popped out from the sides of his head, he was probably late thirties and he wore a greyish ball cap and sweatshirt. Very plain, very simple, very boring.
“God, Your weird.” I stated in my mind. No answer or quick revelation followed; but, the spirit began to guide me and soon it became prominent that I was looking through eyes other than that of my own.
I noticed a man dancing with his son, just jumping and laughing. Normally I would have made small little cuts at his shoes and haircut but I could not for I was enamoured by the love that surrounded he and his offspring.
A lady stood on top of her quilt and began to jump and kick her feet at the waves of notes directed from the stage towards he ears. Her husband soon joined in and in no fancy way did they dance; but they did it with passion and excitement. A beautiful site to witness outside the walls of the church.
A woman with pop bottle glasses, long blonde braided hair awkwardly bobbed her head to the song with a joyful smile on her face. A loving husband stood next to her an took in the moments of romance.
All around I looked and stared and seen people. People loving, dancing, singing, playing and just soaking in the enjoyment of life. People staring, people thinking, people dreaming. People just congregating and being who they are. The joy that filled my heart as I watched them could have only been inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, for in my human state I would begin to criticize and make fun of people who are willing to be more of who they are then I know how.
Stop and imagine this scene; music, dancing, laughter, clapping, laughing, beauty.
We were created for this purpose; this magnificent scene is what Christ is so awestruck by. I, in a small way admired these people. It didn't matter what people were wearing, or what there skin colour was, their age was irrelevant. They weren’t stopping and telling their children to sit down and be quiet but rather allowing them to enjoy the fun and involving them in the wonderful 'shindig'. There was no definite outlined way to be, no proper form of sitting, standing or dancing. Some were conversing, some just walked around and met people, others like myself were just starring off at others.
In truth my thoughts found a rather strange question: Why doesn't Church service look more like this? I am in no way saying that Church service as is is wrong or bad, I love the way it is. Also I am in no way endorsing the 'do what ever you want' mentality or the 'be tolerant to all things' thinking. My point is more of what are we missing in the Church that this jazz festival had. We have music, fun people, love, dancing, clapping, you can stand in groups in the isles or at the front to worship, even better we have chairs! So what is it that says to those outside of the Church “You can be yourself at this jazz festival” or better what is it that says to them “You cannot be yourself inside of this Church”. Is it us? Is it our ability to look at the garb of another and state the condition of their heart? Or is it our omniscient knowing of who wants to be said hi to on Sunday morning or called on Thursday night?
I want to illustrate an example of a man I seen at this festival and I want you to allow your mind to really imagine this man walking by you. What would you think of him?
Tall and slender with long black hair, he wore white sporty sunglasses. Upon his head was a white and black, almost tiger print, bandana that allowed his hair to flow out the back and down his head. A black leather jacket hung on his shoulders followed by the cliche black jeans and cowboy boots. He wore an interesting shall around his neck that hung to his knees flowing with the same pattern as that of his bandana. A second shall coloured with brown and black followed the first around his neck and down his front. He carried a rather nice camera loosely by the strap, allowing it to swing and sway by his shins. Atop of his shoulder sat a bright blue parrot, nuzzling his hair and ear. He was obviously a man, an Asian man, possibly Chinese or Thai. He walked carelessly through the crowd of people, which is not to say that he walked with out paying attention or straggled through lacking self control; No this man walked without care. Which, yes, is an improper use of the term; however, this man could not care-lessly (which isn't even a word) about anything in life. He walked with a shine on his face, a strut in his legs, a smooth saunter of his shoulders outlined his every movement. This man had found a pivotal character trait that humans suffer eternity seeking: freedom. Freedom of the cares of outward judgement, freedom of the cares of inward judgement, freedom of that little voice that haunts you saying 'you don't belong'.
What does the church have to offer him? We offer freedom in Christ, but what if freedom is already obtained? Or at least believed that it is? What can we give him that says this will be better than what the world has to offer you? I will state that I highly doubt there is a moment in the day, when this man is out and about, that someone isn't starring at him, studying his physical characteristics with either disgust or intrigue. I wonder if any one ever bothers to ask him about his camera, the most uninteresting thing about him and yet maybe his deepest passion. I wonder what such a bold, courageous, passionate human being could do for the Kingdom of God.
I mean if he can wear, literally, whatever he likes including a parrot, couldn't he wear Christ with out hesitation if he understood the glory that would follow? Shouldn't I be able to do so! If there are men and women in the world, thousands upon thousands of men and women, who are willing to walk care-lessly through crowds and synagogues representing who they are and what they stand for should not we as servants of God be able to do the same if not better? (A sentence easily written in Bold.)
What can we be to those who already have what we are offering? I say we can be like The Christ for no one who doesn't have him can say that they do. I don't want to display Michael because if I am, the person looking in at me can say that they can achieve or obtain what they see. I want to display Christ for if I do any one looking in will stand in wonder at how I could be so courageous, so gentle, so unselfish, and most of all so loving; I want them to wonder how I could throw off all things human and put on something that is far more than a cut above.
What does this mean? Feeding the poor? Going on a missions trip? Dying on a cross?
This means loving: To prefer others above ourselves. To go to the people that you have criticized and find out why they like those shoes that you find so ugly (obviously don't tell them you think there shoes are ugly, that's just mean. Please try and keep up with the metaphors;). Pick up a conversation with the people around you and ask them what they like about... stuff. If we are always staring in the mirror trying to pick our own pimples, all we are ever going to see is those pimples and we will forget that there is a world outside our door waiting for heroes; men and women of valour who are ready and willing to do the one thing that every one is terrified of: to love and get to know the hearts of the rest of the world. There is a definite time to 'take the plank out of own eye' but only in the case of having to correct or judge another. When loving who cares what your problems are why not care about somebody else's? Go out and be a hero.
* I tried to make this blog with as little blasphemies as possible. It is obviously difficult to please everyone and also due to being a human it is also hard sometimes to speak of the Bible with out accidentally distorting its truths. If you have any questions or statements that come into conflict with my blog email me at michaelblackburn@live.ca and I would love to accommodate your reason. I love you guys and thank you all for reading.
