Americans are so accustomed to carefully packaged announcements. We expect political leaders to spin the news to fit their agenda. Corporate leaders get out in front of the news in order to make even disappointing business results sound positive. Did you hear the President of Freddie Mac justify the revelation that his company, which was established to provide mortage loan liquidity to American homeowners by maintaining strict loan standards, had engaged in 100% financing (previous policy was 20% down)? He said, "if we didn't go along with the flow we would have lost market share." In other words, everyone else was doing it and we would be losing out of business if we didn't throw our values and government charter out the window?
Even churches have carefully packaged approaches to reaching new people. Some market a hot product "presenting God's uncompromising truth in an uncompromsing manner." Others attempt to lure non believers with "gospel lite." As I read the Christmas season texts you find many difference types of messages and a diverse number of messangers. We have celestial angels and lowly shepherds, fiery preachers (John the Baptist) and quiet and a patient and faithful father (Joseph). Each gives testimony to what god is doing in sending Jesus into the world. Each is amazed that god would do such a thing and shocked how god would do it.
This weeks message is from Matthew 11. John the Baptist is in jail. He is facing certain execution for his condemnations of the Emperors marital infidelities and rapacious policies. He has heard from his supporters that the man he baptized and prophecized about (Jesus) is doing amazing things. He asks the question everyone wants to know the answer to: Are you (Jesus) the one who was promised or should we wait for another?"
It is interesting that Jesus never testifies to his special place in God's revelation. He never says i am the one. He lets his works testify to his Messiahship. "The Lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the blind see, the dead are raised."
As contemporary believers look at Jesus in our own faith journey we must answer the same question. Is Jesus the one? Those that have come to believe and trust in Jesus have another responsiblity: to show with our lives that he is the Lord.
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3 comments:
Interesting reading today, especially for those of us who are professional communicators. I found your choice of words a bit cynical: "carefully packaged announcements", "spin the news to fit their agenda", "make even disappointing business results sound positive", "carefully packaged approaches", "market a hot product". After decades of being a journalist and public relations pro, I must admit that these words make my stomach churn. I know that people do some off-kilter messaging and try to spin the story to their advantage, but I've always found it the best policy to tell the truth about things, no matter which side of the communication fence you're on.
As we get ready for Christmas, there are lots of messages out there--shopping messages, church vs. state messages, believer messages, and messages designed to turn us away from what is really important in life. Let us listen to all the messengers, and use our knowledge and beliefs to sort through the words and find the messages and actions that matter most in life. Advent is about preparing for the celebration and the larger message to come.
What many people call cynical, I call realistic. It is wise to be alert to the motive of the messenger.
That's why I think your point is cool. Jesus is letting us decide what to think. No spin. A refreshing angle for this cynical world.
I think your choice of words "carefully packaged" is prophetic. The next part of Matthew 11: "As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet."
So many churches DO try and "carefully package" the message, many times losing the point that Jesus made. What are we going to church to see? I don't think a reed swayed by the wind is going to give the strength of example we need to stand tall in our own values when weeding through all the carefully packaged announcements and messages we are besieged with every day. Yes, most may tell the truth but many will slant it to their needs.
Jesus didn't have to say He was the One because He never compromised His message. What a great example! Being reminded of that is crucial in this "carefully packaged" world. What are you going to trust when it seems that you can't trust anything?
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