The Big Idea

"Many people think that violets are blue thanks to lousy poetry." That's the line that begins Nataly Dawn's song, "The Big Idea." On our bad days we confuse truth and fiction; on our good days we often do the same. I've been a follower of Jesus long enough to realize that at times I confuse church work with discipleship. Occupational hazard. We build monuments to our preferences and say, "Glory to God." But thanks be to God that renewal movements are always popping up that return us to the simple invitation of the living Christ. Mercy. Forgiveness. Jesus said something about hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Are we Christians because we go to church, or do we so crave the Word of the Lord that we cannot stand the thought of missing an opportunity to be with one another as we express our gratitude and commitment? In the tradition of the prophet Amos, someone might need to stand up and say something like, "How is yet another building campaign going to help us die to ourselves and love our neighbors?"