What IS the Big Idea? morgan young 3.11.07
My daughter Meghan is an 8th grader at Maplecrest middle school. And for the record, 8th grade now isn't that different than 8th grade decades ago.
One of Meg's main themes is trying navigate all the "groups"the jocks, the preps, the geeks, the emos. (short for "emotional"--take 1 part Goth & 1 part drama queen = "emo" ;-)
I haven't made it any easier for her to figure out where she fits in because it seems I've passed on to her my "artistic non-conformist" gene. And there's not really a group called "the non-traditional Artsy's."
I can see in her life the desire to fit in. The desire to be part of a group. The desire to identify with a group of people who laugh at the same things, who think about the same things, and who in general are simply not jocks, preps, geeks or emos.
There is something in her soul that wants to know there is a tribe of people like her.
And we can all remember what we were like in middle school and in high school.
And we can warmly look back & wistfully say, "yeah-8th grade." Or coldly we've blocked it from our memory. Either way, we think of it as something we put behind us. We matured, we grew out of caring about what clique or tribe we belonged to.
But I'm not sure we really did grow out of it.
We still like being part of a group that likes what we like. We aren't people who strive to be alone and apart from other people. We join things:
Clubs, teams, sororities, fraternities, unions, guilds, churches, organizations, political parties.
Young people join Facebook---a web place that instantly links you to other people who like what you like. As soon as you type "Fallout Boy" "Glenn Miller" "Mary Kay" or "earth shoes" you're linked and connected to everyone else who's typed those same words.
We follow things. We follow them and display to everyone we're proud to be part of that tribe. Just look around our church and our town:
We follow NASCAR and so we wear expensive colorful jackets and hats with:
DuPont, Home Depot, Lowes, & Budweiser on them.
We follow the Colts and shell out bucks for a Peyton, Marvin, or Freeney jersey.
We follow the Cubs, the Reds, the Red Sox, the Yankees and wear hats to act as homing beacons to find others who have equally good taste.
We're golfers, soft ballers, volley ballers, bowlers, square and ballroom dancers.
We're Pampered Chef-ers, LONGABERGER-ers!, Southern Living-ers.
And just for you guys who think you're not into groups that are identified with such silly things as "brands & fashions trends" I give you words like:
Craftsman. Snap-on. HARLEY DAVIDSON. CARHARDT. JOHN DEERE!
The only difference between 8th graders and us is that the list of things we follow and are part of is so much longer than, jocks, preps, geeks and emos.
The power of associating with a group is so strong that if I didn't mention your activity or tribe, you're a little bugged--I didn't validate your group. (disc golfers, Renaissance re-enactors, Civil War miniature army collectors, vintage toaster collectors...I'm sorry ;-)
What's the point of all of this?
ALL of us want to belong and all of us are following something, or following many things. (even as a non-conformist, I want to hook-up w/other non-conformistshow twisted & ironic is THAT?) ////
But it was different in Jesus' day than it is now---I want to show you how it was different in his day because that will lead us to the BIG IDEA that this new series is all about.
(credit this section on Jewish culture: Rob Bell Velvet Elvis)
Jesus was a Jew who grew up in a Jewish area among Jewish people. He was not a Caucasian guy from Wisconsin. (we assume he's like us)
And the kids in Jesus' day weren't chasing after dozen's of different things. They weren't trying to fit into the jocks, preps, geeks and emos. They didn't want to be race car drivers, Colts players, opening acts for DMB, or firemen
The were all shooting for just ONE thing (every little boy) wanted to be ONE thing:
A RABBI.
From kindergarten, kids were taught in school by rabbis in hopes they would become rabbis.
They were taught the first 5 books of the Old Testamentit was called the Torah. They believed the Torah was the WAY, the truth and the life.
Religion wasn't something they taught in school, it was school.
And by age ten, all the kids would have the Torah MEMORIZED!!
Ever notice how when Jesus quoted Scripture everyone seemed to know the text? It's because Scripture was part of the peopleit was IN them.
So at age 10 there is a "cut" in school---just like there's a cut in athletic teams.
Only the BEST students would continue on in school. The "A-" on-down kids were "cut"--sent home to learn the family business.
If you were sent home at age 10-- you would never be a rabbi or even be a disciple of a rabbi.
By age 13-14 the remaining students had MEMORIZED Genesis thru Malachi -- 39 books!!! (no printing presses)
And at this age there was another "cut"---the best of the best kids would apply to a well-known rabbi to become his followerhis disciple. Only the best kids were "picked up by the pros" if you will.
Just like there's a lot of great college players trying to make it into the pros, there were a lot of really bright 13-14 year olds trying to become disciples of a rabbi. And they didn't all make it.
A disciple was more than just a student--the goal of a disciple was to become just like the rabbi.
When a student came to a rabbi and said, "I want to follow you," the rabbi wanted to know:
Can you be like me? Do you have what it takes, to be just as good as I am?"
The rabbi wouldn't just question the student about what he knewhe would GRILL him. If the rabbi concluded that the kid wasn't the best of the best--if he couldn't be as good as the rabbi--if he didn't have what it took--he'd send him home to the family business.
He wouldn't ever be a rabbi. He wouldn't ever be a disciple.
But if the rabbi believed that the kid had what it took, he would say (these important familiar words), "Come. Follow me."
The student would leave his home and devote his life to following the rabbi. He would learn from the rabbi for the next 15 years until age 30 he would become a rabbi himselfafter being discipled for 25 years and after being chosen as the best of the best in school.
(there's the back story)
When Jesus is 30, He is a rabbi. In Matthew (ch 4:18-22), we find Him along the Sea of Galilee.
"He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman." 4:18 niv
Why were they fisherman?
Because they weren't disciples! Because they couldn't be disciples!
They weren't good enoughthey didn't make the cutthey were not the best of the best. At age 10 or 13 they were "cut" from the program and sent home to learn a blue collar trade.
So when Jesus finds these guys-- in their minds, they are part of the "blue collar, not-good-enough-to-be-a rabbi" group.
And Jesus says to these fisherman, this phrase---these familiar words that a rabbi reserved only for A+ students--the phrase that these guys did NOT hear earlier in life. Jesus said:
"Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matt 4:19 niv
Jesus wasn't looking for the best of the best. Jesus, clearly and intentionally called the "not-good-enoughs." This is such a huge biblical precedent:
Up to this point, religion was about using only the best of the best to advance it. But on the shores of Galilee, Jesus through religion for a loop when He said in essence:
"My Father is so great that He doesn't need the best people humanity can offer. All I need is someone who is willing and My Father will shine His glory, His fame, His miracles through them!"
"At once they left their nets and followed Him." 4:20 niv
Why?...
Was it because they were so faith-filled?
Because they recognized this was the Son of God?
Because they knew Jesus was going to use them to rewrite history?
NO!!
All through Jesus' ministry and even up to the crucifixion the disciples really didn't grasp the big picture.
They said yes, because when a rabbi said, "Come, follow me," He was saying:
"You can be like me!
YOU have what it takes!
In my eyes, you are the best of the best!
You CAN fulfill your childhood dreams!
You thought your dreams were over--GUESS AGAIN--COME, FOLLOW ME and I will make you fishers of men." ////
This phrase, "Follow me," is the BIG IDEA that this series is all about. What's the big idea? "Follow me."
"Follow me" is the Big Idea of what Christianity is all about (Charlie Brown). "Follow me" is simply being a disciple--it is following Christ.
It's the Big Idea because Jesus didn't just say it to a handful of guys 2,000 years. He says it to you and to me.
Just like rabbis used to hand-pick the best of the best, Jesus picked YOU. He says about us:
"You did not choose me, but I chose you" niv John 15:16
Jesus, the über Rabbi chose you and chose me. Chose us to be His disciples. And as disciples, His vision for us is so much more than "students of His." So much more than "church attenders."
He believes we can be like Him.
He wants us to draw our identity from Him. (one more next page
He wants us to follow Him in every way.
We tend to think of "Christianity" as this very complex thing that we don't fully understand---too often we're wanting teaching to be "deeper" and we want someone to parse and spoon-feed the "Word" to us, because there's no way I could understand this
But Jesus' Big Idea of "follow me" draws a simpler picture of Christianity.
He says in essence, "It's about following Me. I have modeled it for you and laid it out in clear description for everyone to see. Behave like Me, do what I do."
One of the things that can be fuzzy and confusing is INTERPRETING the Bible.
For instance:
Matthew 5:29 says:
"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away"
Is that literal? Or is it figurative?... Figurative.
What about Matthew 1:23
"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son"
Is that LITERAL? Or is that figurative?... Literal.
The Bible needed interpreted in Jesus' day as well. One of the main things rabbis did was interpret Scripture. They told you what it meant.
When Jesus says Follow Me He is making the interpretation of the Bible clear by the examples of how he lived, how he interacted, how He was obedient. He's saying,
"Follow my example. My actions are concrete and clear interpretations of Scripture. Let me take the guess work out of it. My Father is going to make sure the important stuff I do gets written down, so I can be your Rabbi from generation to generation. I'll be your example--your clear interpretation of Scripture!"
And Jesus was such a clear simple example:
He was compassionate with ALL people.
He radically loved everyone--lowest social outcasts on up.
He was forgiving--He cared more about the person than the sin.
He came to serve people--He wasn't self centered.
He spent time in prayer, He knew the Scriptures.
He was irritated with religious people who had unattractive hearts.
He was committed to being obedient to God the Father.
And He says in effect, "Let me make simple what you have made complex---follow me in these ways-- simple yet profound ways of interacting with people--in these interactions, the Holy Spirit will work through your love and obedience." ///
We just finished our 4 week campaign, "Just Walk Across the Room." We read an entire book on evangelism, went to small group every week about evangelism, came here and heard Mark's msg's about evangelism.
As I took it all in, and learned new things about this complex word called "evangelism." I had this realization:
The bottom line to the whole 4 week campaign was really about not being self-centered, being compassionate, and being grace-filled.
God through that campaign was trying to get us to stop seeing the world with self-centered eyes in exchange for how God sees people. And it was about caring enough about people--ALL people--to engage them with sincere love--caring enough to want to know what they have to say. And it was about acceptance. Not judging people outside of faith--and caring enough to engage them in a sincere conversation.
I felt like God was saying through that campaign to me and to people everywhere:
"Be careful because you are missing it. You're so busy doing life, so busy going to church and doing church things, that you're losing sight of the value that I place on people. You keep thinking it's complicated, but it's not:
It's simply about love, compassion, grace and sincere concern for people."
And I have to wonder if God cares how much theology we know or how much we know about Christianity if we don't first follow Jesus in his ways of radically loving all people--especially those far from Him
Matt 22:36-40 niv
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." ///
Earlier I was talking about how we all have our tribes and groups and we wear this and we wear that--we go to this we're part of that...
It's ok to be:
an Earnhardt fan
a Dave Matthews follower
a Parrothead
a Pampered Chef-er
a Facebook fanatic
a Harley person
a Colts follower
an artistic non-conformist
But if we're trying to ignite or soothe our soul through these things...
If we're drawing our identity from these groups...
If the most of our time, energy and resources go into these tribal activities...
Then the truth is we're following those things more closely than we're following the Ultimate Rabbi.
And if you're not in a relationship with Jesus yet, let me just say---there are tribal things I am part of: I love music, I love my motorcycle, I love little league baseball...
but all of those things won't fill my soul. They won't calm me when life seems to be slamming me. They won't be my peace my strength. They won't fulfill me ultimately. They are important, but they're not MOST important.
And if you're not in a relationship with Christ and I'm causing you to wrestle with how much importance you put on the tribal activities in your life---well--I'm not sorry ;-)
To come to grips with Jesus is to wrestle. It's a tug o'war. It's a sorting out. And we want you to know you have the freedom to do that here. ///
If we ARE in a relationship with Jesus and we've intentionally or accidentally put anything we could put on the side screens in first place in our life--then we have made it an idol.
Sometimes American idol isn't so much a show, but rather a description of the wrong things we're chasing in hopes of finding the American Dream
(Flesh out idea that "God is jealous" Deut 4:24)
(disclaim)
Following Jesus is not about killing all the fun things in our lives.
It's about doing them in the right perspective.
The Big Idea is about following Jesus first & foremost. Then taking Him to the NASCAR race, the concert, the party, the ballgame.
And it's ok to wear Colts jerseys, have Longaberger bumper stickers and #24 DuPont jackets. As long as it's something we do, and not who you are...
8th graders like my daughter are trying to figure out which group their in.
Jesus is saying he wants everyone in His group.
Regardless of what we like and who we relate with, He wants us--all of us:
the jocks, the preps, the geeks, the emos,
the NASCARS
the John Deere's,
sports fanatics
the homemakers
the intellectuals
the not-so-intelligent
the screw-up's
the losers
the poor
the rich
the average
the gifted
the lovely
the homely
the divorced
the fatherless
the bland
the adopted
the addicted
the abused
No matter your quirks, shortcomings, poor decisions, checkered past, colorful present---Jesus wants all of us to follow Him. As the ultimate Rabbi, Jesus says that you are worthy to follow Him! He chose you! He knows YOU can be like Him...
He says the same thing to you that He said to Peter & Andrew on the shore of Galilee:
"Come. Follow Me." Be my disciple.
(setup video The Jesus Followers & song:)
Take My Life
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.
::Chorus::
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
Prayout
