A Note From Rob ...
Week of September 27, 2009
You may have heard me say that I am a recovering perfectionist or at least purist. Note, I am not a neat
freak, an obsessive compulsive or otherwise uptight person. But right is right, at least according to what I hold to
be true. How about you? You ever think you are right and anyone who does not agree with you is wrong?
Welcome to the human race.
Now note, I said recovering. That is to say that I admit that it is a malady, a disease or dis-ease to spell it
as it manifests itself in life. Not too long ago I met someone who said they were a recovering Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian, Lutheran or Roman Catholic…. I will not tell you which to protect and to be sure no one group is
singled out.
I try to protect because he was honest that he was trying to overcome the disease of denominationalism.
That is the malady of thinking that what one holds is so true that all else who do not agree must be wrong.
It seems this is not new. Our Gospel lesson from Mark 9:30-50 tells a similar story. Jesus’ disciples were
upset because some other folks were doing good things using Jesus name and they were not of the chosen 12. I
can just hear the theological discussion that followed.
I read of a discussion between two seminary students from differing denominations that ended in this way
as one spoke to the other, “Well, you just keep thinking your way and I’ll keep thinking God’s.” It would be
humorous if it were not so tragic. Imagine, someone assuming they can think as God! Sounds like the original sin
as the snake held the temptation forth to Eve to know as God knows. People kill for that. Literally. And it is like a
poisoned apple that also brings death to the one who devours and is devoured by being like God.
At the risk of sounding like I know something, let me assure you that the more I learn the less I know I
know. The more I know of God the more I know I know very little.
Maybe God is so vast, wonderful, majestic and awesome that the likes of you and I will now in part this
side of glory. Paul seemed to remind us of that in I Corinthians 13. I think that may be God’s way of thinking,
too.
I hope to see you Sunday! Think about it!?
RETURN
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