Plotting Goodness

Inspired by We Make the Road by Walking by Brian D. McLaren
Chapter Six

Scripture references include – Genesis 12: 1-9, Galatians 3: 6-9, and Mark 11: 15-19

God’s goodness and love is for everyone. “God loves everyone, everywhere, no exceptions.” This takes out our idea that we can make it to the top of God’s class if we behave perfectly. It certainly removes the idea that our side is correct and the other side is going to hell. This makes me think of Matthew 20:27, “whoever desires to be first among you, shall be your slave.” How incredibly different this is from our competitive way of life. In almost every facet of life we strive to be the best which translates to I’m better than the others. Even our cooking channel has gone over to making almost all shows into contests.

I’m not proposing socialism. I happen to like capitalism, just not the cutthroat approach to success. God doesn’t play games with our efforts. God wants goodness for everyone. That includes even those people you don’t like. When our faith communities present programs that openly portray people as hell-bent, I must confess, I become sick at heart. They would prefer to keep God in a box, reserved for those who think and believe as they do.

What do you think?

Engage:
1. Think about a time when you observed or participated in a group that saw itself as blessed to the exclusion of others rather than for the blessing of others.
2. Where in today’s world do you see people practicing the kind of “otherly” identity to which God called Abram-“us for the sake of others”?
3. Activate: Look for opportunities to “be a blessing” to others this week.