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I smell bacon!
Remember that story in Mark 5 where Jesus drives the demons out of that guy and sends them into the pigs?
Every time I’ve ever heard this passage preached (about 4-5 times), the focus is always on the pigs for some reason. We miss the miracle and the aftermath.
For those who don’t know the story, you can read it first, or let me catch you up to speed…
Jesus and his disciples hop off a boat and are walking towards town. They pass a cemetery and see a dude, butt naked with broken chains on his wrists, howling and cutting himself and eating the flesh of the dead. A nice morning sight right? This dude is demon-possessed. Actually, many demons…so many, in fact, that they call themselves ‘Legion.’ So Jesus, having love for our poor naked friend, drives out the demons. They beg Jesus not to send them far away, and request to be sent into a nearby herd of pigs. Strange, because Jewish…people…don’t…eat…pigs. Being a Jewish rabbi, Jesus gives the okay. Demons hop ship, run the herd o’ piggies straight into the lake, and they all drown. The end.
Not even close. But that’s normally all we ever hear. But here’s the rest:
The town hears about it and comes rushing out- naked crazy dude is now clothed sane dude, chatting it up with the Saviour of the Universe. The town begs Jesus to leave. Weird, I’d be happy that I no longer had a demoniac chewing on the dead flesh of my relatives, but whatever. So Jesus decides to leave. And the clothed sane dudes begs Jesus to let him go with them. Imagine how lonely he must feel- how long had he been possessed? Where would he go now? Would anyone trust him? His whole town just disowned him.
Jesus politely declines…not because He’s a jerk or because the boat is too full, but because He already knows the bigger plan for our friend’s life. Jesus instructs him to go see his family and friends and tell his story. But clothed sane guy does WAY more than that- he goes to the TEN towns and tells everyone about what Jesus has done for him…and EVERYONE was amazed.
And that, my friends, is probably just the beginning of the story of that man’s new life in Christ.
What has God saved you from?
What family and friends has God instructed you to share your story with?
What are your ‘ten towns’?
Are people amazed when they hear the story of God’s work in your life?
Are you spreading the story of the miracle of Jesus Christ?
Don’t focus on the pigs…the past…the hurt…the pain…focus on asking Jesus where he wants to send you next.
Jay
Other new posts today:
From Michelle… Which Do Your Prefer: Common Sense or a Leap of Faith?
For dudes… Honesty, the Lost Policy
For couples… …Just Not to Russian Mail Order Brides
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May 26th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Hi, Jay. I’m sorry to have to disagree with you on such a post; the irony isn’t lost on me. But I suppose it’s okay because we are in the spirit of disagreement after reading this post.
Is it just me or does this line of thinking seem counter-productive? If we stop caring what other people think, what the heck are we doing? Religious study and evangelism aside, if during any walk of life we begin to ignore the opposing view to such a degree as you are suggesting, what does our belief even mean anymore? If we simply blockade our minds and refuse to challenge our convictions we become not only ignorant, but we will surely become socially, intellectually, and spiritually stubborn and irresponsible. Particularly when we let our beliefs leak into public policy.
I dare say that there is nothing to boast about and nothing to be proud of when one says “Well, I don’t care what you think. I know I’m right and I know I’m going to heaven.” In what field other than religion is such a statement permitted, let alone admired? None, I’m afraid.
I have it on good authority that such a statement is an infuriating thing to be told and an impossible claim to respond to from an outside or “non-belief” perspective. This is not critical thinking. This is not the pursuit of truth. This kind of blind disregard of other views is arrogance and self-righteousness that can never be challenged, let alone discredited. Imagine a world full of beliefs as impenetrable as this; even a handful of them is breeding chaos. There is no such thing as the perfect argument nor the perfect solution, yet you claim to hold both in your hands while offering very little detail to articulate them.
In the end, if the faithful can’t defend what they believe beyond quoting the very imperfect and admittedly contradictory Bible, then what is *faith* worth?
Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence.
May 27th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Hey Dave…that’s totally cool, someone had to do it!
I think the hope is that I (and we) can let go of the NEED to always be right. To always be arguing. To always be fighting. To take the time we’d normally you to ‘prove our points’ and use it to actually live our out beliefs.
Before I ever pick a ’stance’ on issues, I read into the exact opposite side and look for anything that would support it. But I choose not to single out and attack any one person, say an atheist or anyone else who disagrees with me. I doesn’t sit easy with me. Maybe I’m just a wussy Christian. Definitely not the smartest person in the world.
It’s not a case of not caring what others think…it’s about not caring that we disagree. I can think of ten things that my family and I don’t agree on, but I’m not about to estrange myself from these valuable relationships!
We all place faith in something. Challenge and try to discredit all you like. Just never ruin relationships over it.
May 30th, 2009 at 4:50 am
I’de have to agree with Dave on this one. Personally, as a Christian, I’ve seen my fair share of individuals voicing their opinions and interpretations of Biblical passages and how to apply them to our lives without any validation whatsoever. I’m tired of verses being thrown here and there without consideration. If I change my perspective to that of a non-believer, “the fool says in his heart that there is no God” makes me think that your calling me a fool for not believing what you do, without backing it up.
If I read the rest of Psalm 14, it isn’t saying that non-Christians are fools, but rather it’s a lament written by an individual and his feeling about a seemingly black and white society. He labels some as “fools” and others as “company of the just.” In this passage the “fools” seem to be oppressing the “company of the just” or “the poor”.
I’m not saying I’m right about my interpretation or anything, I’de just like to point out that analyzing a passage in its context as a whole is important. You can’t just throw a section of a verse out and say all non-believers are fools because of it, that’s not loving people. That’s not what I believe Jesus had in mind when he came to earth and showed us a better way to live.
Also, to say that believing isn’t for everyone is a horrible thing to say. What Jesus did was for EVERYONE. He symbolically brought down the temple walls so that anybody could be as close to God as the highest ranking Jewish believers, and that his movement would reach the ends of the earth. I would say that Christianity today isn’t for everyone. Jesus however, is. That is the point of the thing. Trying to live, think and relate to people as Jesus did is how to live as a Christian. How we live our lives is what’s important.
I always feel bad for non-Christians because people in the church seem so unwelcoming to hear opposition, even if it’s not meant to bring people down. As a Christian I’m dedicating my life to trying to love others unconditionally and to hear what they have to say. No Christian will ever be perfect, or even come close.
We must act together in loving, not coming up with plans on how to convert or convince people. The whole belief is about bringing people together.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 am
A.D, I’m down with the love!
I think it’s more than just the context of the chapter…but also of history and of the Spirit’s will.
I am very interested to know- in your opinion, what validation should we seek?
Obviously denominations aren’t working. Apparently we’ve ruled Scripture itself out.
Life experience and thought matter not. What’s left?!
Jesus died for everyone, but not everyone wants to live for Him.
I have no problem with opposition- again the point is this- to be okay with the fact that there will always be disagreement. That at the end of the day, we can’t change everyone.
It’s love that keeps us trying.