Can you imagine how different the world might look if we began to see ourselves and other people through the eyes of Jesus? Viewing the world through a “Jesus lens” is what it means to Think Red.
When we take the words of Jesus seriously and align our values with his, everything changes. We begin to see the Bible and the Church differently. We long to love God and love people in ways that reflect the true heart of Jesus. We are challenged to live out the counter-cultural teaching of Jesus in every aspect of our lives. The words of Jesus (the ones printed in red in some Bibles) have the potential to transform your life, your community, and your hope for the future. What would change in your world if you let the words and ways of Jesus become the lens through which you viewed people, places and things? My new book, Think Red: Imagine Your Community Living and Loving Like Jesus, will be available for purchase later this fall. The book begins with an in depth look at six values of Jesus. You can get a sneak preview of those values in the about link.
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A few years ago I went on a spiritual retreat to the Abbey of Gethsemane. The Trappist monastery where Thomas Merton lived is about an hour drive from my home in Louisville, Kentucky. I spent the weekend in silence, roaming the countryside reading Wendell Berry’s Sabbath Poems, (another contemplative writer, who like Merton found inspiration from breathing Kentucky air.) The highlight of each day was to join the monks during their hours of liturgy. After compline, the final hour of the day, retreatants were invited into a small chapel to hear a personal reflection from one of the monks. We huddled in a small circle and listened as this humble man, clad in a white habit, shuffled through the scraps of paper he had doodled on during the day. He shared quotes he had read, poems he had written and a few choice scriptures that tied his thoughts for the day into a beautiful homily. On the final night of my retreat his reflection focused on a question he pondered during the day while walking through the flower garden: What color was Jesus? I’ll never forget the image this Trappist Monk painted for me. With far more eloquence than I can write the Monk simply reminded us that Jesus lived in the Middle East. He was not white or European. Europe was to the north of Palestine. Nor was Jesus black; Africa was to the south. He continued painting the word picture in my mind. Jesus’s skin tone was not yellow; Asia was to the east. Nor was the color of his skin red; the Americas were to the west. “Jesus was not red, yellow, black or white, instead he was a mix of all humanity. When you mix these four colors together." said the monk, “you get olive, the color of our brothers and sister’s living in the middle east. Jesus was a mixed race savior with olive colored skin.”
Whenever I look at the painting I’m reminded of the words Jesus prayed shortly before he was executed, “Father, my prayer is not for my disciples alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.” Jesus went to the cross with a hope and prayer that all of humanity—men and women from every race—would be reconciled to God and to one another. May our hope and prayer be the same. Let us meet at the foot of the cross and be reconciled by the blood of our “mixed race savior.” My son Ryan has always had an industrious spirit. He loves to build and create things. His favorite toy as a toddler was a set of Lincoln Logs. Rainy days were spent building tiny log cabins for the beanie babies who shared his bedroom. When Ryan was old enough to use a hammer he spent hours on end hammering nails through blocks of wood. On more than one occasion he nailed a scrap piece of plywood to the stack of blocks, creating a ramp for his mini bike. Kathie and I would listen from the kitchen to the constant banging of hammer and nails, followed by the sound of his mini bike roaring down the sidewalk. From the kitchen window we would watch as Ryan sped toward his newly constructed ramp. Kathie would flinch as Ryan became airborne; I was never sure if she was concerned that our son might break an arm or if she was afraid he might land his mini bike in the middle of her flowerbed.
Today Ryan still has an industrious flare in his soul. He and a handful of friends started a non-profit ministry called, Promise Housing Plus. They buy houses from the city that are slated for demolition and renovate the abandoned houses, restoring them into beautiful homes. They also created a non-conventional pathway to home ownership for a few of our neighbors who could not purchase a home through conventional means. Most any day of the week you can drive through our neighborhood and find Ryan and his co-worker Ben banging on nails, rebuilding houses, and loving our neighbors. Jesus told a story once about a king who went on a trip. Before he left he gave three of his servants talents to invest in the work of the kingdom. The story ends with the king’s return and the servants giving an account of how they used their talents. Those who used their talents to bring an increase in the kingdom where honored by the king, “Well done good and faithful servant . . . come and share your master’s inheritance!”
One way we can “Think Red Together” is to take an inventory of our talents and evaluate how we’re using those talents to bring an increase in the kingdom of God. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few questions to consider: What charges your batteries and gives you energy? What did you love doing when you were a child? What did you dream about when you were younger? What do you dream about now? What resources, skills and talents has God given to you? After you’ve completed your inventory ask yourself one final question: How can I use my gifts in creative ways to express God’s love for the world? “Fellowship of the Saints” is a common bond most Christians long for. Unfortunately, congregations and Christians that strive to look and act “saintly” undermine the fellowship they desire. The deep bond of fellowship in Jesus does not come through boasting in our righteousness but confessing our sin and sharing our brokenness with one another. When Jesus walked the earth he created a culture where sinners were welcome and the self–righteous were made to feel uncomfortable and threatened. When the pious fellowship questioned Jesus about eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners he said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus included within his circle of friendship those who were beat down by the weight of systemic and personal sin. He offered them a protected space where they could be real. They shared meals together, laughed and cried together, they watched as Jesus healed their friends and listened as he spoke words of forgiveness over them. This fellowship of the undevout was based in Jesus, not in their own righteousness. Their deep and infectious fellowship remained long after Jesus returned to heaven because of the solution Jesus brought to their spiritual malady. I think the typical Christian congregation could learn much from the recovery community. The fellowship people in recovery share is best described in the second chapter of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous: We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding, which is indescribably wonderful . . . The feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful cement, which binds us; but that in itself would never have held us together as we are now joined. The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution.
If we want to create a Fellowship of Saints in our faith communities, maybe a good first step would be greeting one another to our meetings with words similar to those you hear in an A.A. meeting:
Hello, my name is Larry, a recovering sinner. I set a goal at the beginning of the year to reflect weekly on the red letters in my Bible and write about my experience throughout the year. This week I’ve been reminded, once again, that it’s not enough to simply reflect on the cool things Jesus said; I must allow his Word to change me and mold my behavior. The Red Letters of Jesus are a holy mix of invitation and challenge. In his Book, Building a Discipleship Culture, Mike Breen says, “Jesus created a highly inviting but highly challenging culture for his disciples to function and grow within.” He goes on to say, “Invitation is about being invited into a relationship where you have access to a person’s life and all the vibrancy, safety, love and encouragement that reside there . . . but by accepting the invitation, you also accept the challenge that comes with it: the challenge to live into your identity as a son or daughter of the King.” INVITATIONSome of the things Jesus said make me feel safe and secure—welcomed and loved by God. They invite me into a covenantal relationship with Jesus. Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. CHALLENGEOther things Jesus said are rather challenging, hard to hear and difficult to put into practice. Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. The truly wise person will take Jesus up on his invitation. They will take time to sit at his feet and listen intently to the words he speaks. After spending time hearing and reflecting on God’s word, soaking in the Spirit and adoring the wonder of God’s presence, they will put into practice what they receive. In contrast the foolish person will spend all of their time consuming, never sharing what they receive or putting into practice what they hear. Jesus breaks it down by saying, the one who hears his word and puts it into practice, is like a wise person who builds their house on a rock-solid foundation. The storms of life will not shake their house. On the other hand, the one who hears the word and changes nothing in their behavior, is like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand. When the storms of life come their house will crumble.
Some people are way too judgmental . . . I can tell just by looking at them! Do you find yourself pre-judging others before you get to know them? If you don’t, I admire your character. If you do, welcome to the human condition! It seems we’re all prone to judge others before we get to know them; especially if they look different, act different or dress different than “we” do. I’ve been thinking this week about our tendency to pre-judge others and grieving the way it impedes our ability to build beloved communities—communities where everyone is welcome and honored. A beloved community is what Jesus had in mind when he invited his first disciples to follow him and what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed about. Can you imagine a community based on justice, equal opportunity, and love—a place where all people share in the wealth of the earth? Can you imagine a world where racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice are replaced by an all–inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood? This is the way the King Center defines Martin’s vision of a beloved community. If those of us, who follow the way of Jesus, have any hope of living in a beloved community we must “think red together.” We must stop judging and start loving! Jesus tells us straight up: Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Here are four ways we can help cultivate a non-judgmental, beloved community: Keep your side of the street clean: or, as they say in the recovery community, “do your own inventory, not your neighbors.” Jesus said it this way, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye? . . . First take the log out or your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” When you find yourself judging others take the time to reflect on your motives, discern what is underneath your judgmental spirit. Quit thinking “tolerance” is the answer: Jesus didn’t commandment us to tolerate one another; he said we are to love one another in the same way he loved us. You will never feel like you truly belong if you know your presence in the community is “being tolerated.” Beloved communities don’t tolerate diversity they thrive in it. Taste the flavor of other cultures: There are secret treasures in the kingdom of Heaven that will remain hidden from us as long as we stand in judgment of people from other cultures. A fun and rewarding way to taste the deep and joyful flavor of God’s kingdom is to seek God in cultures different from yours. Enjoy the art, read the literature, learn the history, taste the food of other cultures and make friends with people who see the world different than you. Dream Together: Instead of judging others dream together about a community where everyone is loved, welcome and treated with equity.
I have a friend who says it helps to worry about things. Her proof is based on simple logic; she says, “The things I worry about never happen!” So go ahead and worry about tomorrow! Whatever you’re worried about probably won’t come to pass. However, there is a down side to this approach—worrying about tomorrow will rob you of joy today. Jesus identified generalized anxiety as a spiritual issue that diminishes life. In Matthew chapter six, Jesus offers a pathway to help us overcome the crippling effects of anxiety. He doesn’t suggest deep breathing exercises, aroma–therapy, cold showers, or yoga; although I believe all of these disciplines have great value and will increase endorphins. Jesus simply tells us to shift our focus. Rather than focus on the things we’re worried about, Jesus tells us to shift our focus in three ways:
LOOK WITHIN: Jesus knows that anxiety and stress are part of the human experience. He’s aware of our need to feel in control. He knows we’re prone to dwell on the troubles of tomorrow. He also knows, “each day has enough trouble of its own.” That’s why Jesus tells us to look within and “seek first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness.” God knows what we need before we ask. When the troubles of tomorrow overshadow the challenges of today it will drain our strength, weaken our faith and rob our joy. God’s kingdom dwells within us. When we seek God’s kingdom, God will provide what we need to meet the challenges of the day. What are you stressing about today? Maybe it’s time to shift your focus. Before you get all worked up, look up! Before you get stressed out, look out! Before you do anything, look within and seek God’s kingdom! Some people say, “Practice makes perfect!” It makes me wonder: What happens when you practice doing something the wrong way? Will you really improve or simply get better at doing it wrong? I suppose that’s why Vince Lombardi said, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” Jesus had something to say about perfection; he told us to "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Or, was he inviting us to live life as God intended it to be lived: full and complete, loving God with our whole being, loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, allowing the Holy Spirit to give us the mind of Christ, enabling us to walk like Christ walked?
If the later is what Jesus meant, I need a little more practice! In the Church we call spiritual practice, Christian Discipleship. I prefer to think of spiritual practice as art. It sounds more fun and appealing to think of the Christian life as an art form we can get better at with practice. Beethoven once said, “Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.” If we want to perfect the art of our lives we may need to force our way into the secrets of God’s kingdom; the kingdom deserves our exploration! Spending time with Jesus, watching how he lived and loved others, creating space in our hearts and our minds and our days for his Holy Spirit to indwell and inspire us, will raise us closer to God’s heart. When it comes to life, Jesus is the master artist; he knows better than anyone else the secrets of the kingdom of God and what it means to be truly human. Perhaps we need to ask him to show us how to practice life more perfectly. In the morning, as I savor my first cup of coffee, I remind myself to Think Red. I want to take the words of Jesus (the ones printed in red in my Bible) seriously and assume he meant for me to do the things he said.
I find some of the things Jesus said hard to understand; but most of his sayings are simple to comprehend yet hard to put into practice. Even simple things like, love your neighbor as you love yourself or his treat others as you want to be treated rule are easy to understand but difficult to pull off. Knowing and loving ourselves takes intentional effort and a steady diet of soul–searching discipline. In his book, The Wisdom of the Desert, Thomas Merton writes, “What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery, and without it all the rest are not only useless but disastrous.” If we have any hope of loving others well, we must first discover and love ourselves. Knowing what motivates us, understanding why we do what we do, looking beneath our hopes, dreams and desires to see what inspires them, doing the hard work of healing damaged emotions from past trauma are all part of the inward journey that Merton is pointing to. I’m encouraged to take the voyage of self–discovery when I remind myself that Jesus will lead the way. But loving myself is only half of the equation. I must learn from Jesus how to treat others as subjects of their own history rather than objects of my goodwill or affection? If loving myself requires intentional self–discovery of my subjective experience, I suppose loving others would call for the same. According to Merton, “Love means an interior and spiritual identification with one’s brother [or sister], so that he [or she] is not regarded as an “object” to “which” one “does good.” The fact is that good done to another as to an object is of little or no spiritual value. Love takes one’s neighbor as one’s other self, and loves him with all the immense humility and discretion and reserve and reverence without which no one can presume to enter into the sanctuary of another’s subjectivity.” Lord, help me love myself today and help me love my neighbor as my other self. Earlier this week I wrote a post called, Stop It! It was a self–disclosing confession about my anger issues and a ten–point plan on how to stop being so short-tempered. There’s a saying that goes, “Misery loves company!” I found the same to be true with anger. It was good for my soul—in a sad sort–of–way—to learn that 70% of all Americans report to be angry everyday. I wrote the post four days ago and I’ve only been angry four times . . . makes me wonder if there’s a flaw in my plan? Here’s the flaw: Plans to modify behavior that focus only on stopping the behavior seldom work. I believe “Do Plans” are better. Ask any alcoholic; cold–turkey plans to stop drinking seldom produce the result they want. Couple the plan to stop drinking with twelve things to do and the likelihood of success increases. I think a lot of people shy away from Christianity because they think the whole enterprise is about sin management—stopping bad behavior. Following Jesus is much more than sin management. Sure, Jesus challenges us to stop sinning; but more importantly he invites us to truly live. He wants us to “Do Life” in a way that increases our righteousness, joy and peace. Here are a few examples of his Stop and Do strategy from his Sermon on the Mount: STOP practicing your righteousness in front of people DO give to the needy in secret STOP praying like the hypocrites, using big words to impress others DO go into your prayer closet, close the door and pray to God who is unseen STOP storing up treasures for yourself on earth, where moths destroy & thieves steal DO store up treasures in heaven STOP worrying about your life, what you’ll eat and drink or the clothes you’ll wear DO seek first the kingdom of God and everything you need, will be given STOP judging others DO take the speck out of your own eye If the 70% of us—who get angry everyday—want more joy and less stress maybe we should follow the way of Jesus and add some whimsical, life-giving activity to our Stop It List. We can call it our “Stop and Do List.” To help you get started on your list I’ll share a few from mine: STOP complaining when my computer doesn’t cooperate
DO be grateful for the small things that are going right STOP rushing from one appointment to another DO slow down and savor the beauty around me STOP looking the other way, pretending I don’t see the homeless man on the corner DO introduce myself to the guy with the cardboard sign and ask his name STOP talking or thinking about something else when others are speaking DO listen to people when they’re talking and notice the color of their eyes STOP looking for the shortest checkout line at the grocery store DO take the longer line and use the extra time to pray for the cashier STOP saying mean things to the telemarketer DO hang up gently and pray they get a real job |
AuthorLarry Stoess is an author, public speaker, and urban church planter. He loves telling stories about how dreaming with God will empower people to make old and broken things new again. Larry and a band of friends founded the Church of the Promise in Louisville's Portland neighborhood; The Table, a pay-what-you-can community café; and Promise Housing Plus, a non-profit construction company. He has written about their experience of dreaming with God in his new book: Think Red. Archives
August 2023
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