I am reading with interest that Muslims throughout the Middle East are not only all-upset, are not only storming tourist hotels and threatening to kill Europeans, but are turning to real violence in the wake of a cartoon published this week in the EU with a representation of Mohammad, the founder of Islam. It’s idolatry, they say, for this to be shown, as it’s supposed to be a likeness (and not a very flattering one) of the Muslim ‘prophet.’ I haven’t heard the word blasphemy, am not even sure if that’s a word used in Islam, but if it is, I would imagine it is being tossed around too.
Along the same line, although no one is storming hotels (yet), “Christians” (makes you wonder who is really being talked about as, I am a Christian, but I don’t get this) all over our country are up in arms because online giant America Online has started a new ad campaign for their Internet chat software AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)… they’ve rearranged those three letters and their new campaign is “I AM.” As in I AM Instant Messaging,” and “I AM Voice Chat.”
Well, some identifying with Christ have made major news by being offended. Said one: “To take His name in vain, or use it as a common thing is blasphemy, a vulgar sin of offense. Perhaps you have not read the Third Commandment, since they have removed it from so many public monuments in the last decade. But breaking it as a means of marketing your products offends the mind of everyone who worships Him.”
Perhaps there’s reason to be offended, but I am not sure. We can pretty much expect the world to be the world. Can’t we?
“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
But we have the mind of Christ. BUT WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. So, let’s push ahead with the mind of Christ. Jesus nailed religious show and put-on, but Jesus showed real love and commitment to sinners. He didn’t soften righteousness. He told the woman to “Go now and leave your life of sin..” (John 8:11) In the midst of doing that though, He wasn’t throwing stones. Somehow, the cause of Christ doesn’t seem to be furthered if this is our press.
Brothers and sisters of Countryside, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and take on for ourselves the mind of Christ. And when someone asks you about the new “I Am” campaign, you can tell them that you’re not too impressed with anyone who doesn’t have original ideas for advertising. God invented the whole thing some 3,500 years ago (Exodus 3). What a great open-door to then talk about the one that said: “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58) That ought to further a conversation or two.
— Pastor Terry
