Complicating Matters
"I did not understand a word you guys just said. It was like you were using a whole different language."
Revelation 2:1-29
Reference: v.5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (NIV Bible)
Explore: Religion can get so complicated at times. I studied theology for four years and came out even more confused at the end! The other day I was talking in our church office with two of my colleagues. We were discussing the version of the Bible we should be using during one of our services. We were wanting to use inclusive language but acknowledged that most of the congregation grew up with the King James version. At the end of our conversation we noticed that one of the workers in the office was looking at us. Mel is a worker from the local community who comes in to help us in the office with basic administration. She smiled at us and said, "I did not understand a word you guys just said. It was like you were using a whole different language." And it was true. My colleagues and I have been around church long enough to know all the versions of the Bible and have learnt all the Christian lingo but we had totally confused poor Mel. And when you think about it, what was really important: which version of the Bible we should use or actually living out what the Bible says by loving others, even if they can't recite all the versions of the Bible?!
Application: Yes, it is important to have deeper theological discussions and nut out details of our worship, however this must not get in the way of going back to basics. It seems like we're not the only ones who can complicate things. Even the Church in Ephesus, while they endured much persecution for their faith, they too needed to be reminded of they first love.
Do we love God? Do we love others? I think that's a pretty good place to start.
Prayer: Lord, loving You and loving others is a full time job in itself. When things get complicated, help us to remember to go back to basics and focus on You. Amen.
How complicated is your life? How can you move towards bringing it back to basics?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.