MY VIEW FROM THE PEW

Chapter Two, Pages 23-25...The Message is Not Complicated... We are able and must understand that the message God has for us is not meant to be complicated. We do not need to look only to theologians for our understanding. Jesus simply indicated that his sheep would know his voice. This same Jesus also pointed out that the children should not be hindered from coming to him. We in turn should take this as an example for entering His Kingdom. "...Allow the little children to come to me! Don't forbid them, for God's Kingdom belongs to such as these. Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God's Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it." (Mark 10:14-15 WEB). How do little children come? They come with open faith, innocence, and expectation; along with built radar for truth. In verse 15, He goes even further, if you do not receive and accept it as a child does, you will not enter. Our real journey to Christ began before we were born. As He called Jeremiah, He calls us all, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I sanctified you..." (Jeremiah 1:5 WEB). Isn't that an exciting proposition? He knew us even in our Mother's womb and sanctified us, setting us apart for himself with a plan for our life. God not only had a plan for Jeremiah, but for each of us. We must choose to seek and fulfill its promise. The choice is ours; all we need to do is make the right one. Let Us Purpose Together... The continuing responsibility is to lay a foundation of the belief system we have come to know as the Church. Not just the viewpoint of what the clergy and theologians have concluded, but the reality of what the folks who sit and listen in the pews have come to know. This is really what it's all about; After all, Jesus wasn't primarily preaching to theologians, He was speak to all people. Secondly, we need to remove the concept that only those of the clergy can understand and administer the Word of God. Do we need them to advise, lend comfort, and mentor us? Of course, we do! Their service to the church is without measure. Most of them are expected to serve us first and to put their own needs aside. We expect them to make the church grow, encourage the sick and dying, and all the while take the blame for any unsolved problems that may arise. Let's not forget that while we are holding them to this, God is holding them to an even higher standard. "Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgement." (James 3:1 WEB). Thirdly, but surely not less important, is that we are one body with Christ as the head. We need to quit fussing about minor details and work together. Indeed, there are many denominations, but in truth only one Church. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses divisions in the church body. Apparently, some were following him and others Apollos. "Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed, and each as the Lord gave to him? I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:5-9 WEB). Get the picture? The clergy and the folks listening to them teach need to help each other not only establish the Church but reveal its truth to the world. We who sit in the pews are not without a spirit, a mind, and a free will. We don't have to write with crayons, not should we have to be constantly reminded to stay within the lines. We may start out as "babes in Christ", but we can and should grow and start thinking for ourselves. That's part of God's plan and freedom for us!