Jesus 'Signs Off'
10/13/08 05:00 Filed in: Criticism
This critical spirit has made the “blame game” America’s most popular past time. When things go wrong, it’s some one else’s fault. We’re quick to see ourselves as victims, and too quick to fix the blame, instead of fixing the problem. We tend to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.
“This generation is a wicked generation: it asketh a sign, and a sign shall not be given it.” (Luke 11: 29-32)
One of the signs of our times is the ubiquitous bumper sticker that signals to one and all what we believe in. Well-intentioned Christians often declare their faith in bumper stickers like:
• “Are you as close to Jesus as you are to my bumper?”
• “Worry: God knows all about you”
I used to have a bumper sticker on my car, but that was many years and tens of thousands of miles ago. I stopped the practice when I realized that, what I considered discipleship, the driver behind me might consider a silent rebuke. It was insensitive and needlessly critical.
Today, I am less concerned about having a message on my auto bumper and more concerned about the message in Luke 11: 29-32. Jesus refused to give the hyper-critical Pharisees another sign from heaven when He realized nothing He might do would satisfy His critics.
If Christ were alive today, I suspect He would be just as concerned about the critical spirit that permeates our culture, our politics and our media.
This critical spirit has made the “blame game” America’s most popular past time. When things go wrong, it’s some one else’s fault. We’re quick to see ourselves as victims, and too quick to fix the blame, instead of fixing the problem. We tend to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.
When I removed the bumper sticker from my car, I replaced it with a simple wooden cross, hanging from the rear view mirror and in plain sight. That’s the sign that Jesus approved of.
One of the signs of our times is the ubiquitous bumper sticker that signals to one and all what we believe in. Well-intentioned Christians often declare their faith in bumper stickers like:
- “Next time you think you’re perfect, try walking on water”
• “Are you as close to Jesus as you are to my bumper?”
• “Worry: God knows all about you”
I used to have a bumper sticker on my car, but that was many years and tens of thousands of miles ago. I stopped the practice when I realized that, what I considered discipleship, the driver behind me might consider a silent rebuke. It was insensitive and needlessly critical.
Today, I am less concerned about having a message on my auto bumper and more concerned about the message in Luke 11: 29-32. Jesus refused to give the hyper-critical Pharisees another sign from heaven when He realized nothing He might do would satisfy His critics.
If Christ were alive today, I suspect He would be just as concerned about the critical spirit that permeates our culture, our politics and our media.
This critical spirit has made the “blame game” America’s most popular past time. When things go wrong, it’s some one else’s fault. We’re quick to see ourselves as victims, and too quick to fix the blame, instead of fixing the problem. We tend to judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.
When I removed the bumper sticker from my car, I replaced it with a simple wooden cross, hanging from the rear view mirror and in plain sight. That’s the sign that Jesus approved of.
blog comments powered by Disqus