Matthew 18:3 - "And (Jesus) said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven." {not an excuse for my behavior, just an amazing way to position our lives at the feet of Eternity.}
And so begins the discussion: Random Topic chosen by my brain while driving with my Wife? ZITS ...{for whatever reason?)
"Will we have zits in Heaven?" The retort..."Are zits perfect?" The return ..."They think they are; they also must think they are always welcome; showing up at the most inopportune times, and the awkward years (which for some can be a lifetime). We all have them or will get them." The audio at this point turned off but the brain kept on humming.
(Bear with me because of my medical expertise - I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night) What is a zit? It is a biological reaction to a foreign object that is introduced to a well established bio-system (introduced externally or internally). The reaction justifies itself as being the Greeters of the (un)Welcoming committee.
Here is a rough outline of the Events that follow the introduction of the foreigner into the Bio-system: 1. The greeters are waiting in a non-discriminative fashion.
2.The foreigner is detected and profiled.
3.The bio-defense system alarm goes off and the agents of defense wrap their rejection serum around the foreigner.
4. The expulsion process begins with a capture of the foreigner in holding cell.
5.The festering between the two factions create a pressure within the same limited space, until the event begins to elevate to an unsightly protrusion.
6.This expansive pressure allows the surface of the ZIT to thin out to cause the foreigner with his new found fester friends to "burst through" for a rescue and relief to those welcome within the body of the bio-system.
7. The foreign object is expelled from the well established bio-system and clean up and cover up begins.
Sounds like a well oiled organizational plan. This may also sound like most clubs (that we join to beat people over the head with), fellowships (to strengthen our bonds against "them") and even families (an obvious system to contain embarrassment). The problems that arise in each of these organizations may stem from its vision of "how to control" others(control is too constrictive for real love).
Is your fellowship of choice a Permission granting life-system that chooses what "others" to serve; or a Permissive Atmosphere Bio-system that is busy creating to serve others? Does your "follow-ship"(not fellow-ship, think about it leader!) or leadership create unnecessary zits? Zits are normal, zits will happen... more important; what we do with the foreigner...the stranger, the out cast, the un-lovely, the unfamiliar will determine the health of our living in the Kingdom.
Don't become part of the Un-welcoming Committee. 1 John 1:7- "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin," In the Light we all see our mutual strengths and weaknesses and realize that we need each gift that comes into our lives. In the light our greatest need is not for control but for cleansing.
Have an awesome life!
HLFA,
Jeff