It has been a little over a year ago that a new website for ARC was launched and the front page of the Archive changed from a picture of a beehive to the cross themed logo that we now use. Since that time the idea of a new theme and title for this editorial page has been bouncing around the emails of several staffers and assistants. After much thought and prayer, we present “…not so with you”.
Well, that’s an odd name… I could have come up with something better than that… One more change – I don’t know why we can’t ever leave anything alone… I am assuming that at least some of these thoughts or similar ones might be going through your head right now. So let me explain…
“…not so with you” is taken from the Gospels – Matthew 20:20-28 and Mark 10:35-44. The scene leading up to Jesus’ words begins with a request and some hard feelings. It seems as though there was a desire among some of the disciples for Jesus to pick favorites and assure them that they would be greater than their teammates, and this did not sit well with the others. Before a fight erupted, Jesus steps in and calls a time-out. Jesus reminds his disciples that this is what other teams do… they are concerned more about themselves than the team, they bicker and complain, scramble for the top without care of who they step on to get there, and exercise authority over one another. But he goes on to say, “Not so with you! Don’t be like that. Among you it is going to be different! Whoever wants to be most important among you must be your servant and in order to be first, you must be last.”
I can sense the twelve were a bit shocked to hear these words. Imagine thinking that you were part of a select few, residing in the inner circle, close friends with the future king, and now you are told that you need to be a servant. “Come on, Jesus, you’ve got to be kidding.” To which Jesus replies, “Follow my example; I did not come to be served. Instead, I came to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many.” Jesus’ words aren’t just for the motley crew that followed him around in sandals many years ago, they are for each one of us. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, these words are spoken to you also. Jesus says, “James, John, Peter, Erin, ( insert your name ), NOT SO WITH YOU! Don’t be like that! Be in the world, but not of the world. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
For many years, this has been a page in the Archive that was written by the Pastor of ARC with the purpose of encouraging the congregation in their journey with Christ. The purpose is not to impart some superior wisdom from a pastor that the rest of us can only dream of experiencing. Over the past year, the entire staff has been invited to contribute to these writings and share examples of a “not so with you” lifestyle. I would like to extend that invitation to anyone in the congregation to submit an article to the church office of how God is saying “not so with you” in your life. You do not need a title or degree to share a God-story. Yes, it requires some time, but mostly it requires one to pay attention. As followers of Jesus, we would all do well to pay attention: to our lives, to our neighbors’ lives, to God’s life in this world. Maybe writing isn’t your thing, but if you find yourself saying that God doesn’t speak to you like that, think again. Perhaps you just need to pay a little bit closer attention.
Trying to do things different, Erin Jacobsma