My Way or Another Way ... of Living
Luke tells an Easter story (chapter 24) of Jesus' followers who refused to believe in "another way of living." First, it was the apostles who would not believe the witness of the women for it seemed to them an idle tale. Later, there were two followers who had not seen the events in Jerusalem go "their way" and had turned to the highway to Emmaus. Several days earlier it had been Judas, trying to force Jesus to "do it my way," who had betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
There are our ancestors in the faith who believed more in doing it "my way" than in Jesus' call to "another way of living." Nearly 2,000 years later, attitudes among Christians haven't changed much.
We live in a consumer-oriented society that tells us "you can have it your way." Even within the church this "my-way-or-the-highway" attitude prevails. We expect the preacher to tell us what we want to hear. We expect a worship service timed to fit my schedule and filled with music that is sung my way. And if congregational decisions do not go "my way," it is easy to hit the highway to find another church that allows me to have it my way.
Although nearly 2,000 years have passed since Luke first told the story, it appears we are as "foolish" and "slow of heart" to believe as those on the road to Emmaus who were joined on their journey by Jesus. We, too, struggle to give up doing-it-my-way in order to hear Jesus' call to another way of living. We forget that we are part of a community of believers -- the church -- and that within this community of faith, we are not the central focus. Christianity is not about you or me, it is about Jesus the Christ. The Church is not about you or me, it's about a community of believers seeking to live life Jesus' way.
This Easter season may we experience the death of an old attitude -- "you can have it your way" -- in order to find new life in following Jesus into another way of living.
Herman
Herman Kauffman serves as District Pastor for the Northern Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren. Prior to assuming this position in November 1994, he served 20+ years as a pastor in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He has been married for over 20 years and is the father of two children.