So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’
Luke 17:10
Jesus is teaching His disciples the essential attitude of service for God. And nobody gets to come to God demanding something. God does not owe man. Instead, we owe all that we are, all that we have, and all that we can do to the God Who made us and saved us. Jesus is making a point with His metaphor of the household servant: The master does not exist to serve the servant; instead, the servant exists to serve the master.
That is the attitude that Jesus wants His disciples to get. They were not put on this world to make demands of God. They were put here to serve Him well. And they cannot demand a reward for their service. Instead, like spiritual slaves, they were to constantly be available to serve God. Slaves never do anything else.
I am appalled that Christians in America have often chosen to completely disobey this teaching from Jesus. Looking at most of American evangelicalism, we would be hard-pressed to discern that Jesus even taught this! We repel from the image of the servant/slave who only exists to serve his master. We have instead held out that God is our cosmic genie, ready to grant our every wealth and wealth wish in exchange for our hour of chair time on Sunday, perhaps twenty bucks in the offering plate, and if we really, really extend ourselves, a five minute daily devotional.
No where is this more readily discerned than among the disgusting health and wealth prosperity gospel charismatics who seem to crawl out of TBN and into mainstream evangelicalism like a hive of roaches. This thinking even underlies Pat Robertson’s smug, ignorant dualistic thinking and his insensitive stupid remarks on the spiritual and physical state of earthquake devastated Haiti. It creates cult, as evidenced right here in my own hometown in south KC were personality driven hysteria can be witnessed 24/7. It is broadcast worldwide through jet-set snake-oil false prophets like Benny Hinn. They worship a God of wealth and fame. Christians who act like superstars think they are masters and not slaves. Their authenticity is suspect. That teaching and warning comes from the lips of Jesus Himself. He said it first. He wants simple slaves who cannot think of themselves as anything else. Humble service should mark a true follower of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
No comments:
Post a Comment