Cross-Eyed Christians
And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
Well, the Baptist Church in my neighborhood changed their kiosk message. Here’s what’s there today – “Cross-eyed people have the best vision!”
Oh, I see what they’ve done there. Pretty cleaver, don’t you think?
When I read now my sight is blurred and I need lenses to help me to see things correctly or as they really are. I think this kiosk message is meant for us to contemplate the strength of the lens we have when we approach the Bible or contemplate our faith in general.
Metaphorically this “lens” allows us to “see” something that was invisible to us in the past. Like the glass lenses we need to make the blurred be visible, the metaphorical lens is the way in which we can achieve deeper understanding of scripture and there by deepening our faith.
The life experiences we have, the knowledge we develop, and what’s happening in the world around us all can affect how we feel about our faith. Our faith is the lens through which we see our neighbors. Sad to say, some lenses or views expressed in some Christian groups can distort our vision with their use of God’s Word to justify behavior that when held up in the light of Scripture is revealed to be very distorted lenses. Distorted to the extent that Christ cannot be made truly visible.
This cleaver sign statement is saying that everything is brought into sharp focus when we see through the lens of Christ. He was born to live with us. He avoided all the trappings of the world of His time. He healed the sick and restored the marginalized. He willingly went to the cross after a wholly unjust trial, being accused of heresy by the very people He came to save. He died on that cross and took on the penalty of sin; past, present, and future, and He rose from the dead after three days and completely defeated the power that sin had and has over the lives of those who come to Him in faith.
When we use this lens to read our Bibles and to guide our faith journeys, Jesus is the means through which we see and interpret all things. Through this lens, it becomes much harder to justify any of the “phobias” and “isms” that are sometimes used to prop up an unjust interpretation of the Message when it attempts to marginalize and exclude those that are “not like us.”
With our worship, prayers, study, and service to the community may we be guided by the Holy Spirit to truly change lives in this world of ours.
Lord, by the Holy Spirit may we proclaim Your Word in truth so that people will trust in Your Word, be brought to trust in Your power and learn to trust only in You. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.