Hash Browns and the Gospel

I'm procrastinating everything lately, and it's not pretty. Unless it's directly in my sight, taunting "finish me!" or "do this!" I'm simply ignoring it. I don't know why, but what I'm discovering is that if I would simply do it I would save the energy I'm expending by thinking about not doing it. And to top it all off, I stubbed my toe on the coffee table this morning. Badly. Now the left side of my foot is very black and blue and it hurts. A lot. Between procrastination and complaining, it's not been the best day. (I don't even think I can get my left shoe on.) So, yes, I spent some time on the couch this afternoon with my foot on a bag of Mr. Dell's hash browns, which is another excuse to procrastinate.

Ignoring the things I need to do has no value. It's the same in my knowledge of God. That knowledge has no value if I don't act upon it. It seems the evangelical sub-culture has tried so hard to fit into the world so not to offend anyone that it's resulted in us (in a sense) doing nothing. We've failed to proclaim the truth of the gospel, which in reality is one of the most offensive schools of thought out there. Offense comes with the truth. Yet it's offensive to change the message of the gospel so that it's seems less offensive.

What good is my belief and knowledge of God if I keep it to myself? If I try to fit into the world so people will see Christians aren't different or crazy, then I am not only procrastinating but I'm not being true to the gospel. I am different. I am crazy. I believe that a man who walked this earth thousands of years ago was the son of God, took my sin upon his back and died in my place, then rose again and told the world to spread the news. That is crazy. That is different. Witholding that truth to those I know is no different that me sitting on the couch with a bag of hash browns on my foot ignoring the fact that I am playing my guitar and singing a solo in church tomorrow and I haven't practiced yet. More importantly, it's much worse.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

-John 21: 19:15-19

Comments

ptg said…
In your enthusiasm to please God, don't forget Milton's gem: "who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best."

Stubbed toe, blindness, it is just a matter of degree.
stephanie said…
I prefer “Neither ought custom to hinder that truth should not prevail; for custom without truth is but agedness of error.” (since we are quoting Milton). But I do love that piece. Thank you for posting it.

Being his hands and feet on this earth is only proved more difficult with my stubborn streak, my broken toe and my inability (or blindness, you might say) to find fault in myself.

I guess that's why I'm happy there is no favor to earn. Christ did that for me.
kc bob said…
I feel so manipulated ... you drew me in with the aroma of hash browns and left me with smelly feet ... I know they hurt but don't smell :)

Seriously though, how is your foot and how did it go this morning? Hope all is better.

Bob
kc bob said…
Yikes! Just realized that you posted that on 3/17 ... boy am I behind these days ... blame it on those hash browns.
stephanie said…
The song went just fine...thanks, Bob. My toe is still pretty sore, but that's typical from what I hear. I can at least just normal shoes on without screaming now.

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