Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Becoming Counter Cultural

Often I make decisions based on what is urgent, rather than stopping and asking is this really important. Have you ever just found yourself caught up in stuff. Then when all of the "stuff" is over you can't really even recount what it was you did...

As I pondered priorities I remembered a passage from Matthew 22. The Sadducees and Pharisees got together and asked Jesus, "which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

The more I think about it, these commandments challenge us to become counter cultural. Not in a moralistic, legalistic manner but in an intentional relational way. We need to reject the cultural norm of jamming our schedules full of activities in order to create time to love God and people.

So many parents are struggling raising kids with special needs. What would happen if people came alongside these neighbors and loved them? For example, made time for play dates with their children so they could have lots of interaction with typical peers. Or ran a simple errand or two when their lives got hectic. Or how about just taking the time to tell them they are doing a good job... I would love neighbors like that! On the other hand I hate being judged, but that's another subject...

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