I work with a drama group called onetimeblind (http://www.onetimeblind.com). They use conversational and somewhat unscripted dialog to present their message which often includes a Jesus “character”. And, true to form, they present Jesus as an “everyman”. No white robe and doves. No beard or long hair. Just a guy in jeans and a print T.
Over the past year, we have shot some mini movies of their sketches and in one, Jesus asks the 2 other people to just “live in Me”. This sketch and thought has been permeating my mind this year. As I struggle with daily hangups, I feel the voice of God just reminding me, “live in Me”. Chambers tends to say this same thing. So, the message is clear, powerful, relevant and presented well, in my (overly biased!) opinion.
So, the group gets this comment from a viewer:
this video is sick, I’m fed up with the church of the 21st century trying to make God casual! YOU BETTER FEAR GOD, He’s the author and the finisher of your salvation. Somepeople don’t get the first page published, what does that say about God? Let me tell you something, RESPECT GOD MORE THAN JUST A CAUSUAL FRIEND!
Ok, I can see his point. And I’ve wondered about this as well. We have the “high church” people following liturgy in a very formal and very respectful manner. Inside the church God is treated with the utmost respect. And I could go on. And I wonder how God interacts with the rest of “their” lives. Is God for church only and not for “real” life? Is God disrespected outside the formal setting?
And there’s the other side. People treat God like a friend. Just a regular guy. Though He may interact in the daily lives, is there respect placed on that relationship. He did create the universe. Do “they” have a fear of God or is He just like the neighbor next door?
As I write I realize it’s not the outward that really matters in this case. We can be formal or informal. Wear jeans or a suit. In church or outside church. And we can become like the Pharisees who ONLY see the outside. In either setting. Contemporary or traditional? Doesn’t really matter. What’s in the heart? How are we LIVING our lives? So, perhaps though the group treats Jesus as a “regular” guy, their message hits home. Are we actually living IN Him? Our lives should bear the fruit of that.
