Pastor's Corner: "A little off plumb"

If you were to ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that this pastor is just a little off plumb with modern Christianity with some of his thinking and beliefs. Think about this for a moment, I believe that there is a preamble to both the greatest and the ten commandments (all of which are found in the Old Testament). That is the third chapter of Genesis, and until we can get past the third chapter of Genesis, we will never get to either the greatest or the ten commandments. So what is it about the third chapter of Genesis that is stopping us from getting to the commandments – simply it is the beginning of the “blame game,” the “it’s not my fault.” Adam started it, Eve followed suit and the tradition began and continues even more so today. Therefore, until we individually take responsibility and accountability for what we say and/or do, how can we ever get to loving God and one another?

Now, if that isn’t enough to accuse this pastor of heresy, add this additional belief to the mixture. Today, we are less Christian and Disciples of Jesus Christ than we are modern day Pharisees. Consider the following: 1. The Pharisees were all about “us” while Jesus was about others first. 2. The Pharisees were all about “laws,” conversely Jesus was about love. 3. The Pharisees were all “posture and position” and Jesus was humility. 4. The Pharisees were exclusive, and you guessed it, Jesus was inclusive of all — especially the outcasts, the outsiders, the unclean, the non-Jewish. Now those are just a few of the ways in which Jesus and the Pharisees were unlike each other. One could almost say that they were opposites. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that we are, in fact, more in line with the thinking and practices of the Pharisees than those of Jesus. What was that again about accountability and responsibility? Do we give out of our abundance, or do we give out of our left-overs if we give at all? Do we accept all others as a chid of God, or do we accept only those who are like us? Do we go about our daily lives expecting praise and adoration or quietly work in the background while being gracious for the quiet thank-you for our work?

Understanding that none of us are perfect, John Wesley would ask if we are going on to perfection. I am not perfect. In fact, even I struggle with the very examples I have cited. I do ask however, what must I do/change so that I may become more of a Disciple of Jesus Christ and less of a modern day Pharisee?

Is this pastor a little off plumb with 21st century Christianity — absolutely! I think, though, that I am trying to follow in some pretty good footsteps because Jesus Christ was out of plumb with the religious establishment of his time as well.

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Rev. William D. “Mac” MCGrew

Pastor Van Orsdel UMC