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Out our way, some things take time to master, but once you get it, the thing becomes natural. In fact, you don't think about it all and it just seems to happen.
There was a way of tying up Doc's halter rope to the trailer that was a sort of slip knot. The rope held him firmly, but if I pulled the loose end of the rope, it came free with ease. Although it was a simple knot to tie, it took me a long time to get it. It seems I was "overthinking" it - trying to tie it with my head instead of my hands. Only when I relaxed a bit and just sort of let it flow did I master that knot. Over the years, I found when I tried to think through the process, I messed it up, but when I quit trying to remember the various steps in the process of how to tie the knot and just let it happen, the knot was always tied perfectly.
Sometimes faith is like tying that slip knot: we mess it up by overthinking the process. The minor prophet Micah actually spoke to that in the text I have chosen to go with my story. People were trying to "overthink" prayer and worship. They were looking for rules and regulations, and, sadly, there were those who were more than willing to write them. The 10 commandments began to be enlarged with new rules and regulations scribes and religious leaders thought up. The theory was that the more rules you followed, the less likely you were to mess up. Unfortunately, like my slip knot, the harder people tried to think the faith, the less they were able to live it. Rules and regulations became the religion.
You may recall Jesus was asked by His critics to declare which of the commandments was the greatest (Matthew 22:34-40). He didn't "overthink it" but simply said " Love God with all your being, and love your neighbor as you love yourself." He then went on to point out that "all of the Law and the words of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Indeed, a famous rabbi of a different age was forced to stand on one leg and commanded to cite the entire Law. He stood on one leg as ordered and then, like Jesus, said, "Love God and love neighbor." Then, standing on both legs, he said, "The rest is all commentary."
Clearly this concept was not new nor unique to Jesus, for reading Micah's words we find the same message again. It had simply been forgotten as various folks in their zeal to be "religious" tended to "overthink" the faith. And, like me trying to overthink the tying of the simple knot and messing it up, we fail miserably.
I have spent many years as a pastor, scholar and teacher of the faith. I have waded through the writings of modern theologians and learned all sorts of fancy gobbledegook terms to show off how well-educated I am. I recall in seminary some wag put up a note in the dorm which went something to the effect.
"And Jesus asked Simon called Peter, 'Who do you say that I am?" And Peter replied, 'You are the kerygma of our faith and the ontic state of our being!' And Jesus said unto Simon called Peter, " Huh?"
Classic theological overthink. Wouldn't you say? As the Lord revealed to Micah, "(God) has shown you what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God."
Remember the parable of the slipknot. "Love the Lord your God with all your being, and love your neighbor as you love yourself." Don't overthink it - just let it flow.
Be blessed and be a blessing!
Brother John
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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way." He can be reached for comment or dialogue at [email protected].
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