I was watching the news yesterday morning and was blown away by what I saw. Fox News, and I'm sure every other media outlet, reported that a lady was asked to leave a Missouri Burger King because her six month old wasn't wearing shoes. The manager told her "we take the health codes very seriously!" The Mom was a little surprised so she put some socks on her child, but the manager pointed her to the sign "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service." The Manager told her socks were insufficient and that she would need to leave before he called the police. The police...REALLY? Now, as you can imagine, Burger King Inc. is bending over backwards to stop the negative image it's received due to their manager's actions. They have invited her in for "The Royal Treatment" (maybe that includes a burger and fries and a milkshake...or maybe The King himself will show up for a little dance and a burger celebration).
Now I bring this whole thing up because people amaze me. I'm amazed how some people seem so inclined to keep life in focus, situations in focus, and systems in focus, and seemingly just move forward understanding what it's all about. But I'm just as amazed that some seem to miss "the point". I am floored by this manager who I think truly believed that he was in the right. He truly believed that this 6 month old was violating the health code...I have no doubt that he was sincere. And I have no doubt that many people in church are sincere about their understanding of certain passages, traditions, etc...and yet like the manager, take that to places it was never intended...know what I mean?
Here's the idea...Jesus gets questioned by the Pharisees because his disciples break off some grains as they walk through a field and they do it on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was obviously created for a good reason right? Rest, Refocus, and Stop the Busyness (no that wasn't just a 21st century problem) that so distracts us from focusing on God, but the Pharisee's pulled a Burger king manager! They inform Jesus that their actions are against the "Sabbath 'Health' Code" and Jesus responds with this: The Sabbath was made to benefit people, and not people the Sabbath. (mark 2) It amazes me that people today can do the very same thing. We can get so focused on the "how" of stuff and miss the "why." I'm convinced that Jesus really wants us to get the WHY right, and that when we do, the HOW takes care of itself. I don't think that I've put it in those words before, but that actually describes how I've felt for years about how the church should function in our world.
At what point do we see ourselves as the BK Manager, and someone in corporate needs to say, "we are sorry for their decision, they missed the point." Please come back and let us give you the Royal Treatment! Unfortunately, I think we miss a good chunk of the world because they see us really focused on the "how" of church instead of the "why." To the world..."I'm sorry, come back and let us give you the Royal Treatment.!"
Love ya...Have a good day!
http://www.abc15.com/content/news/webxtra/story/No-shoes-no-service-Baby-gets-kicked-out-of/5_TdDg0_cUCHV-anQRO-Lg.cspx
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