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Article Archive |
2008
CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN
by Jim Morris
I hate political election years. More slogans. More promises. More lies. However, one slogan caught my imagination, “Change We Can Believe In.” It dawned on me that IS what we need today! I'm not talking politically but Biblically. We truly need change that we can believe in.
John the Baptist, in essence, preached the same slogan to the masses nearly 2,000 years ago. Yet, he did not speak the flattering words of a politician. Rather, he boldly proclaimed the words of God.
“John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (John 3:7-9).
John rebuked the hypocrites who came to check out his ministry. He warned them of the coming judgment. Their kinship ties would not protect them from God's wrath. It did not matter about their natural lineage to Abraham. What truly mattered was that they did the works of Abraham! Furthermore, time was short. It was urgent that they bear good fruits in keeping with their change of mind. John needed to see a change he could believe in.
How do we show a “change we can believe in”? The answer was directed to three groups: the crowd (selfish general public), tax collectors (traitorous and unscrupulous extortioners), and soldiers (abusers of power for personal gain at the expense of others).
The CROWD asked the same question we ask today, “What should we do then?” (3:10). John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same” (3:11). A change we can believe in was for the well-dressed to share with the poorly dressed and for the well-fed to share with those who had none.
The TAX COLLECTORS also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” (3:12). John told them, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to” (3:13). A change we can believe in was to be fair, honest and righteous in financial dealings.
Then some SOLDIERS asked him, “And what should we do?” John replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay” (3:14). A change we can believe in was for those in power to stop using extortion and lies to supplement their wages. The bottom line is that people must match their words with their actions. The actions are the fruit of their change of mind to do good.
What if people refuse to show a “Change We Can Believe In”? They can only expect a terrifying judgment of fire. John warned them, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (3:16-17).
The rebukes leveled at the crowds, the tax collectors, and the soldiers, also apply to us. We need to see “change we can believe in,” don't we? That kind of change IS good news. “And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.” (3:18).
08-13-08
# 33
