Simplif

I like words. Especially ironic words. For instance, have you noticed before that the word "palindrome," which describes words that are spelled the same forwards and backwards, is not a palindrome? It's kind of awesome. Another one is "Simplify." Three syllables doesn't strike me as something that is being made less complex. Someone should change that.

Anyway, this last weekend, God gave me a reminder about simplicity. The source of this is rooted in my sincere belief that all parts of the Bible are not equally important. (I can say this with confidence that God will not zap me with lightning.) I realized how much focus that I can give to the parts that are less important if I'm not focused on the ones that are crucial.

I've been a Christian for a long time, and sometimes I can forget that those who I am privileged to preach to do not share my background. They don't understand all the scriptural references I do. They don't need the same convictions of heart that I need. But they need to know the Jesus I know, and it's the saving sacrifice of this Jesus that I can forget when I get wrapped up in dogmatic debates whose outcomes of a fist pump cannot compare to a life-saving victory of the Gospel winning a heart to Jesus. It's this that calls me to simplification, editing the content of my teaching or even my beliefs, so that people don't fail to take away from my teaching or conversation the most important point of scripture: God loves us so much that he gave up the life of Jesus, so that anyone that believes in Him will be saved from death.

Sounds familiar.

St. Francis once said "Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words." Good advice. Just don't forget: sometimes it's necessary to use words.