Are you religious?

So I picked up "Messy Spirituality" by Mike Yaconelli again today. For some reason, I was drawn to it today. I have read it many times before, but like any good book~ you always get more out of it the more you read it. In chapter 3, Resisting The Resistors, Mike talks plainly about some scriptural truths that we find in the Gospel of John. In John 9 we meet this blind man who has been blind since birth. The disciples bring up questions about the reason for his blindness. Was it his sin or was it his parent's sin? It seems these men are not concerned with the "blind man", they are more concerned with the theology behind the blindness. They continue to debate over this until Jesus cuts it short. Jesus says what matters is glorifying God, helping blind men and women see. While the disciples seem to be worried about the doctrines and theology of the blindness, Jesus is concerned with the "blind man".

I love the idea here that the scriptures present. We can get so caught up in the "why this is happening" rather than truly ministering to the need that is at hand. Can we not do the same? Can we not be worried about the "blind man" instead of debating on the how his blindness came to be? Can we, as pastors, as ministry leaders, as the church honestly just begin to be in incarnation of Jesus in the communities that surround us? Can we not lend a hand to those in need, without passing judgment as to why or how they got this way? As you continue to read this story you see what happens with a little dirt, some spit, and a little water. This blind man can now see! Of course, this happened on the sabbath~ so it causes a stir. The "religious people" ask the man what has taken place. How did you get your eyesight back? The man responds by saying a man made mud from his spit, stuck it in my eyes and told me to go wash it off in the pool of Siloam. I did what He said, and now I can see!! Of course, these men question him in disbelief by saying that God doesn't heal on the sabbath.

"Religious people love to hide behind religion. they love the rules of religion more than they love Jesus. With practice, condemners let "rules" become more important than relationship!"

Remember, Jesus says what matters is glorifying God, helping blind men and women see