More on the Mold

Digging back into the other half of matthew 11 we find that Jesus goes on to call his generation a bunch of whining kids. He says16"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17" 'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge
and you did not mourn.' "
Its like trying to tell a 5 year old that they are playing a game wrong. "I like it my way better!" or "This is how I play it!" are some responses you might get. Similarly, Jesus says something like this:
Look, you guys have been waiting for a prophet to come and prepare the way for the messiah, Well here he is and you say hes posessed. The Messiah arrives, and you say hes a drunk who likes to break the rules." And all of that generation says, "I'll keep doing it my way!" These people have looked at God inside a mold and made themselves nice religeous cookie cutter lives, with perfect laws, and governments, and people. Jesus is saying to them, I know Im not what you expect but Im here.

Its really easy for us in our time to try and box up Jesus and put him on a shelf so we can go and be sinners. When we're done sinning, come back to the shelf and pull him out of the box and repent. Viscious cycle. I think this is a really easy way for people to frustrate themselves with God. "God why didn't I get that Job?!" or " Why did that happen to me?!" We easily attain these preconcieved notions as to what God does or doesn't do. Its easy for me to be the center of my faith, and have Jesus revolve around me. Im sure anyone out there reading is like "Great, I'm glad you pointed that out, what now?"

Break the cycle. Jesus says " 25 I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children..." Kids dont care about the politics at work, or the social hierarchy that stands between the homeless and the wealthy, or the spiritual hierarchy that can gap a pastor and his church. I remember when I was younger my house was robbed. This guy took everything he could get his hands on, even some bannanas and the steaks in the fridge. I never saw us as poor growing up, but certainly not wealthy, but anyone who gets robbed feels a bit uneasy about the whole process. Anywho, the man was cought a block away breaking into another house. (I told you we weren't wealthy). We were able to get all our stuff back and press charges.

When we went to the police station to gather our now unstolen items, I asked the cop if I could talk to the man who robbed my house. I must have been 6 or 7 years old. I wanted to tell this guy that I forgave him and that Jesus loves him. Well the cop didnt let me in there, he just tried to scare me away by telling me how gross he looked, but i still wanted to go. That is what God reveals to children. Pull back all the social and religious right and wrong of the whole situation. Yes, this man wronged us and deserves justice...But God also wants to let people know that he loves them,unconditionally, and has the capacity to forgive us.