Seeing
Read Matthew 25:31-46.
For those who have been in the church for a long time, or for those who grew up in the seventies and eighties and knew a particular story/song by Christian singer Keith Green, this may be a familiar passage of Scripture. I'm certain a lot of hellfire and brimstone sermons have been preached from this passage, and a lot of preachers have spent a lot of time urging their people to live differently. (This passage is also abused by some pastors who use it to preach a "works righteousness" salvation, interpreting it as though you get into the kingdom of God based on what you do.)
And while there is a difference between the sheep and the goats in what they do, there's a prior difference in the way they see. The sheep see those in need and they do what they can to help them; but they see them first. The goats don't even see the needy. When they are told they didn't do what they should have, their question to Jesus is, "When did we see...?" Point it out to us, Jesus. We surely couldn't have missed it.
I think I too often fall into that category of not seeing. It's easy to rationalize not helping those in need, especially when, like me, you've been in the business of helping others for twenty-five years. There are so many who abuse the system that it's easy to believe everyone is doing that. I could tell story after story of times I know I've been taken advantage of, and of how I've become cynical about the guys who stand at Walmart day after day. It takes a lot of work and energy for me to see those in who are truly in need (to discern those who are not merely abusing the system) and not become fully goat-like. The sheep see and act; the goats don't truly see and therefore, don't act.
But there is also a difference, revealed in this parable (or true story?) of the last judgment in the way they see themselves. The sheep don't see themselves as doing anything out of the ordinary. Their question of "when did we see you" has the ring of, "We weren't trying to do anything special. We were just doing what we thought we should, what we believed we were called to do." The goats, on the other hand, see themselves as—what? Too busy, too important, to "above it all" to bother with those in need? Their question of "when did we see you" has the ring of, "We would have helped, but we just didn't see anyone who looked like you, Jesus." Nothing was in focus. Somehow the Gospel, which they apparently knew, failed to penetrate their hearts; it stayed in their heads.
Sheep and goats. Seeing and not seeing. Where are you on those continuums today? Where do you want to be?
For those who have been in the church for a long time, or for those who grew up in the seventies and eighties and knew a particular story/song by Christian singer Keith Green, this may be a familiar passage of Scripture. I'm certain a lot of hellfire and brimstone sermons have been preached from this passage, and a lot of preachers have spent a lot of time urging their people to live differently. (This passage is also abused by some pastors who use it to preach a "works righteousness" salvation, interpreting it as though you get into the kingdom of God based on what you do.)
And while there is a difference between the sheep and the goats in what they do, there's a prior difference in the way they see. The sheep see those in need and they do what they can to help them; but they see them first. The goats don't even see the needy. When they are told they didn't do what they should have, their question to Jesus is, "When did we see...?" Point it out to us, Jesus. We surely couldn't have missed it.
I think I too often fall into that category of not seeing. It's easy to rationalize not helping those in need, especially when, like me, you've been in the business of helping others for twenty-five years. There are so many who abuse the system that it's easy to believe everyone is doing that. I could tell story after story of times I know I've been taken advantage of, and of how I've become cynical about the guys who stand at Walmart day after day. It takes a lot of work and energy for me to see those in who are truly in need (to discern those who are not merely abusing the system) and not become fully goat-like. The sheep see and act; the goats don't truly see and therefore, don't act.
But there is also a difference, revealed in this parable (or true story?) of the last judgment in the way they see themselves. The sheep don't see themselves as doing anything out of the ordinary. Their question of "when did we see you" has the ring of, "We weren't trying to do anything special. We were just doing what we thought we should, what we believed we were called to do." The goats, on the other hand, see themselves as—what? Too busy, too important, to "above it all" to bother with those in need? Their question of "when did we see you" has the ring of, "We would have helped, but we just didn't see anyone who looked like you, Jesus." Nothing was in focus. Somehow the Gospel, which they apparently knew, failed to penetrate their hearts; it stayed in their heads.
Sheep and goats. Seeing and not seeing. Where are you on those continuums today? Where do you want to be?
Comments
Post a Comment