Not so seriously
Yup, that was me before the balding. Or, that was me after a collection of small females decided on a new game to play after one of our church potlucks. "Give Pastor Shaun a new look".There I was, minding my own business, probably deciding whether or not to make a second trip to the dessert table, when all of a sudden a sweet little face with her big eyes holds up a single curly pipe cleaner and says, "Pastor Shaun, can we put this on your head?"I almost said no. But saying no to that face was impossible. "Sure".Out of no where they came, hundreds of little girls with pipe cleaners surrounded me. Ok, it was like five, but they were intense. Before I knew it, I was the image you see before you.Beyond the circle of small girls, the adults were enjoying themselves as they looked on. I have to admit there was a small temptation to feel embarrassed. I looked...well, I looked awesome, but some may have thought it silly. One of the best lessons I've learned in this life is not to take yourself too seriously. Frankly, you aren't as important as you think you are.In a twist that would confound the expectations of those who criticize followers of Jesus, the closer I grow to God, the more I take him seriously, the more free I am to enjoy life and just let it happen. I love what Paul says to the Corinthians
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.1 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV
In a paragraph that starts with, "This is how you should regard us," he gives instruction for how they should think of them as "stewards of the mystery of God" and then finishes by telling them their thoughts on him are a "very small thing". He doesn't even bother to pass verdict on himself.Paul has a clean conscience, but that doesn't mean he's innocent.The Corinthians didn't always like the way Paul taught and sought to lead them, that didn't make him guilty.He was comfortable knowing the Lord's judgement would be right and true. When you take the rest of Paul's writings into account you can see why:
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,Ephesians 2:8Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, βFor your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.β No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:35-39
And I could go on and on and on. Paul knew God's love. Paul knew God's joy. Paul knew God's peace. Easy then to trust God's judgement.The more I understand this, the less I need people to like me, respect me, or even think of me. I require less and can give more. I understand that God is the star of this show, I am honored to play the role he has given me. As importantly, I can say yes to a group of silly young ladies who want their pastor to be pretty.By His Grace, For His Glory,Shaun