Saturday, April 09, 2011

Living the Story #28, Lent 2011

Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?"

The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!"

John 7 : 44 - 46

Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking wrote a book in the late 80's called "A Brief History of Time". In it, he spells out some very complex ideas about the nature of the universe. It was meant to introduce physics, Einstein and quantum theory to the common folks. The problem was, it was too much for many to wrap their heads around.

So, partnering with Leonard Mlodinow, he wrote "A Briefer History of Time" to create a more accessible version. You know, with pictures and sci-fi references. That's the one I read. I still didn't get it all.

The second book contained all the intricacies and complexities of the first, but put in a way that we all could grasp...kinda.

There is a movement out there called "The Red Letter Christians". This is a group that identifies themselves mainly with living out the things Jesus said. Not discounting the rest of scripture, but realizing that Jesus' words are most important for us to major on.

This idea has fallen under some criticism as some are afraid that a majority of scripture is being ignored.

But Jesus? No one ever spoke like him. If the old testament is a "brief history of God", then Jesus' words and actions are the summation of all the intricacies and beauty of God's message to us.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matt 22 :37 - 40

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