House and Resident

House and Resident

It is too often that we focus on the external – on the body – on the house – on the framework – rather than the resident or the internal.  Too often we confuse the shell with the “meat” (a walnut).

Take the United States and Christianity.  We often hear or think of our nation as Christian or call it Christian when it is not – in fact, it cannot be!  Jesus didn’t die to save nations, He died for and saves people!  What the United States has been is an inviting house for Christians.  America has provided an atmosphere which allowed Christianity to prosper.  It can also be argued that God’s leading and grace were on this country that she might serve as an instrument in His hand for any number of reasons.  One is surely the establishment of modern-day Israel.

Many Americans worship the United States for its freedoms, deeds (coming to the aid of countries attacked, hit by a tsunami or in need of food and medicine, etc.) and its prosperity (a vast middle class all with multiple cars and air conditioning).  Too many, including Christians, believe they cannot live without America’s perks and even demand that they have such perks.  Such an attitude is considered nationalism (an “ism” is a worldview), which is different from patriotism, which is to give respect and service without worship.  Nationalism is a radical adoration often with a blind eye to flaws and faults.  To make the USA Christian is confusing the house with the religion.

The same mistake can be made of a church: meaning the church’s building, heritage, and/or programs are exalted, but the church is not those things.  True church is about the Head, Jesus, and His body, true Christians.  While there are things that mark a church – buildings and programs – they are NOT the core!  Be thankful for the “house” but note that it is Jesus’ followers who make her.

Oftentimes you hear that true Christianity is about a relationship, not religion.  However, look at what God set up with Moses at Mt. Sinai – a religion!  The problem is when we worship religion or make religion more important than the relationship.  The talk about Christianity not being a religion is a reason that many people don’t participate in church, get baptized, or take communion.  A Christian is so because of a relationship with Jesus, but in being so, is brought into a religion – Christianity.  One can’t be an obedient Christian without being religious!  The house – the religion – matters!

The same is true of a person.  In America, the human body is adored and even worshiped.  Billions of dollars are annually spent on clothing, hair, wrinkles, weight loss, health and other.  But of much greater importance is the character, the soul, the inner person of the person.  At death the inner person leaves behind the “house.”  Man, all men, live eternally – forever – somewhere.  Of much greater importance is the person who lives in the body – in the house.

Too many are about the outside of the cup over the inside, Matthew 23:25.  “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” John 2:19.  The house matters!

Here are other “house and resident” challenges:

Too many parents place sports, music, clothing and/or education over spiritual formation or character development.  They put the body over the soul – the house over the resident.

MLK Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”  The resident is more important, yet the house matters!

Here’s a big one – the brain and the mind.  When a person dies their brain stays with the body, but not their mind.  Their mind occupies the brain.  Does the brain matter?  The house for the mind?  YES!  This is a challenge to the world of evolution who insist that the brain and the mind are one and the same.  No!  One is the house and the other is the resident!

The house matters much, but the resident matters MORE!