Jonathan Sprang - November 16, 2014
The Good Muslim
There are times when our beliefs don’t actually inform our behavior. While we may say and even think a certain “belief,” our behavior doesn’t always line up. But it works the other way flawlessly. Our behaviors give us a 100% accurate view of what we really believe. Jesus has a conversation with a teacher of the Law where he comes to the conclusion that the way you receive eternal life is through “loving God” and “loving your neighbor as yourself.” But that begs the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds with a story that we refer to as The Good Samaritan. The crazy thing about this story is that the one who is neighborly to the beaten man is the one who doesn’t have the right beliefs, a person Jesus’ listeners would’ve considered an enemy. Our enemies are surprising allies that give us a unique opportunity to put what we say we believe into practice.
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Is there a skill you’ve learned you’re really proud of? For me, it’s writing – that’s probably no surprise, right? I consider myself a really good writer. I have a book out, I sell articles. I work with other writers to edit and improve their works. I love it.
I love putting words together to figure out what sounds best.
Becoming a writer isn’t particularly glamorous. When people ask, “How do I become a better writer?” I always give them the same answer: read a lot and write a lot.
Anyone who has a skill you’re really proud of (not a talent – something that comes more naturally but something you’ve worked to cultivate and hone) knows this is how it goes. It’s the “wax on, wax off” from the Karate Kid. To become an master requires practice that can seem boring, irrelevant, taxing. But it’s worth it.
Let’s explore the legal codes of the Bible. We’ll discover that, much like other forms of practice, these laws were designed to shape us into a people who are masters of God’s way, people who not only embody God in the world but help others to learn to follow God’s way. Far from being irrelevant, taxing and dull, these legal codes are invitations for us to know God in a deeper way.
