Just an Old man out standing in his field

When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

This has long been a favorite and inspiring verse. Apparently the Christians in Corinth had already been inundated with the “lofty words and wisdom” of self-acclaimed prophets, philosophers, and other first-century “influencers”. By the time Paul arrived, before he even opened his mouth, his audience already had preconceived expectations. Maybe they assumed he’d offer wise solutions to the struggles in their local community, or enter into local debates over politics, laws, or the economy. Maybe they expected him to take a side in the countless debates that were dividing them both as a public and a Christian community.

But Paul made a firm resolution not to do so. As far as he could, he vowed to stay out of those debates, and instead focus all of his efforts to one single purpose: “to know nothing among [them] except Jesus Christ and him crucified”.

I remembered this statement by Saint Paul as I was out walking one of the paths on our farm, contemplating what I might write in my next blogpost. First, I want to thank you for slodging through my sometimes long-winded posts, and for your kind, encouraging words. But some of you may have noticed that over the years I’ve had several starts and stops to my blogging, and even of late it’s been several years since I braved releasing a thought into the ever expanding blogosphere.

And now that I’ve gladly passed the batons of leadership and pastoral ministry on to my two older sons, why am I again trying my hand at blogging? Well, pretty much for the same reason Saint Paul wrote his letters to the struggling first-generation Christians.

I suppose if I focused my writing on the issues of our day, as those first Corinthians expected—on what’s happening in the Church or the liturgical calendar, or on our culture, families, nation, and world, or on today’s politics, economy, or environment—I might find more of my stuff noticed and re-posted by the usual collective media sites. And I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been tempted to quickly scribble down my opinions on any of these subjects and then punch that “Publish” button, only to be mercifully stopped by the indwelling whisper of a much wiser, loving Spirit.

You see, I fully realize I’m not “the sharpest knife in the drawer” when it comes to the present critical issues of our time—especially as I grow older, loosing more brain cells than I gain every day! Which is why I’m thankful there are plenty of “sharper knives” who have accepted the call to fight for what’s right and good, beautiful and true in the midst of the chaos of our present world. (Seriously, I appreciate all the good bloggers and YouTubers who provide helpful and often selfless information—I doubt if I do anything on this farm without first checking how someone else has already done it on YouTube!)

So why do I still occasionally write and punch that “publish” button? I’ll just say it’s certainly not to make more money or a bigger name for myself, though I’m eternally grateful for God’s generosity and mercy. I’m merely hoping that anything this “old Man out standing in his field” might write will help at least one person come to know “Jesus Christ and him crucified”.

I remember thinking this way back when I was a young minister, leading my first small country church. Whenever I would step up into the pulpit, I was confronted by a note left by some previous minister, with a quote from John 12:21:

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

I believe this is the desire of every single person perusing the Internet, whether they know it or not. As spiritual writers have long said, I believe that God has placed in the heart—the conscience—of every single person a desire to know Him. This desire may have become overpowered and encrusted by a myriad of other things, including the cacophony of voices bombarding us from the Internet, but maybe mostly it’s just because of our own sin. Still, I believe God’s “still, small voice” rings true in the heart of every single person, just waiting to be awakened by a spark of God’s merciful grace.

St. Paul made another important statement, this time to the believers in Rome:

But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14-15)

I’m not presuming to have the authority or wisdom of one who has been “sent”, but, as a layman, I hope that whatever I write might by grace help someone “call upon him” who otherwise, for whatever reason, has not heard or believed.

My friend, I apologize for this self-focused blogpost, but I wanted to address this, because I also believe this task is urgently necessary. As you listen to the news, it’s increasingly obvious how exponentially oblivious people are of their Creator, His laws, and His will for their lives. How many of the victims at any of the brutal shootings or massacres in past fews years even imagined when they woke up that morning that that day would be their last?

If anything that you or I might do this day can help even one person come to “know Jesus Christ and him crucified”, it makes whatever we do worth it.