The Bottom Line
Posted by peachy8588 on April 17, 2009
…The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them… Hosea 14:9
As I grappled with Hosea 14:9 in preparation for Bible study last week I was struck by the thought of multiple paths of the Lord. We’re taught that there is one way to God. We often act as if all Christians must think, act, believe in the same ways. But Hosea says ‘the paths’ – multiple paths.
While thinking this through, I started thinking that there are multiple ways one can lose weight, yet every weight loss program comes down to one core concept – consume fewer calories than you burn. Even within Weight Watchers there are many paths to success. Eat every point available to you (including activity points and weekly points allowance), never use any “extra” points or somewhere in between – Eat a big breakfast and a light lunch/dinner or eat a light breakfast and a large lunch – Snack throughout the day or close the kitchen unless it is mealtime. The beauty is that every option works. You just have to figure out what works for you then do it.
So how do Hosea’s multiple paths and Jesus’s statement that “I am the way…no one comes to the Father but by me” fit together? Here’s what I’m thinking (and I’m open to discussion.) There are many ways to meet Jesus, to know Jesus, to worship Jesus and none are more ‘right’ than the other. So if ‘burn more calories than you consume’ is the bottom line, the core concept behind losing weight, what is the core concept, the bottom line to living a Christian life?
Could it be that the bottom line is the ‘greatest commandment’ – that we are to love God with all our our mind, strength and soul and to love our neighbors as ourselves? (found someplace in the new Testament) So, in my mind, that means that the denomination – Catholic, Mennonite, United Methodist, Baptist – immaterial; a capalla, organ or drums and guitar – doesn’t matter; singing from a hymnal or words on a wall – who cares. You need to find out what works for you, what gives you the motivation and inspiration to fulfill the greatest commandment to love God and neighbor completely.
When we realize all this ‘stuff’ is immaterial, quit judging each other and start spreading God’s love – how cool is that going to be?
