the basic message #E274
7/25/04
Michael Jackson isn't on the average American's list of "most admired", but I think we can agree that the guy is a talented entertainer. Jackson wrote and recorded a song years ago that is generally known as "Man in the mirror". Let's take a look at the chorus of the song:
I’m starting with that man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
No message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
Isn't it interesting that we always want other people to change, but seldom make any effort to change ourselves? Before I started obeying the speed limit (out of respect for Romans 13:5), I used to get very angry at people driving the speed limit, consequently being "in my way". When I was a teenager, I used to like to have loud exhausts on my car, but now loud exhausts on nearly every Harley-Davidson drive me nuts.
Know what's really funny? Christians trying to change other Christians. Jimmy Swaggart made the news about 20 years ago by basically saying that all Catholics are going to Hell. Bob Martin and other radio preachers have decided that the Latter Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses are cults, therefore they're going to Hell as well. Jimmy Swaggart's personal sins and infractions were very publicized over the years, but that doesn't slow the Swaggart Ministry down a bit when it comes to slam-dunking other denominations. I will say that Jimmy Swaggart himself seldom does any "drive by's" on other believers, but his son Donnie and wife Francis don't hesitate to tell listeners the "truth" as the Swaggart empire sees it.
Let's take a look at some of the other words from "Man in the mirror":
I see the kids on the street, not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their needs
Been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It’s time that I realize
There are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me pretending that they’re not alone
Ya gotta get it right, while you’ve got the time
‘Cause when ya close your heart
Then you close your mind
How many of us ever take a look at the "man in the mirror" or "woman in the mirror" and think, "I can't change the world, but I can change myself." I think that's way too simple for most folks to grasp. The changes in our lives can begin the moment we wake up in the morning. I find it helpful to spend some time with God when I get up at 5:30 am. The house and neighborhood are quiet, and that in itself helps to foster conversation with God. Some folks begin every day by sleeping until the last possible minute, therefore increasing their chances of arriving to work late. Some folks are just habitually late for everything. Every Sunday I see no fewer than 30-40 people enter the sanctuary of our church after the service begins. We will all be late for church on occasion, but those occasions should be few and far between. Sadly, many of those who are late each week are regularly late. What business is it of mine? I don't think it's too much to ask to be able to start a worship service without the distraction of dozens of people coming in late.
Once we finally do get out of bed and head to work or school, our driving habits leave much to be desired. I can say without any doubt that if you drive the speed limit on the Interstate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you will be passed by 95% of the other motorists. You will sit at a red light, and when you get your green light you can count, not one, not two, but very often 5 cars driving through their red light. If you can safely make it to work, you can count on people putting very little effort into their jobs, but if you even mention any reduction of benefits for them, you'll be facing World War 3. They might need to leave work on a regular basis to meet with the principal at their kid's school. Their little darling frequently runs afoul of the rules at school, but they've decided that instead of their little brat needing discipline, the administrators at the school "have it in for their child".
When are we going to start with the man in the mirror? When will we take an honest, introspective look into our own sinful behavior and say, "I need to change". American Christians are so misled with this nonsense of "I'm not perfect, just saved", that we see no need to even ask ourselves, "Am I living the life Jesus Christ wants me to lead?" Sadly, many people, rather than focusing on the words of the song, will launch a diatribe about the weirdness of Michael Jackson. It's so easy to divert attention to other people rather than deal with our own shortcomings. "But John, whenever I call on the name of the Lord, I'm covered." Some other folks used to think that too, and the Lord cleared up their misunderstanding:
Matthew 7:21
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Sounds to me like Jesus was saying, "Maybe you need to start with the man in the mirror".