I am aware of the power of a name. My first, middle and last name communicate something to me - my heritage. My first name comes from my grandfather, Pieter Smit, an immigrant from Holland. My middle name comes from my father (Robert). My last name is an edited version of the original Schaa - a Lower Dutch/German form of Shaw. My name carries meaning for me.
When the disciple received his new name, Peter, from Jesus, you can be sure it carried great meaning for him. A new identity was created. As I mentioned Sunday, one of Peter's roles was to become a leading spiritual tour guide for his time, and for all time.
As a tour guide, Peter pointed out obvious things that others may have missed without his help. Peter was the first to proclaim that Jesus was Christ, the Messiah. We are called to be proponents in the same way, being ready to share what we've seen in Jesus with others, that they may know Him as Christ, too.
As a tour guide, Peter also pointed out unknown things that make a lot of difference. Some of Peter's more infamous moments include challenging Jesus' leadership, and worst of all, denying that he even knew Jesus after he was warned he would. The fact is that we all challenge Jesus' leadership in our lives more than we'd care to admit. And we even deny knowing Jesus with our attitude and behavior throughout our lives. We're not perfect, right? The good news from Peter is that God is always a Redeemer - he held Peter accountable, but he also restored Peter back into his full role. As tour guides, we need to let people know that when they blow it, it's not over - God will forgive, forget, and help us move onward and upward.
As a tour guide, Peter pointed out "bathrooms" - the practical information that helps people live better. When Peter was speaking to the Gentiles at Cornelius' home, he was instructing them about Jesus - stuff they didn't know. When it was obvious that God was blessing their faithful pursuit, Peter baptized them with water - a meaningful, practical symbol reminding us of our graceful covenant with God in Christ. We, as tour guides, are called not simply to have theological insights, but to help people live in the Way of Christ, which will result in the best life possible.
As a tour guide, Peter pointed out options for further adventure. Peter increasingly lived in close communion with the Holy Spirit, which empowered him to walk on water, heal a crippled man, and even restored life to a woman who had died. God's dream is that we become more and more attuned with the Spirit's leading, that we may overcome all that holds us (and the world) back from its potential in Christ. As tour guides, we are called to help people see and embrace this greater adventure.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a tour guide as well. He pointed out obvious racial prejudice that was leading to inhumane treatment of black men, women and children, especially in the South. He pointed out unknown things to whites and blacks alike about the equal value of all people, which requires us to view and treat each other equally. He pointed out "bathrooms" - practical, non-violent ways of bringing about lasting change. And he pointed out options for further adventure - his "Dream" speech will forever ring in our nation's annals of history.
A very practical question for us, in light of our role as tour guides, and the biblical call toward racial equality, is how can we be proactive in our city and culture, to insure that people are not treated unfairly or inhumanely based on their heritage, color, or language?
Illegal immigration is a serious issue facing our nation. How we deal with these immigrants (legal or not) is a different issue. We need to be able to separate the policy from the person when it comes to our city. While the legal issues are debated, we need to be as Jesus to those who are in our midst - helping them become who God has created them to be, regardless of their legal status. Doing so honors the heart of God, and will also have a long-term positive affect on ourselves, Napa, the US, and even the globe.
May you place yourself with those who struggle, because in doing so, you will find yourself where God already is, and be blessed.
1 comment:
Hi Pete,
Just wanted to let you know that the service on Sunday was amazing! Please let Rodney know how great his input was too. It took some guts to approach such a hot topic with a congregation that is very likely pretty touchy about the subject matter, particularly illegal immigration. Being that I grew up in the Bay Area and remember a time as a kid when there were probably a total of three Hispanics in my entire school, I can't tell you how often I hear - and have made comments myself - about the Mexicans taking over our entire state. But the sermon on Sunday really gave me a jolt and I've asked God to really speak to my heart on this subject. It's so easy to feel justified and righteous with our view points and have no idea we are grieving the heart of God. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who sat up and took notice of how unknowingly we are keeping racism alive. By you comparing the Biblical side through Peter's life and Rodney bringing it so close to home the point was very well made.
I was also thinking about all the people in this world who don't know "The Tour Guide" and haven't met up with "a tour guide" yet - how they cannot help but make wrong turns and get lost. A good tour guide must be guided by love and compassion in order to build trust that they can help guide the fearfully lost to a safe place. I wouldn't imagine an angry and self-righteous tour guide doesn't have much of a positive impact on tourism!
I was praying before the service on Sunday that God would really speak strongly to His people and that there would not be a single word spoken in worship or otherwise that was not annointed by Him. Leave it to God to always go above and beyond what we can ever imagine.
- Linda Huddleston (from email, used with permission)
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