Faces on Faith: Worldly status does not translate into spiritual status
I was talking to a local resident who had been elected president of his homeowner’s association. He said, “The difficulty of leading an HOA on Sanibel is that the owners are all PIPs.” “PIPs?” I asked. He answered with a smile, “Previously Important People.”
I’ve come to enjoy the PIPs. I find these folks to be fascinating. My own church is enriched by the experiences, wisdom and skills they bring. However, success and prominence do create temptations to our souls. In particular, they can present a major pitfall when it comes to knowing God.
There’s a famous story in the Gospels about little children coming to Jesus. Parents wanted Jesus to bless the children. However, Jesus’ disciples shooed the kids away and rebuked them. In their minds, Jesus was a busy VIP.
The Bible says Jesus became indignant and rebuked the disciples: “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a child? People read all kinds of things into that line. Some say it means that you need to come to God with the unquestioning faith of a child, or with joyful innocence, or perhaps with imagination and fun-loving spirit.
But in the original context, children represented NIPs: Not Important People. To be a child meant you had no status and no clout. NIPs can’t play the “Do you know who I am?!” card.
And therein lies the danger of prominence and success. It can delude us into thinking that we do not need Jesus, or that we deserve entrance into the kingdom of God. However, worldly status does not translate into spiritual status.
Consider Jesus. He is the king of God’s kingdom. Jesus is the most VIP person ever. And yet he came to us in humility and gentleness. He came to die for our sins on a cross. Crucified people were the ultimate NIPs. This VIP-turned-NIP king only accepts those who come without pretension or self-reliance, in total dependence on God’s mercy and grace.
Pastor Jeramie Rinne is the senior pastor at the Sanibel Community Church.