Who's Pressing On?
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle A
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own. (vv. 8b--12)
Distant Friends was an independent Christian rock band who played regionally in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, in the mid 1980s. In July 1988, the band narrowly missed receiving a national recording contract when they played at the Cornerstone Festival near Chicago, Illinois. They disbanded shortly afterward.
One time the band played at a huge amphitheater in El Dorado, Kansas. One hundred or so youth gathered in front of the stage to listen to the band. These youth shouted and cheered. Since it was a Baptist gathering, they did not dance, although, there was some "creative movement" going on. Generally, the youth were having a good time throughout the concert all in the name of Christ.
About 100 feet from the stage was the soundboard that controlled the volume and mix of the different vocals and instruments. It was being run by the band's soundman, Dave, who was a professional sound engineer. Dave was also a sweet, sensitive guy and a sincere Christian. Being involved with music in the 1980s, Dave also had long hair.
Sitting a few rows back from Dave, were a couple of elderly women. Throughout the concert, they kept badgering Dave. They complained that the sound was too loud, although they didn't move to the available seating further back. The women acted childishly as they reverted to name calling. They kept referring to Dave as a "long--haired hippie" as they spoke loudly enough for him to hear but never directly to him.
During the band's concerts, it was their custom for the drummer, Ron Lion, to speak to the youth. He always asked the question, "Is there anyone here who believes that he or she has never sinned?" It was meant to be rhetorical, but there were a few smart aleck kids who raised their hands. When that happened, Ron would humorously reply, "Now we know where the liars are."
Well, when Ron asked the question in El Dorado, these two little old ladies who had been rude to Dave shot their hands up to proclaim that they were without sin. They weren't happy when Ron insinuated they were liars. In fact, they were highly offended.
But it poses a question: Who was pressing on to know Christ? And who was confident of their own accomplishments? Sadly, the little old ladies were the ones who had lost focus in the faith and had forgotten Christ as their goal. But Dave was sharing in Christ's sufferings as he was being persecuted for his appearance. Dave never retaliated with more name calling, but continued to act in a Christ--like way.
Distant Friends was an independent Christian rock band who played regionally in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, in the mid 1980s. In July 1988, the band narrowly missed receiving a national recording contract when they played at the Cornerstone Festival near Chicago, Illinois. They disbanded shortly afterward.
One time the band played at a huge amphitheater in El Dorado, Kansas. One hundred or so youth gathered in front of the stage to listen to the band. These youth shouted and cheered. Since it was a Baptist gathering, they did not dance, although, there was some "creative movement" going on. Generally, the youth were having a good time throughout the concert all in the name of Christ.
About 100 feet from the stage was the soundboard that controlled the volume and mix of the different vocals and instruments. It was being run by the band's soundman, Dave, who was a professional sound engineer. Dave was also a sweet, sensitive guy and a sincere Christian. Being involved with music in the 1980s, Dave also had long hair.
Sitting a few rows back from Dave, were a couple of elderly women. Throughout the concert, they kept badgering Dave. They complained that the sound was too loud, although they didn't move to the available seating further back. The women acted childishly as they reverted to name calling. They kept referring to Dave as a "long--haired hippie" as they spoke loudly enough for him to hear but never directly to him.
During the band's concerts, it was their custom for the drummer, Ron Lion, to speak to the youth. He always asked the question, "Is there anyone here who believes that he or she has never sinned?" It was meant to be rhetorical, but there were a few smart aleck kids who raised their hands. When that happened, Ron would humorously reply, "Now we know where the liars are."
Well, when Ron asked the question in El Dorado, these two little old ladies who had been rude to Dave shot their hands up to proclaim that they were without sin. They weren't happy when Ron insinuated they were liars. In fact, they were highly offended.
But it poses a question: Who was pressing on to know Christ? And who was confident of their own accomplishments? Sadly, the little old ladies were the ones who had lost focus in the faith and had forgotten Christ as their goal. But Dave was sharing in Christ's sufferings as he was being persecuted for his appearance. Dave never retaliated with more name calling, but continued to act in a Christ--like way.
