Matthew 11:16-20
"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
"'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.
"He's Out!"
Considering it a blown call, the manager tears out of the dugout. He rushes up to the first base umpire, goes within an inch of his face and lets loose with a barrage of complaint.
The man doesn't move. He doesn't even lean backward.
The manager throws his cap on the ground, kicks dirt on the bag. He waves his arms. He rallies the crowd.
It goes on for a minute or two.
You know for certain that if he touches the ump, he'll be thrown out of the game. And you wonder what he finally actually said that after two minutes of rant and rave caused the umpire to dramatically pitch his finger toward the showers and toss that manager for good.
You can bet it was something personal.
Referees and umpires are accustomed to objections to their calls. In a fast moving game someone will invariably disagree with one ruling or another
But you cannot invade a man's personal space.
Touch him with as much as one finger, say something that attacks his person rather than his decision, and out you go.
So, the advice to all ball players, to all men, all employees, all voters, all people-
Don't get personal! It's the quickest way to get yourself booted.
Is that the way it should also be in the church? Teach the rules. Play by the rules. Take the consequences like a grown-up.
But don't get personal?
Don't invade my personal space. Don't speak to me beyond generalities or get inside my personal life. Should it be that even God should come just so far, but have it unacceptable if He (or His people, like a pastor or elders, or other Christians) start to go beneath the surface and get personal?
Is it all fine and dandy to instruct the catechism, lay out beliefs and doctrines, recite the formalities but come no closer? A pastor can say all he wants, hold all sorts of views, but I have a personal space that must remain untouchable.
That's was the Obama presumption. His pastor said all sorts of whacky and outrageous things, but that doesn't mean the parishioners believed them or they applied to one's person. I hold my private views.
It's only as soon as he begins to get personal: that is, as soon as what he says begins to unsettle me myself, that is, have a critical effect on my private space, my personal life, my ambitions and aspirations, my personal ethics - then it’s “Adios”!
But have you thought about just how personal it got with Jesus?
Again and again he faced ad hominem attacks ("argument against the man").
They attacked His character rather than address the substance of His claims. They abused Him personally to discredit God's Word.
It got very, very personal.
They called Him a glutton and a drunkard. They insulted Him by calling Him "a friend of sinners!"
But here is where the true nature and temperament of our Lord is revealed.
Does He stand there unmoved, with His arms folded, cool and distant? Is He impassive and untouched? Is He a judge or umpire who can stand the heat just longer than most but is ready to throw that sucker out on his ear?
Or does Jesus take it all very personally?
Does He take our slights and injuries personally? Does He feel the hurt, agonize over us, and cry inside? When you and I object or complain to being unfairly treated— when someone chooses to snub worship for recreation— when His own people want to castigate a wrong-doer rather than forgive him— when someone turns their back on another rather than speak lovingly, does Christ take this personally?
Without question He does.
We cannot fathom the emotion and passion which coursed through our Lord as He struggled with the burden of our sins every day. All His life must have been like one uninterrupted mule-kicking.
Yet Jesus has always considered it personal with you. He absolutely takes your life personally by having bound himself and all He has to you in Holy Baptism. His thoughts are always-always-always with you.
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." (Isaiah 49)
His personal investment took Jesus to the cross. His personal care is like the Good Samaritan, to kneel over us, bind our wounds, carry us to safety, provide for every need, and promise to pay every cost.
The only thing that can ruin a man is his own refusal, to reject the person of Christ, and hold jealously his own private space and the protection of his own privacy. Jesus denounced the cities where most of His mighty works had been done, not simply as an umpire's duty but because they did not repent. Their doors were closed; their hearts were closed. They effectively told Jesus, "This far but no more."
Christ took no satisfaction in censuring them because He had come to redeem them as He has done for us.
Only when someone refuses to repent must God call them as He sees them.
But it will always be personal with our Lord.
To this very day He gives His very person to you, His personal word of forgiveness, His personal assurance to be with you always. Even His private heart He opens to you in grace.
We have a personal Savior. This is something only Christians know personally. How truly wonderful He is.
