Skiing Naked While Smoking Dope
There's a movie I enjoyed growing up called Roxanne. Steve Martin is the star. It's based on an older movie called Cyrano de Begerac. It's the story of an exceptionally skilled and intelligent man who has one physical flaw. He has an extremely large nose. It's a classic love triangle story. He meets a girl he's interested in, but of course she's interested in the dumb, but handsome guy who happens to be our heroes friend.
There's a line in the movie I always thought was funny. Someone says something ironic. Steve Martin's character responds seriously, then realizes the guy is being ironic. Steve responds, "Oh! IRONY, we have people who ski naked here while smoking dope. We haven't seen irony since '76."
It's a silly line in a silly movie, but the truth of the line is still effective today. Most people don't recognize irony. I think that was true for John in this passage.
John has a problem. Someone who wasn't in his little disciple clique was casting out demons in the name of Jesus. Evidently they were effective at doing so. John's response wasn't to rejoice over the person healed or to be thrilled that others were catching the vision for who Jesus was. Instead he rebukes them. "You're not in our group. You have no right to do good, to do the right thing in the name of Jesus." Jesus swiftly and sharply corrects John, "They're doing a good thing. Leave them alone. If they're not against us they're for us. Let them do the work."
This is the ironic part. Only a few short verse earlier the disciples brought a demon possessed man to Jesus. They brought him to Jesus because they couldn't cast out the demon within. Jesus finishes the job they couldn't start and gives some instruction in the process.
That's the irony.
John couldn't cast out the demon but took time to criticize and rebuke those who could.
This is a picture of our world today. How many people make a living poking, criticizing, rebuking and bad-mouthing other people? These are people who produce nothing while standing on the sidelines bashing the people who do. Certainly there is room for constructive criticism. Everyone has room for growth, but that's not the nature of what John was doing.
I wonder who you will criticize today. I wonder if you will recognize the ironic difference between what is constructive and what is destructive. Are you close to information about Jesus, but far from the power that flows out from Him? Are you filled with great godly information, but unable to live a great godly life? Do you have a form of godliness, but deny it's power?
Everything we do and say reflects and reinforces what we actually believe. Are you skiing naked while smoking dope or actually accomplishing something for the kingdom of God?
As my dad used to say, "Lead, follow or get of the way." There are serious people in the room working to overcome serious problems. Today, you can be one of those people. Try criticizing less and following Jesus more.
Created about 1 year ago
