The past couple months, I had been having a tough time finding a church that I really felt comfortable in. I attended a church about 15 minutes away that had great messages, but I did not feel comfortable enough to go alone. So on days when no one else could go with me, I went back to the church I grew up in. I decided the best way for me to feel connected to that church was to contribute myself.
So, I started teaching Sunday School. My age group contains anyone that is younger than middle school. So... that normally equals out to: 2 third graders, a second grader, a first grader, a kindergarten boy, and a three year old.
A couple weeks back we did the story of Jonah and the Whale. The kids sponge painted while I read from Jonah chapters 1 and 2. I am going to assume we all know the story... but the best part was following when the kids acted out what I had read. The kindergartener was the captain of the ship because the captain got to wear a hat. :) We had a Jonah, thankfully, that had paid close attention to the story. And we had a whale (an upturned table with a dark blue sheet over it with paper plates for eyes). It was such a joy for me to watch them act it out. And then for the boys to go inside the whale and punch its stomach. My point? The joy that they add to the world around them. The passion that they use with every movement and thought. The innocence....
As I read through the material before the lesson, I found it interesting the focus verse that they chose.
"Love God and Love Each Other!" Which is actually: "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." I John 4:21
After all of these years knowing that story, that was never the message I took away from this story. Upon looking more closely, the reason Jonah refused to go to Ninevah (and was swallowed by the whale) was that Jews thought of themselves as superior to the Asyrians that lived there. In one of the most popular and well known Bible stories, we often miss the point. God does not care about our differences! We should not either. Throw your prejudices aside! Throw away your judgments. God loves all the people of the world and calls us to do the same. Jonah was sent to Ninevah to convince them to repent. Why was he told to do that? Because God valued the lives of the Assyrians, and longed to be in relationship with them just as much as he longed to be in relationship with his Chosen people.
Oh, Lord, how you continue to amaze. You are a glorious God. But, why am I so amazed that he loves us all the same? Because I continue to forget that God is not human... he does not think like I do, or show favoritism.
And so is the downfall of religion... it is too much humanity and not enough God. Oh, us! Why do we have to try to fit God in such a little box??
I better quit, before I really get on my soap box. ;)
Oh! Here is a little tid bit of fun... I haven't heard this song in years, and I feel it is often under-appreciated. And I Like Owl City...My Hope is Found
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