I think it’s this: we go crazy if we accept the blindness of seeing people only as they appear, only as they do, or only as they speak, rather than how they have become because of what God did for them through the cross and resurrection. I know it was an event that happened many years ago, but the effect was massive, far-reaching and perfect, and it gives Him great joy and satisfaction even today. And tomorrow. It shapes what He thinks and does.
The increasingly crazy view—the one that drives you nuts—holds people accountable for how they appear, how they behave, and what they say (or write, as in my case, and everybody else who posts on Facebook and blogs and what have you), rather than holding them accountable or measurable to Christ’s cross and resurrection. It’s not that how we appear, how we behave and what we say is entirely unimportant. It’s that focusing upon those things slowly obscures our view of the seminal moment in human history: the cleansing of sin and the gift of life in Christ.
So if you’ve gone a little crazy lately, it’s likely because your eyesight is impaired. As we say around my house, “You’ve got junk in your eye,” and you can’t see because of it. Maybe you need some glasses. (I’m sort of thinking of starting a new line of eye wear: “Cross Cleaned.” The stylish specs would help us to see each other through the lens of the cross. Think it would sell?)
By the way, this is not an appeal to niceness or to getting along with everyone as best you can in every situation, but to accuracy and sanity. Wouldn’t that be good?
Think of Christ’s lovingly severe act of the cross and resurrection, the thing you cannot see but which is most-importantly true, and consider people from there. You’ll begin to see again. . .and that’s not crazy, that’s healthy for you and everybody else.
(This is a transcript of yesterday’s video, “What Drives You Crazy?” and is for those who might rather read than watch. To see the video, click http://youtu.be/PhhLmPAkql8.)
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