Articles
Changing the Narrative
Recently, while on a hike, I was wearing a Reds t-shirt. (I know you’re shocked.) A lady walking the other way on the trail stopped me and said she was a cousin of Reds rookie Spencer Steer. She told me she was from St. Louis and a big Cardinals fan. Surprisingly she seemed quite pleas-ant. Just kidding! LOL!! She said it was her first time at the park and I told her it was ours as well. She said the beauty and animals in the park strengthened her faith that God created all of this, and it couldn’t have just happened. I told her that I could-n’t agree more. She said, “That seems to be rarely stated anymore and we really need to change the narrative”. I said, “Absolutely!” I thanked her for those com-ments and told her she made my day. We then went our separate ways.
She was correct. We do need to change the narrative. The question is where and how. Should we organize a large group of protestors and march on Washington, D.C. and even purposely get ourselves arrested as some do? Jesus chose not to do this in Rome. How about going to Frankfort, KY? Jesus didn’t do this in Galilee or Jerusalem. He could have done this and no none could have touched Him until His time had “fully come” (John 7:8). How about taking a loud bull horn and yelling at people as they are trying to get into a Reds or Bengals game? Can you ever see Jesus acting that way? Changing the narrative in these ways wasn’t Jesus’ MO. However, He did change the narrative - one heart at a time. How did He do that? Pay attention in particular to the bolded words.
Jesus was humble, gentle, and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). If there ever was anyone who had a right to be boastful, it was the One who created the universe. However, when people praised Him, He deflected it to His Father. Mark 10:18 – “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” He performed miracles in front of thousands and yet when men tried to make Him a physical king, He refused (John 6:15). He could have spo-ken gold into his hands each day, but instead was content to possess virtually nothing of a physical nature. Earthly fame (as we often define it) and wealth were not priorities in His life. People took notice.
Jesus was a servant (Philippians 2:7). His primary focus, the pur-pose of His life, was serving His Father and doing His will. “Behold, I have come to do Your will” (Hebrews 10:9). He was God and yet He regarded Himself as being a servant of mankind (Matthew 20:28). I continue to find that to be amazing! He served those whom He created and as Peter tells us “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). People took notice.
Jesus didn’t talk like the world or other religious leaders – “no one ever spoke like this man” (John 7:46). He spoke the truth of God’s word “as one having authority” (Mark 1:22). But He spoke it with love, sincerity, humility, and kindness. That’s not to say He never got angry. He did occasionally get publicly angry
(Matthew 23). However, when angry, He did not sin (Ephesians 4:26). He did not use filthy language or play around with that kind of language by using acronyms and euphemisms. “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy” (Revelation 22:11). His speech was right and holy before God. People took notice.
Many believe that those who strive to be spiritual are boring and don’t enjoy life. This doesn’t describe Jesus. He had fun and joyous times. He went to a wedding (John 2). He spent time with friends (Luke 10:38). However, He knew where to draw the line. He had these good times without drinking alcohol or taking other drugs, watching inappropriate things, and participating in vile acts and ac-tivities. He knew His Father had “richly” provided Him “with every-thing to enjoy” (I Timothy 6:17). People took notice.
We could be like Paul and go on till midnight, but we’ll think about one more. It was Jesus’ deep and sincere love for every soul to be saved that drove His willingness to be brutally punished and cruci-fied for all, including His enemies. “And through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). People took no-tice – “truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).
What can we do to change the narrative in someone’s heart? We strive to live like Jesus every day and bring them to Him. If we do that, people will take notice. If they are willing, He will change them and mercifully bring them “to be at home” (II Corinthians 5:8) one day with Him.
Let’s go out and change that narrative! One heart at a time.
