PROTOCOL KILLS
Today, the headline story on CNN was about a 53 year old man, in Alameda, California who committed suicide by drowning. Of course, people commit suicide everyday, sadly. What made this suicide a headliner is the fact that police and fire personnel arrived on the scene, and stood by and watched. Not one of the nine or so present attempted to save the apparently depressed man. They simply watched him die.
According to reports, he was about 250lbs. and possibly armed; some speculated that it was too risky (possibly) to attempt to save him. The report also stated that it wasn't protocol, under the circumstances. Some wondered how protocol could weigh in so heavily, in such a situation--and questioned what about human compassion for another in trouble. It was appalling to me--and many others, how it could be that among those who were employed to respond to crisis, that no one had the urge to help. They considered only their own safety, and decided not to take the risk. In fact, a bystander--a slight 20 year old woman removed his lifeless body from the ocean.
My question is, when does keeping protocol become more important than the needs of people?
I have wondered this before, in a spiritual sense. In many churches, protocol, is so weighty that the needs of the congregation go unmet time and time, again. I have seen the truth that, "the letter killeth" as we adhere to the letter of our protocol, rather than seeing through the eyes of Christ that the people of God have needs beyond the current protocol.
Jesus Christ was never bound by protocol. He ignored protocol time after time. It shook up many in that day, as well. Jesus met the need, rather than hold to the standard set. Imagine Jesus following protocol when he met the adulterous woman at the well, or the woman with the issue of blood. Can you see Jesus keeping His peace as the moneychangers took advantage of the visitors at the temple who came to worship and sacrifice? Imagine Him holding to protocol as He taught with authority in the temple--and as He acknowledged Himself to be equal with God, stating that "before Abraham was, I Am".
Jesus defied protocol over and over, in lieu of the needs of those He came in contact with--why don't we?
Too often, we avoid the real, basic, sometimes extreme difficulties of life, by hiding behind protocol. I would venture to say that is is time to move beyond the letter of protocol, to walk after the Spirit, which the Paraclete (who comes alongside to help) teaches us to do--no matter what. As those who are filled with the same Spirit, do we not have the same responsibility to risk our lives and peace for the sake of our brother? It is need (and not convenience) that should move us to act, in compassion for one another--whenever the need arises and presents itself. People are dying as we follow protocol.
I know that many feel as if things would fall apart and turn to chaos if we dismiss protocol for even one second. I can also see danger in that thinking--and protocol is a killer, often. Protocol has become a weapon in the hands of many. It causes division among the Body of Christ, as we embrace titles for some among us. Titles were not used in the New Testament Church by anyone. They operated within the office, but everyone was on first name basis. It wasn't until the second century and Roman Catholicism that titles became the rule, and many of us continue the practice while we refer to the King of Kings as "Jesus", and call the apostles and prophets of the Holy Word by their first names. Are we more worthy than they of such esteem?
In our worship services, protocol in the form of programs, take precedence. We won't suffer long at the altar for souls--in most churches, they have a few minutes to make a life-changing decision. People are held down in their seats fighting the adversary, as he works to keep them from responding, considering how their life will change forever, if they will be able to live a godly life, and simple fear of walking that long aisle to receive Jesus Christ, into their lives and hearts. We don't have a lot of time or patience to wait for them, or to remember what that moment was like for us.
Our services have to end within a set time frame, and when we see the Spirit having His own way, we quench Him by moving the service right along. We spend more time receiving offerings and tithes, in many churches, than we do in the other supposedly, more important portions of worship. Our actions show the world where our hearts--and our treasure really lie.
I can imagine the Savior weeping, as we like the priest, and the Levite pass by on the other side, avoiding the difficulty, the danger or the inconvenience for our neighbor. We must not continue to use "protocol" to avoid the hardship and need around us.
When tempted to place protocol before the people and plan of God, remember the example of the Savior defying protocol, for the salvation of the world. Go and do thou, likewise.
We are employed to respond to crisis.
Grace,
Lisa
According to reports, he was about 250lbs. and possibly armed; some speculated that it was too risky (possibly) to attempt to save him. The report also stated that it wasn't protocol, under the circumstances. Some wondered how protocol could weigh in so heavily, in such a situation--and questioned what about human compassion for another in trouble. It was appalling to me--and many others, how it could be that among those who were employed to respond to crisis, that no one had the urge to help. They considered only their own safety, and decided not to take the risk. In fact, a bystander--a slight 20 year old woman removed his lifeless body from the ocean.
My question is, when does keeping protocol become more important than the needs of people?
I have wondered this before, in a spiritual sense. In many churches, protocol, is so weighty that the needs of the congregation go unmet time and time, again. I have seen the truth that, "the letter killeth" as we adhere to the letter of our protocol, rather than seeing through the eyes of Christ that the people of God have needs beyond the current protocol.
Jesus Christ was never bound by protocol. He ignored protocol time after time. It shook up many in that day, as well. Jesus met the need, rather than hold to the standard set. Imagine Jesus following protocol when he met the adulterous woman at the well, or the woman with the issue of blood. Can you see Jesus keeping His peace as the moneychangers took advantage of the visitors at the temple who came to worship and sacrifice? Imagine Him holding to protocol as He taught with authority in the temple--and as He acknowledged Himself to be equal with God, stating that "before Abraham was, I Am".
Jesus defied protocol over and over, in lieu of the needs of those He came in contact with--why don't we?
Too often, we avoid the real, basic, sometimes extreme difficulties of life, by hiding behind protocol. I would venture to say that is is time to move beyond the letter of protocol, to walk after the Spirit, which the Paraclete (who comes alongside to help) teaches us to do--no matter what. As those who are filled with the same Spirit, do we not have the same responsibility to risk our lives and peace for the sake of our brother? It is need (and not convenience) that should move us to act, in compassion for one another--whenever the need arises and presents itself. People are dying as we follow protocol.
I know that many feel as if things would fall apart and turn to chaos if we dismiss protocol for even one second. I can also see danger in that thinking--and protocol is a killer, often. Protocol has become a weapon in the hands of many. It causes division among the Body of Christ, as we embrace titles for some among us. Titles were not used in the New Testament Church by anyone. They operated within the office, but everyone was on first name basis. It wasn't until the second century and Roman Catholicism that titles became the rule, and many of us continue the practice while we refer to the King of Kings as "Jesus", and call the apostles and prophets of the Holy Word by their first names. Are we more worthy than they of such esteem?
In our worship services, protocol in the form of programs, take precedence. We won't suffer long at the altar for souls--in most churches, they have a few minutes to make a life-changing decision. People are held down in their seats fighting the adversary, as he works to keep them from responding, considering how their life will change forever, if they will be able to live a godly life, and simple fear of walking that long aisle to receive Jesus Christ, into their lives and hearts. We don't have a lot of time or patience to wait for them, or to remember what that moment was like for us.
Our services have to end within a set time frame, and when we see the Spirit having His own way, we quench Him by moving the service right along. We spend more time receiving offerings and tithes, in many churches, than we do in the other supposedly, more important portions of worship. Our actions show the world where our hearts--and our treasure really lie.
I can imagine the Savior weeping, as we like the priest, and the Levite pass by on the other side, avoiding the difficulty, the danger or the inconvenience for our neighbor. We must not continue to use "protocol" to avoid the hardship and need around us.
When tempted to place protocol before the people and plan of God, remember the example of the Savior defying protocol, for the salvation of the world. Go and do thou, likewise.
We are employed to respond to crisis.
Grace,
Lisa
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