Occasionally, I surprise myself by coming up with an interesting thought.
Last time, I talked about the difference between accountability and responsibility. I ended with this sentence.
You and I can take as much responsibility as we wish. In fact, I think that’s exactly what Jesus invited us to do.
I think that’s kind of a big idea.
It seems like church, at least the way I experienced it growing up, was a lot about accountability and rules and authority.
But the more I learn about Jesus, the more I think that’s not what He’s about at all. I don’t think he wants us to do stuff because we’re compelled, because we’re held accountable.
I hear him saying, “Take responsibility.”
For the poor. For the marginalized. For the victims of injustice.
If we follow Him, we don’t care for these folks because we have to, or out of guilt, or because we’ll somehow held accountable if we don’t.
We do it because we choose to accept responsibility.
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The FREEDOM TOUR community chooses to accept responsibility for supporting a group of kids halfway around the world. Kids we don’t know, kids we’ll never meet.
I love that people carry out this responsibility with a sense of joy and love. Even when it’s hard, even when it requires sweat and sacrifice, our pictures are filled with smiles and celebration.
More important – doing things this way makes Jesus smile as well.