No Style Points

I must confess.
I missed the State of the Union address a few days ago.
By the time the day's "loose ends" were all tied up and put away, the "analysts" were busy processing the speech.  I did catch Senator Mark Rubio's response to the "State of the Union."  As expected, the political jousting began.  But, suddenly.... drama!  The senator from Florida paused in the middle of his rebuttal speech and....got a drink of water.  Simple quenching of thirst?  Faux pau?  Political gaff?

What I found interesting in the pundit's "analysis" of the dramatic gulp was the common suggestion that he may have wagered his political future (i.e., a potential 2016 presidential run) on this water episode.  Why?  Because he forfeited "style" points.  And, style is in big time.

It once again reminds me that we are hungry for all the wrong things as a nation.  In fact, we aren't hungry at all.  We are distracted and biased.  We speak of concern for the things that "matter" only to make a big deal out of a "drink of water" in the middle of a speech.  We aren't into "substance."  We look for opportunity - any opportunity - to destroy the opposition.  Any bullet will do the trick...even "style."

I wish style was only a political issue.  Unfortunately, it isn't.

We can do it in the body of Christ, too.  Style comes in a lot of shapes and forms.  Our preoccupation with style reveals some scary things about how we think about the Word, the kingdom, what it means to be the people of God, the gospel and a host of other things.

This all makes me think about Paul's reminder to the Corinthians in the first two chapters of First Corinthians.  Before they bought in lock, stock and barrel to an understanding and "telling" of the gospel that gave it more "style" points, Paul reminds them that God chose the foolishness of the message to confound those who are wise according to this world (1:18-21).  The One who designed the gospel said "tell them about Christ and him crucified."  In fact, Paul says, "I determined to know nothing among you but Jesus and him crucified" (2:2).  Later he says, "For my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith should not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (2:4-5).

Our world and American society in particular are seductive.  In a society enamored with style, the surreal and the "next three minutes", it is imperative that God's people remain cognizant of the "substance" of what God is doing in the gospel for the sake of distracted humanity.  To borrow again from Paul, "But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways.  We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God" (Corinthians 4:2).

We are all about water....living water.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas