The following is a chapter from Bramwell Tripp's book of short essays on the various aspects of the Christian life. For those who don't know, he was a remarkably insightful leader who impacted the lives of many generations of young people who sat under his tutelage both when he was the principle of Chicago's Salvation Army training school, and later as a leader in the Eastern United States. Using today's catchwords 25 years ago, like inclusion, he still speaks to us, and motivates me.
This short article reveals his simple yet brilliant nature, and serves as my personal homage to him, a big man who befriended and helped build a young man who idolized him.
Say Our!
“The best things in life are universal: music, art, science, Christianity. We should beware of any doctrine which tries to isolate a man from his fellows or one group from another. Be inclusive, not exclusive.
Those oft–repeated words we call the Lord's Prayer emphasize the oneness we should feel and express. Jesus said, 'when ye pray, say, OUR' (Luke 11:2). I know that what follows is extremely, eternally important. But will you concentrate on those 5 initial words: 'when you pray, say, OUR'?
To say this determines the nature of our religion. Our religion embraces all the world. Our Father is the Creator who gave life to all 'and hath made of one blood all nations of men' (Acts 17:26). He gave his son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world. He is the One to whom we all pray, from whom we all received grace. The same gospel unites us in a common fellowship.
We do not need to repudiate the differences which distinguished the varying denominations, but remember the injunction to 'receive ye one another, as Christ also received us' (Romans 15:7). How did he receive us? By grace, graciously.
To say this determines the nature of our relationships. Having been received through Christ, we are part of the family of God, members of the household of faith. Again: OUR father! The brotherhood and sisterhood which result must reach beyond our family, our class, our nation, our race. Every world crisis emphasizes our interdependence. The unrelieved hunger of millions of people should confront us every time we quote give us our daily bread'. It is for US, all of God's human family; it is OUR bread.
To say this determines the nature of our responsibilities. The first element in that word is response. This is sensitivity plus action. Responsible living is reciprocal action. The manner of our response to each other expresses the quality of our lives. To whom am I responsible? First to my Father; then to my brothers and sisters. 'all ye are brethren… for one is your Father, which is in heaven' (Matthew 23:8, 9).
Don't struggle with words. “Our,” “we,” “us,” “father,” “brother,” “sister”… these are easy to say and are always appropriate. Not me: US! Not mine: OUR”
* Any typos are mine, not his!
What Matters About Me
- Jack C. Getz
- I am who I am, not what I have done. For those who care about pedigree, I have little more than being a former public school teacher and a pastor/denominational adminstrator. The following insights come from a couple of tests I took. They may explain why I am a Contrarian and why I decided to do a blog about it. The first test is a standardized personality profile. The second is something strange called a Brain Type test! 1)“Jack lives outside traditional boundaries and ahead of the curve. When others focus on limitations, Jack creates new possibilities and ideas. He is a doer, not just a dreamer. Well grounded in reality, logic and analytical thinking. He enjoys meeting and working with other creative and ambitious people...a fearless leader. Only 3-5% of U.S. population has these qualities.” 2) Jack's Intellectual Type is Word Warrior. This means he has exceptional verbal skills. He can can easily make sense of complex issues and takes an unusually creative approach to solving problems. His strengths also make him a visionary. Even without trying he's able to come up with lots of new and creative ideas. (Like blogging as Contrarian?)
This challenges common ideas about the purpose of praying. Not a rehash of old dogma.
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