"Be Prepared"
The Boy Scouts have been around since 1907; and, if you've ever been in the Scouts or know anyone who has, you know that the biggest dream of any Scout is to attend at least one World Scout Jamboree. The 2007 World Scout Jamboree was held at Hylands Park country house in Chlemsford, Essex, England, the birthplace of Scouting.
40,000 Scouts from all over the world converged on this 574 acre park from July 27 until August 8, 2007. Attendees saw all sorts of Scouts from countries all around the world. There were Tenderfoots, Second and First Class Scouts, Star and Life Scouts and many Eagle Scouts. Some had all 120 available merit badges; some had only a few. However, they all shared one thing in common. Each has agreed to live by the Scout Oath.
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
And to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
Mentally awake, and morally straight.
That "Scout Law" the Oath refers to requires each Scout to do his best to embrace these characteristics at all times. The Scout must be: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
Scouts are all different - from different places, speaking different languages. They have different levels of achievement (within Scouting) and they are all different ages (and at their age, 11-17, 6 years is very significant). Yet, in spite of these differences, they get along.
They don't argue over which Merit Badges are the most important or which reward level demands the most honor. They work together without complaint and they trust and respect their Scout Leaders.
Why can't Christians do the same thing…?
Christians from all over the world don't come together. But if we did, we'd spend all our time arguing over our differences. Some would argue over baptism: does baptism save or is baptism what saved people do? Some would argue over communion: Should we have communion every time we meet or only on special occasions. Others would argue over Spiritual Gifts: are they for today or only for the first century. The list, and the arguments, would go on and on and on... We'd find so much to argue about that we'd never stop to look at our similarities.
Four times in the NIV New Testament, men asked, "What must I do…?" In Mark 10 and Luke 18, Jesus answered that question by replying, "Come, follow Me." He answered it in Luke 10 by telling a story about a Good Samaritan who showed mercy to a stranger and then saying, "Go and do likewise."
Paul and Silas told the Jailer in Acts 16 who asked what he must do to, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."
"Believe in Jesus; show mercy to each other; follow Jesus." What could we accomplish if there were a "World Christian Jamboree" where we came together to celebrate these simple commands while setting aside our differences?
Maybe then we could have another thing in common with the Scouts - Their Motto:
"Be prepared."
Except in our case, the thing we would be prepared for would be imminent Christ's return.
Shalom,
Ron U
"Be made new in the attitude of your minds and have the same attitude, purpose and humble mind that was in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 4:22-24; Philippians 2:4-7)
ron@gospelines.com
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