Couch Coaches

Mark 7:1 Now when the pharisees gathered to Him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of the disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is unwashed 5 and they pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of elders but eat with defiled hands?

It is fall in the heart of Dixie. That means football is front and center of media airwaves and supper table conversations. I always think it is funny when people who have never played one snap of football try to give advice to coaches who not only played, but obsessively study techniques and their players to make a living. These folks who have all the right theories, at least in their minds, can be rather convincing in their advice as they opine on the airwaves, blogs or columns. What these "coaches from the couch" don't have is actual experience, true involvement in the team's practice, and the advantage of knowing each player intimately and therefore understanding the reality of their capacity. These couch coaches only have ideas, theory and their perception of what happened in the last game. In other words, they have nothing to offer except unproven and untrained opinions. A.k.a. Hot air.

When you look at the Pharisees, they look a lot like couch coaches as they try to help Jesus "get it right". Jesus has just returned from a place called Gennesaret where He has poured himself out 24/7 doing the Father's will as He preached the Gospel, healed the sick, and cast out demons. All Jesus knew how to do was joyfully obey the father's will as he walked through the messiness of life. Upon His return, He sits down to eat with some of His disciples and the Pharisees, who by the way haven't been doing anything about the poor, the needy nor the Advance of Yahweh's kingdom try to "correct" Jesus' efforts. They literally ask "why aren't you following the tradition of men". Jesus rather sternly replies, " I didn't come here to obey rules and traditions of men. I came to obey my father and you guys should give that a whirl" (paraphrased).

The religious tradition of men will always be to try and use worship of God to consolidate and leverage power to elevate yourself. Religion without truth and spirit will never be messy, it will be pristine with a polished appearance. The problem is, just like the couch coach who isn't experiencing the reality of the football game, people like the Pharisees aren't experiencing a relationship with God. Their religion is limited to theory and intellectual ascent, other people's opinions and a desire to fit in with "good people".

The truth is that carrying the cross is a messy endeavor. God never allows us to map out exact plans on when and where we can expand His Kingdom. He moves at His pace, not ours. The end game of what He is after is not our polished appearance, participation on certain committees or simply our tithes. God is after exactly what Jesus was demonstrating that the Pharisees missed. Joyful obedience to the will of the Father that sprang out of Joyful communion with His Dad. Jesus experience with God lit up and radiated the Holiness of God outwards from Him and it looked awkward to those who where simply trying to "play church".

So where are you? Are you in the game? Do you enjoy experiencing God in communion? Do you enjoy being obedient to the will of God? Or are you a couch coach, a Pharisee, who doesn't serve others but would rather debate over little issues while the needy and the lost of the world waste away?

God wants you to enjoy Him as Lord, Savior and Treasure. The Cross is proof thereof.