What's at the Center?

 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

          “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10:38-42

The culture, and everything within her own experience, expected Martha to cook and serve the meal for Jesus and the other (male) followers of Jesus. It was the only way to think of things. And yet Jesus challenged that thinking. He still does.

Some things are “better,” according to Jesus. Not that cooking and serving are bad. But learning the ways of Jesus are better, more permanent, and lead to more flourishing. They are more central to the true life that Jesus came to bring, and Jesus invited not just Mary, but Martha into that deep life.

When it comes to our theology as a church, City Church has a shape that captures what it means to be centered on Jesus - it’s a web (below). If you’d like to read more about it, there’s a statement on our webpage here. Regardless of whether you read that link or not, take some time today to ask yourself:

• Do you know what’s essential to your theology and what’s non-essential?

• What’s a product of your culture? (and is it possible to have theology that’s not affected by culture?)

• How do you discern what’s central to your theology and what’s not central?

• Where is Jesus in your theology? Where do you think he’d like to be? What impact might that have on your lived life?