Rich Dixon has a serious question for us.

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Last time, I was worried.

Bureaucratic silliness blew up our plans for Freedom Tour Classic. I anticipated impending disaster. Those in our community reacted in a variety of ways.

I tried to respond to everyone with one thing in mind: “God isn’t worried.”

And I kind of wondered what to do with that thought.

Then Becky and I watched a fascinating – and timely – documentary on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Prime Video). An amazing story of courage and faith, but the film left me with one major takeaway.

As his theology developed in the context of Nazi Germany, Bonhoeffer finally concluded that the essence of following Jesus is found in living out The Sermon on the Mount.

So, I read those three chapters. I’m not a theology guy, but I think I agree.

It’s why we love and support Project Rescue. Their missionaries do the long-term, difficult work of creating relationships in some of the nastiest places you can imagine. Relationships with criminals and victims alike.

To me, that sounds a lot like the way Jesus lived. A lot like “love your enemy” and “don’t judge” and other completely impractical notions.

But what about all the other victims? What about the criminals who are never held accountable? What about those deported, ostracized, and even killed?

I ask those questions, then I re-read those three chapters, and I wonder.

Was He Serious?

If He was, I need to stop looking for loopholes and shortcuts.

He asks you and me to follow, to remember He said we’d find him among the least of these. To do what we can, where we are, with what we have, and trust Him for the outcome.

I think He was serious. About all of it. I think he was telling you and me how the kingdom works.

And He’s not a bit worried about it.