Shotgun!

Ever called it? Depending on whose car you're in, sometimes you'd rather have that front seat rather than sitting in the cramped back end of a car, way too close to people. Ever see that happen 'at church'? Obviously Jesus is supposed to be in the drivers seat of where we're going, but people and, most often, groups of people vie for front seat - a place of perceived honor and ease. Why is that?

Maybe it's because we feel like we're a little closer to 'the man in charge' - Jesus. Maybe it's because we are just too uncomfortable around other people and being close (see previous post) and all that goes with that. Maybe it's because we'd actually like to be the one driving the thing to start with so we can go where we want to go and thus take the whole group, congregation, and/or church to our favorite place/result.

What groups of people do you see occasionally struggle for power or position in churches? What do you think drives them? Is it their desire to follow Jesus and to seek first the Kingdom? Or is it a philosophy they've bought into that is based on human principles and traditions of this world (a la Colossians 2:6-8). Most often it's nothing sinister, just a reaction to a situation where they see an opportunity to step into the front seat and so why not call 'shot gun!'?

Jesus (and others) remind us again and again to know that whoever is the greatest among us (or whoever wants to be) is to be the servant of all. The NT reminds us that we should be slow and wise in choosing leaders and that not all should be teachers. Even among the parts of the body of Christ, a disproportiate amount of the parts desire to be the mouth - it's almost like we completely ignore many of the things that are key to the Kingdom of God.

So, in the groups that you are a part of, remember to speak up on Jesus' behalf and remind people that if we are to follow him, we are to do just that...follow him; in serving people, in ministering to people, in reaching out to the outsiders, in washing feet...pretty much anything except calling shotgun.

PS: Go to http://www.shotgunrules.com/ for the official list of rules for calling shotgun.