Field of Dreams

Matt 8: 20Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

I've never been satisfied with the commentaries on this verse.  All that I've read are much more obtuse than the verse itself.  This verse comes in the middle of a promise of commitment from a potential follower, but Jesus' response to this promise is this odd verse.  Clearly Jesus, who can uniquely know the motivations of the potential follower's heart, knew that this person would lack the commitment it takes to be an itinerant rabbi with no home in which to live, no home church in which to preach, etc. 

I think we often fall into what I call the "Field of Dreams" trap: if we build a nice building and orchestrate programs with worldly excellence, than people will flock to the doors of our church.  To be clear, I don't advocate anything less than our best for our Savior, but we need to study Him to know how to be like him.  He had a radical approach that would be equally radical today. 

First, He didn't build an all-inclusive band of followers.  In fact, in this series of exchanges, he turned away two people who were pledging to follow him.  So I don't feel pressured in any way (except by the world) to water down scripture and accept any behavior.  While today's world is telling us that it is politically incorrect to reject anyone because of their beliefs and resultant behavior, we can stand confidently in the God of the Bible who does not change and sets exactly one standard: Holiness (Lev 11:44-45, 19:2, 1 Ptr 1:15-16). 

Second, Jesus spent three years living into 12 lives.  He didn't build a mega church welcoming everyone he met into membership with no standards.  He didn't build a program or a building.  He built deep and abiding relationships with only 12 people.  I often worry that the worldly standards of job performance creep into our churches and we build expectations for our paid staff of 40 hours of service behind a computer working on communication strategies, lesson or sermon plans, and cool trips and fail to set expecations and allocate work hours to intentional visitation.  Furthermore, I bet when I mention visitation, we think of bereavement or hospital/nursing home visits.  It seems instead that the first priority should be visitation that seeks to discern spiritual maturity.  After all, Jesus even told one of the potential followers that they should let the dead bury their own and this person should follow Him now (obviously this person lived at home with a parent who was very much alive and He was putting off discipleship until this person passed away).  Jesus has an urgency first and foremost about our spiritual health. 

Finally, we should be mindful that the work of the church isn't limited to its paid staff. We are all called into the priesthood (1 Ptr 2:9) and we should be about the Lord's work in all that we do (Col 3:17).