Eric's thoughts

I have a friend who has a brother that used to play for the Lakers when Shaq dominated the Staples Arena. He tells many stories of his two years there, mainly bragging about what a generous guy Shaq is. One that stands out to me, though, is the fact that almost everywhere Shaq went, off court, he was surrounded by bodyguards. Wait, I don't know if you caught that, Shaq O'Neil, 7'2" 300+ pounds, surrounded by bodyguards. Now I can understand him wanting and even needing to have bodyguards, but I'd sooner have any bodyguard, man, any three bodyguards after me than Shaq himself!

As crazy as bodyguards for Shaq sounds to me, it's even crazier that a lot of Christians feel as if God needs a bodyguard. God, the all powerful creator of the universe, needing me, all of 175lbs. of me, to be his bodyguard, how crazy is that? Yet, Christians will readily jump into any picket line, codemn people to hell, argue until we are blue in the face about issues that others could care less about, furiously debate issues, and ridicule anybody and their beliefs that might stand in His way...or is it our way?

I wonder how many people are we pushing away, as a bodyguard would. I've done it, I know of several others that have done it, even the Disciples tried to push people away through the crowds, yet Jesus would often say things like, "Let them come to Me."

It doesn't sound like He needs a bodyguard. Sounds like He needs others who are willing to love people as He does, unconditionally, without an agenda. People that would use the scriptures to lovingly reason with people, rather than to get their point across. People that would help others feel their way toward Him...and find Him.

It looks as if He might need a few more followers, and a few less bodyguards.