My Seat – Our Boat
There is a story that Abraham Heschel wrote about a group of people who were traveling on a boat. In the night one man wakes up to find that the person across from him was drilling a hole under his seat into and through the hull of the boat. The man was startled, for good reason, by what he saw and asked the other man what he was doing.
The man who was drilling responded, “It’s my seat, what’s it matter to you?”
The man went back to sleep only to be woken up again by the other man who was about to drill through the boat. Again he asked what he was doing?
The man responded with the same answer, “It’s my seat, I’ll do what I want”
The man responded back, “it may be your seat, but you’re sinking our boat!”
This story shows itself in the sin of Achan Joshua 7, because he did the one thing God told the Israelites not to do. His sin didn’t just affect him, its ripples were felt throughout the entire camp.
This still happens today.
Look at the group that protests military funerals. Their actions and their signs, paint a picture of Christianity colored in with hate.
Or the man who has an affair, his action has the potential to ruin people’s faith.
Or the woman who gossips in the form of ‘prayer request’, her sharing too much can chip away at the character of another woman.
We live in this culture that tells us that we are our own person, that our choices don’t have any baring on the person next to us. That our faith is our personal faith. Mine doesn’t effect you, and yours doesn’t effect me. However, this thinking couldn’t be any more foreign to Scripture.
Paul addresses his letters to the church (gathering of Christ followers) in specific cities, he didn’t sent them to individuals. They letters were read aloud, in one sitting to the entire group. The community then processed the letter and did what was instructed. Contrast that with today where we read alone, and if you’re like me, you’re lucky to get 2 chapters in before it’s time to get ready.
I am not saying that private study or private prayers are bad, what I am saying is that there is a richness that we are missing if all we do with our faith is in private. We need both because, we’re in this together, not alone. I can’t grow in faith alone because I need you to challenge me. Sure there are certain practices I can do by myself, but I need a community of people around me to keep me grounded, sane, and to encourage me to keep going. You need me to do the same to you.
It’s my seat, but this is our boat.
