I've always felt guilty, spiritually inferior even, that I don't have a life verse. I work around ministers, and I'll bet every one of them can recite their life verse. I think they can't graduate from seminary without one. And somewhere, the Bible says, "Thou shalt have a life verse." Somewhere. Otherwise, ministers wouldn't emphasize it so much.
A life verse is quintessentially American. It goes along with our love for mission statements, goals, and purpose-drivenness. Our leadership books insist that you have a mission statement to be effective. It guides you, keeps you on track.
Some life verses are very common, like:
ChristianBook.com asked a slew of Christian authors for their life verses, and they could all give one. Except Ted Dekker, who replied honestly, "I have none. How can you choose one verse over another from the word of God?"
You can buy Life Verse Jewelry. You can get a life verse tattoo. Tyndale has a One Year Life Verse Devotional. And if you can't think of anything, you can look up your birthverse. Mine is Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." I was born on October 23 (10:23), so this is obviously of God.
But there is one life verse I've never heard anyone use. It's the one Jesus chose in what's called the Nazareth Manifesto, when he is just starting his ministry. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1 to let people know what his ministry will be about:
I've never heard anyone use that life verse. And I can't imagine a United Brethren minister selecting it. It just doesn't fit what our churches are about--to preach to the poor, and to seek justice and healing. We're in favor of those things (except for the "year of the Lord's favor" income-redistribution thing), but keep them on the back-burner.
I suppose every generation of Christians in every country reinvents Jesus to fit their priorities, their interpretations of Scripture. The Nazareth Manifesto just doesn't fit what 21st Century American Christians are about. We're about evangelism and discipleship--saving people from eternal death, and teaching them the Bible. How can that NOT be good. Of COURSE we need to do that. But when Jesus had the chance to say what he was about, he focused on the poor, on injustice, and on healing--three things very, very foreign to the evangelical Christianity we have created.
When none of us would pick Isaiah 61:1 as our life verse, as Jesus sort of did, it just makes me wonder, again. How well does the American Christianity that we have fashioned and taught to the rest of the world truly reflect what Jesus was about?
A life verse is quintessentially American. It goes along with our love for mission statements, goals, and purpose-drivenness. Our leadership books insist that you have a mission statement to be effective. It guides you, keeps you on track.
Some life verses are very common, like:
- Matthew 5:16--"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
- Proverbs 3:6--"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
- Matthew 6:33--"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
- Psalm 37:4--"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
ChristianBook.com asked a slew of Christian authors for their life verses, and they could all give one. Except Ted Dekker, who replied honestly, "I have none. How can you choose one verse over another from the word of God?"
You can buy Life Verse Jewelry. You can get a life verse tattoo. Tyndale has a One Year Life Verse Devotional. And if you can't think of anything, you can look up your birthverse. Mine is Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." I was born on October 23 (10:23), so this is obviously of God.
But there is one life verse I've never heard anyone use. It's the one Jesus chose in what's called the Nazareth Manifesto, when he is just starting his ministry. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1 to let people know what his ministry will be about:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
I've never heard anyone use that life verse. And I can't imagine a United Brethren minister selecting it. It just doesn't fit what our churches are about--to preach to the poor, and to seek justice and healing. We're in favor of those things (except for the "year of the Lord's favor" income-redistribution thing), but keep them on the back-burner.
I suppose every generation of Christians in every country reinvents Jesus to fit their priorities, their interpretations of Scripture. The Nazareth Manifesto just doesn't fit what 21st Century American Christians are about. We're about evangelism and discipleship--saving people from eternal death, and teaching them the Bible. How can that NOT be good. Of COURSE we need to do that. But when Jesus had the chance to say what he was about, he focused on the poor, on injustice, and on healing--three things very, very foreign to the evangelical Christianity we have created.
When none of us would pick Isaiah 61:1 as our life verse, as Jesus sort of did, it just makes me wonder, again. How well does the American Christianity that we have fashioned and taught to the rest of the world truly reflect what Jesus was about?
Career-wise, I've been hanging around and writing about and cheering on churches and pastors for the past 25 years as my denomination's Communications Director.
It's good to know that I'm a good UB minister since I have a life verse. It's a pretty good one too. Simple. Versatile. Easy. Unfortunately I can't take credit for finding it.
It was given to me by my dad. He asked me what my life verse was because they were getting ready to order some missionary prayer cards and all missionaries have a life verse. I told him I didn't have one and he said not to worry he would pick one for me. I waited with eager anticipation for the cards to come so I could find out what my life verse was. It was kind of like opening a fortune cookie when I finally got one of our prayer cards.
I must confess that it took about 2 years to remember the reference for my life verse and then another 3 to actually memorize the verse itself. It's not that it's a bad verse or anything, I just didn't take the time to memorize it. It finally took hold when I got to the Dillman UB Church and one of the ladies asked for my life verse. She was very crafty and would make up these framed pieces with your life verse on it as a gift.
Since then it has been on my office wall and I've grown rather fond of it. I've even thrown it into several sermons because it fits so easily. Kind of like singing the old song "Step by Step" at the close of a worship service. Who knew that it also validated my existence as a pastor.
1 Peter 4:10 - Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
I love it, Tom! Thanks.