Liturgy: “Using People”

Throughout these passages, I am confronted with this truth: I am called to love everyone—whether they have something to offer me or not.

A hand with the word "user" written on it
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What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.

This Week’s Lectionary Readings

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Psalm 146
James 2:1-17
Mark 7:24-37

This week’s liturgy is contributed by Jonathan Sheaffer, Assistant Director of Student Life:

Throughout these passages, I am confronted with this truth: I am called to love everyone—whether they have something to offer me or not. Put another way, love must be genuine. This is tough for me. In one sense, it is incredibly simple. There are people I find it easy to love. But there are also those I am not naturally drawn to. James describes showing favoritism to the rich while ignoring the poor. This tugs at one of my insecurities: Do I love people selfishly? Do I build relationships only seeking what I can gain? That’s no longer a loving relationship, that’s a manipulation. It is not true love. Here are a few of the things I manipulate people, through love, to get:

Self-esteem. There are certain people that, if I’m friends with them and other people know it, I feel better about myself. Eric Bennett is one of these people for me. Having other people know that Eric likes me is a nice pat on the back. It is a good thing to be friends with Eric, but I’m not really loving him if I’m just using him to look good to others.

Perks. I love the men who work at the front desk of my apartment building, especially Jovanni and Tyler. However, it is a real temptation to build a good relationship with them so that they can help me out when I’m in a pinch with the building. If I’m only loving them for what I can get out of it, it is not love, its manipulation.

Recognition. I want people to think well of me. But sometimes I give to the needy or volunteer to go above and beyond simply because I want the praise that comes with it. Christ calls this hypocrisy.

All these things can be good things, but when I treat others as objects or as means of achieving these things, I am not loving them, I am using them. I had a pastor who used to say, “If you love money, you will use people. If you love people, you will use money.” You can replace “money” with whatever your heart desires. Let love be the object and these things be the by-product. Love must be genuine.


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