Several years ago a couple of reporters conducted an experiment on the streets of Miami, Florida.

They printed up a copy of the Bill of Rights in the form of a petition, put it on a clipboard, and then stopped people on the sidewalk and asked them to sign it. As you know, the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are the Bill of Rights, and they were adopted and put into effect in December of 1791. 

The reporters were surprised at people’s reaction when asked to add their names to the so-called petition. Most people glanced at the document, shook their heads, and walked on by without signing. Several people became angry with the reporters and accused them of being radical enemies of the American way of life. 

In fact, the experiment ended when the reporters found themselves surrounded by a dozen or so passers-by who were shaking their fists at them and calling them subversive Communists who ought to be thrown in jail.

What the experiment demonstrated is what we already know. Many citizens of the United States pay lip service to their country and its heritage. They claim to be loyal and patriotic in every way. They say they are proud to belong to a country as great as ours. 

And yet at the same time they haven’t the vaguest notion what the United States Constitution actually says, and they consider the Bill of Rights to be a radical, anti-American document. 

In other words, these people claim citizenship, but they have not internalized the basic meaning of being a citizen. They claim the privilege, but they will not eat and drink the ethos of United States of America.

The same sort of thing happens with the words of Jesus. Jesus tells us: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. . . Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” Most people think Jesus is only talking about communion. 

Jesus isn’t. He is especially talking about the difference between external lip service and internal embodiment. Jesus is talking about the difference between admiring him and actually taking up one’s cross and following in his footsteps. He’s talking about the difference between acting like a Christian on the outside and being a Christian on the inside.

Thanks to Edwin D. Peterman.    Thanks to Akashaya Premjith for the photo.

How familiar are YOU with the Bill of Rights? How often do YOU find yourself actually following in the footsteps of Jesus?

DON’T BE TOO BUSY TO NOTICE WHAT GOD IS DOING ALL AROUND YOU AND DEEP INSIDE OF YOU!!

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