Ploughing Straight
"Is Jesus One of Many or Is He Your One and Only?"
This is the title of a heading in a book I am reading called Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman.
I really struggle with this. I have many loyalties—my wife, my kids, my work, my church. And somehow I believe these are all good. In fact, I would suggest that the Bible teaches me that they are not just good, but necessary.
This is a classic case of creating false dichotomies, which the Bible does not do. The Bible works in the realms of multiple relationships/loyalties/commitments with an over-arching worldview of God-centredness that shapes everything else.
My wife, Lorraine, years ago ploughed in a ploughing match (yes, they actually have these things!). The point was to plough the straightest and neatest furrow. To do so she put two stakes in the ground to help her. In other words, she didn't just put one stake in the ground and try to drive the tractor in a straight line towards it. She would have not been able to keep a straight line. Rather, by putting two stakes in the ground, one behind the other about 20 meters apart, and by lining up the tractor and plough so that the stakes were perfectly aligned with each other, she drove toward them keeping the two stakes perfectly aligned (and she did it well!).
Here's the point: the first was placed where she wanted to arrive, in a straight line; the second stake behind the first, made sure the she stayed on track. In life, that first stake represents our loyalties, goals, and choices. And they are good and necessary for life. We drive toward them.
The second stake represents God. He keeps us on track—morally, ethically, spiritually, missionally. He is the guiding light, the centre of our life and sense of purpose. Without that second stake, we would wander all over the place trying to reach those good and godly loyalties and goals the first stake represents.
So, let's be careful with our language. No, Jesus is not "one of many." I get that. But we easily create false dichotomies, and in doing so create unnecessary guilt and confusion. God—his will, way, and Word stands at the heart of all things, and we live in orbit around him. So, yes, there is a unique ultimacy of loyalty to God. But, our other loyalties and commitments are just as important, and are shaped and defined by that ultimate central Person of all things—God himself.