And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
In Luke's Gospel, he tells of this John the Baptist character. He's the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah had been a pretty prominent priest. Elizabeth had been a semi-outcast in her community for not being able to bear children. However, we're told that the pregnancy took away the disgrace among the people (1:25). John is going to be a pretty clean-cut guy. He's not going to drink anything fermented. He's like an original straight-edge guy. I don't know if those types of people exist anymore, but I remember them being pretty big in the hardcore scene in high school: people that were against smoking and drinking. It's a cooler way of saying "Holiness Pentecostal." Don't drink, smoke, or chew or hang out with those that do.
He's said that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit (he didn't have to ask to be filled with the Spirit; he simply was filled with the Spirit because John was in God's business) and that he would prepare people for the coming of the Lord. He would have all the authority and power of God with him the entire time. So by the time we get to this passage in the third chapter, we know a lot about this John guy. He's supposed to be like Elijah.
This guy is going all around the region near the Jordan River proclaiming a message of repentance. In Matthew's depiction of John, he eats locusts and honey and wears a pretty awesome tunic made from camel hair. Doesn't sound like the most comfortable thing to wear in the desert, but different strokes for different folks.
Here's his first little sermon, I guess you can call it, to the crowds whom he calls "brood of vipers." He's supposed to be telling these people of the coming of Jesus and that the time is approaching quickly. The first time I read this passage, I felt like it was a little underwhelming. There really is no sense of urgency. He's baptizing people, hence his name, but he's not really telling people how to change their lives and repent. He's just preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, but not really giving apocalyptic, end-times advice.
But maybe, that's the point.
He's telling people to stay where they are in their jobs. To not cheat. To be content with their pay. To give to the poor. To not lie.
He's basically telling people to stay put. Or, in other words, "grow where you're planted." Though it's an overused expression, and people normally tag on the "it's only for a season" exhortation afterwards, there is some theological truth behind this idea. People were all waiting expectantly to see if John would say more about the coming of the Lord or if he were the Christ, but John talks about honest, practical advice to people and then a description of the Lord to come.
John the Baptist was probably the first pastor in our New Testament terms, but John didn't see it that way. He wasn't really looking at the stuff that most pastors look at today: money and attendance. He was simply preparing the way of the Lord. There were no charades. No gimmicks. No smoke and mirrors. He is just doing what he felt was necessary to point people to Jesus.
And that's all of our jobs. We can talk to CEO's to tell them that we need their tithe money, or try to increase membership in the church, or what worship songs to sing. Those are all good things which should be discussed, but our role as pastors is not to just talk about those things. Our jobs are to tell people to enjoy where they are and to get ready for Jesus. That's the tension. That's the balance we have to find. It's doable but a difficult task to be sure. But if you don't know how to do it, look at Johnny. He found the balance between edifying and convicting.
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