Thursday, March 14, 2013

The Man in Charge

After a break in an online poker tournament Wednesday afternoon, we had some big news to share.

"New Pope! New Pope!" we wrote.  As in the Roman Catholic Cardinal of Buenos Aires, Argentina being selected to replace Benedict XVI.

Only a couple of people at the table seemed interested enough to ask about it.  Perhaps it's a reflection of poker players in general not being very interested in religious matters.  Yet it's the Catholic Church which is most likely to host bingo nights -- and some people consider that a form of gambling.

You may have read or heard speculation about what the new Pope Francis might do -- and even whether he could be the last one before Jesus Christ returns.  But we think the focus should be on Someone even higher-ranking than a pope....
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. - Colossians 1:17-18


This can't be a pope, because (to our knowledge) no popes ever have been resurrected from the dead.  So who is this "supreme" leader?
....Giving thanks to the Father.... For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:12-14


Verse 3 makes clear the "Son" is Jesus Christ.  He's ultimately the head of the church, not any human beings.

You may be looking to a poker teacher for guidance in playing better -- and there's nothing really wrong with that.  But who's really the leader and overseer of your life?  If it isn't Jesus, who's really better?

No comments: