Jesus Scouted--II

What Did Jesus Do?

And he went down with them and came to Nazareth
and was submissive to them...
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor
with God and man.
Luke 2.51,52


As the Boy Scouts observe the one-hundredth anniversary of their founding in 1910 what they are celebrating is a century of values. But the values of Scouting—trust, loyalty, kindness, obedience, bravery, reverence, and all the others—are far older than Scouting itself; we might well argue that they are timeless values. Whenever a discussion turns to what is timeless, my thoughts immediately turn to the One who alone is timeless—the one, true, living God. Scouting in the United States may have been founded one hundred years ago, but I believe the first “Boy Scout” lived long before that. No offense to Lord Baden-Powell, but I am certain that the epitome of Scouting's ideals and values is not to be found in any Eagle, but rather a Lamb.

Long before Scouts started helping old ladies get across streets there was the Son. He was trustworthy, and loyal to his friends, helped everyone who ever came to him with any need. He befriended all; he was courteous and kind even to people others avoided and scorned; he was perfectly obedient to the Father, ever cheerful, continually encouraging friends and strangers not to be anxious. He was so thrifty that we never read of him ever spending so much as one shekel on himself, he braved the cross for the sake of the world, and was so clean as to be spotless and without blemish, and a more reverent man, woman, or child has never lived.

Truly, Scouting can proudly claim to have produced many outstanding leaders and men over the last century, and rightly celebrate the character and achievement of its Eagle Scouts. But, for me, Scout doesn't work, doesn't make any sense at all, without the Lamb. Jesus, not my Scout compass, shows me the way. There are a lot of good things to be discovered in the Scout Handbook, but the Bible, the Word of God, alone is Truth, and my rule for faith and life. One can learn a lot about the world and nature from Scouting's many lessons, but real life and knowledge of the One who created all things is in Christ alone.

There is some confusion about just what “reverence” means to a Scout these days. It is not surprising, considering the prevalence of religious pluralism. But when he was asked about a Scout's reverence, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, said this:

“...we aim for the practice of Christianity in their everyday life and
dealings, and not merely the profession of its theology on Sundays...”
-Scouting for Boys, 1908

I believe that not only would Scouting benefit if more of its leaders and members pursued this aim as diligently as they do adventure in the woods, but the Boy Scouts might be surprised at how their membership would sky-rocket if the moral compass Scouts and Scouters lived by every day pointed to Jesus. Even more, I am certain many churches would be amazed at what would happen if members actually started practicing their faith outside of the pew on the Lord's Day. Living the ideals and values of Scouting isn't just a good idea for boys who go camping, it makes sense for all of us to Scout. When you think about it, that's what Jesus did.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4