In April 1975, cartoonist Bill Keane introduced into his popular one panel comic strip, “The Family Circus” the character “Not Me.” “Not Me” was an imaginary character created by the children in the strip whenever they were asked if they were responsible for something that happened (or didn’t happen). For example, the mom would ask: “Who ate the cookies?” and the kids would answer, “Not Me.” In the panel, along with the children, a ghost-like character with “NOT ME” across his chest (which was only visible to the reader) would just stand and smile or shrug.
Sometimes Christians say “Not Me” to God, instead of “Yes Me!” For example, when the Scriptures tell His disciples in Ephesians 4:32 to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” There are some Believers who say “Not Me.”
When Jesus commands His disciples in Matthew 5:44-45 to “44 love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Some disciples of Jesus choose to love and to pray for only those whom they love and who love them. If they’re asked about their hypocrisy, they say “Not Me.”
When God provides the definition of “pure and undefiled religion” in James 1:27, he writes that it is “to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Some of the Faithful turn a blind eye and say “Not Me.”
When Christians are taught in Ephesians 4:29 to “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” A few of Christ’s Followers faulter and feign “Not Me.”
The Holy Spirit directed the Apostle John to write about loving one another unselfishly with our blessings in 1 John 3:17. John wrote, “whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” When asked to share with others, there are Believers who sheepishly say “Not Me.”
When an expert in the Old Covenant Law tested Jesus by asking Him which is the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus answered in Matthew 22:37-39, “37 ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” As Jesus’ disciples we are to give the same answer as Christ and love God and our neighbors like He said, but some of Christ’s Followers say “Not Me.”
When Jesus instructs His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 to “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Far too many Christians respond to the command to disciple with “Not Me.”
Back when Isaiah was graced with a vision of God’s glory in Isaiah 6. God asked in Isaiah 6:8, “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Isaiah did not say “Not Me” instead he boldly proclaimed: “Here am I! Send me.” As a disciple of Jesus, unless we are absolutely incapable, may we never say “Not Me” but instead always say “Yes Me! – Here am I! Send me.”
