He told me to tell you that
The Bible is full of stories of people who have left everything to follow Jesus. People like Matthew who had a lucrative business collecting taxes and John, James, Andrew and Peter who were doing well as commercial fisherman. It says these guys left their nets and left their tax booths in order to be obedient and be disciples.
Jesus gives us commands. Command is the key word there. The things Jesus tells us to do are not suggestions.
In Luke 9:23-24, he said, “If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me (cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also).
“For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it (from penalty of eternal death).”
It sounds like being a Christian is an intentional decision that requires a serious commitment. Then I go to church on Sunday, maybe it’s me, and I don’t see a representation of that serious commitment. Of course, I look in the mirror and wonder about myself. What have I left in order to follow the Rabbi? Does that make sense?
The other day a man came into my office and shared he had walked/ hitched a ride from a small community 20 miles away. He didn’t smell great. He was obviously in a different socio-economic bracket than many and he was in town because he had a probation appointment the following day. He came to the church because we represent God and he needed some help with a motel room for the night. Our church budget restraints don’t allow us to provide that service, so I shared that bad news. As I watched him leave, he walked by our outdoor sign that reads, “All Are Welcome.” For some reason I thought, “Not really.”
I know we can’t help everybody but it seems like the church tends not to really help anybody. What I’m asking is if today’s modern church is the church of Scripture?
I just read about mega-church pastor Josh Harris who has written best selling books and has been a church guru-rock star kind of guy, and how he is now divorcing his wife, has left the church and no longer claims to be a Christian. If that can happen what else is wrong or messed up.
It’s not all bad. An old man who is my neighbor, has become a friend and has been attending our church the last few months, came by the office, because he needed gas money. Our church slipped him a twenty – yay, church. Go team, go. He told me to share that with you.
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