Idon’t blame people for not liking Jesus because Jesus wrecks your life. The church tells you that He will make your life better, and that statement is true but we have to define better. Life will be better in the sense that Jesus will be a friend that sticks closer than a brother but at the same time He is that friend that is always getting you in trouble (ask the apostles). It’’s a good kind of trouble but I was taught to stay out of trouble, right?
Jesus said to find your life you have to lose your life. Most of us work hard at creating our identity, branding ourselves but Jesus says get rid of that self-identity and bear on your body His marks (Galatians 6:17). The problem is most of us really like who we are in a prideful, fleshly kind of way and Jesus says, “Nope. It’s my way or the highway.” That doesn’t really sound like love does it?
We struggle with authority don’t we? But in Matthew 28:18 we read that all authority has been given to Jesus so when He speaks, we listen and then we do (James 1:22).
See when I start to do things the Jesus way I am going to tick some people off, at least the religious people and my “stay far away from drama” lifestyle is going to become quickly filled with criticism and “friends” will be fewer but somehow this is good and right.
James, the brother of Jesus said, “Count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” Peter wrote, “...do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you… rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s suffering… If you are insulted… you are blessed…” These are not the passages we use to get people down the aisle to say a prayer in order to get them in the water and on the church roll. Somehow God thinks this kind of persecuted life is better (maybe normal is the right word). If you read your Bible you know that a hard, difficult, suffering kind of life is the Jesus kind of life. In other words, it’s not all pita bread, sandals and water turned into wine. Let’s remember they don’t hang the prom king on a cross.
Stand up at the next church meeting and share your thoughts about how some things the church is doing that are not really making disciples or even something we find in Scripture and see how many wolves come out to protect the sacred cow. Then you will be counting your joy, testing your faith, sharing in the suffering-servant life of Jesus and if you are like me regardless of how often it happens, I am almost always surprised. I just can’t seem to learn that it’s okay when they hate you because Jesus said, “You will be hated” (Matthew 10:22) because of your relationship with Him. Let me encourage you, let’s get going living these great Christian lives that we see described in Scripture.
He told me to tell you that.
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