an unfamiliar gospel
June 1, 2009 | Faith: Knowing Christ, Just me
The invitation to come and suffer may prove to be quite inconvenient and not as sexy as the cool culture we are taught to emulate. There may be plenty of spectators, skeptics, or antagonists (just as was the case two thousand years ago) but followers may be hard to come by. Shane Claiborne, Irresistible Revolution
This morning I was reading the gospel of John. I wondered all over again what it was about early Christianity that made ordinary people turn away from everything familiar to follow Christ. Into persecution. Away from familiar territory. To a whole new path. To death.
I know why I follow him. I first turned to Him because I felt His presence and it surprised me. Something or Someone I didn’t believe in made His presence known and it transformed me. Nothing changed outside. My home life stayed the same, but knowing God changed me.
I’m digging deep in the book of John because I don’t want to lose that fresh faith in the midst of going to a church or calling myself Christian. I see the book of John proclaiming a simple truth: We follow Jesus and we come to know the heart and passion of God.
That is what transforms us.
But the gospel of my faith, as often taught mainstream, seems to be at odds with what I’m reading this morning. Jesus speaks of suffering, of denying self, of joy and peace that aren’t tied to things or events or even people.
It’s an unfamiliar gospel in many ways.
But the disciples signed up without perks.
Transform me once again, Father. Take my eyes off an unfamiliar gospel and let me follow Jesus straight into the heart and passion of You.
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Suzanne, This was a great post. It is so true. The disciples went out from their familiar surroundings to try to change the world around them with no perks, only the presence of Jesus. Do we really do that? We don’t like to deny ourselves anything. To follow Jesus in obedience, wherever that takes me and into whatever that takes me, is my heart’s desire. Thank you for this! Blessings to you…
June 1st, 2009 at 2:05 pmSuzie,
I too am in the book of John. It seems every day I am learning new Truths from this gospel I have read so many times before.
I think of how “uncommon” and “suprising” Jesus’ words to the disciples must have been when He said, “Now that I, your LORD and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” He told them He set this example so that they could go and do the same. How confused they were as we can see by Peter’s reaction.
Scripture repeatedly speaks of pride and God’s great disdain for it. Here JESUS speaks to pride by giving His disciples and us a powerful visual of humility…one we can remember forever.
Praise God that His Word is living and active like a double-edged sword and continues to speak into our hearts and lives today.
Blessings to you,
Wendy
June 1st, 2009 at 2:13 pmYes! I have been teaching through 2 Timothy on Sunday mornings verse by verse. Suffering for His Name’s sake is everywhere in the New Testament. Jesus taught the servant is not above his Master. He was hated – those who follow Him will be hated as well. John Wesley put me onto eight levels of persecution found in Acts, Chapters 1-8. We Christians in America tend to be mortified at even the thought of being mocked (level 1). The late Francis A. Schaeffer had his finger right on it. Christians in America are most interested in avoiding any threat to their own personal peace and affluence. I would highly recommend Schaeffer’s message, A Christian Manifesto. The book is still in print, but the DVD is also available. Powerful and most sobering. Delivered in the early 1980′s, it sounds like he preached it – tomorrow. Again – a-men. Thank you for your post.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:14 pmWhat a wonderful post. I have been wondering where to go next with my Bible study. This seems to be a great nudge.
I was leading a small group with out teens Sunday morning and we were talking about trusting God. I put this question out there: Do we pray with a list of things we want God to fix or provide, and also with a list of things that we will and won’t do to receive his blessing? One of the girls shared she is like that with her friend that doesn’t know Christ. She prays that God would send someone to witness to her friend so she won’t have to. She is scared.
I find that I pray with a willingness to follow God’s plan for my life, but when it comes to the do-or-die moment, I somehow always falter. Even in the things that wouldn’t be considered major. If I can’t even been obedient in the smaller issues that come up, I will never have the trust and dependance to make it through the large ones.
Thanks for giving me a “nudge”.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:31 pm