A very basic definition of Christianity is
”
following Jesus,
”
but we live in a world that presents some real challenges to
doing that, and many Christians find it hard to reflect Christ’s
attitude in their conversations and dealings with family, friends,
neighbors and coworkers.
A very basic definition of Christianity is “following Jesus,” but we live in a world that presents some real challenges to doing that, and many Christians find it hard to reflect Christ’s attitude in their conversations and dealings with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
One major obstacle we face when trying to reflect Christ’s attitude toward others is the large amount of time that has passed since Jesus came. Many centuries separate us from Jesus’ day. Not all the questions of modern-day Christianity are directly answered in the Bible. For example, if Jesus were walking the earth today, what use would he make of television and the Internet? How would he handle the flood of media attention he would get? How would he deal with the prickly issue of DNA manipulation? What would he say to the MTV generation that would draw them to him rather than alienate them? What specific limits would Jesus place on his lifestyle in the culture we live in?
This is not to say we cannot find answers to such questions in the Bible, but that it is harder than it once was to deal with all the specifics when it comes to lifestyle. The Scripture has timeless truths, but they were written in a particular time and culture that is far different than ours. This means we must first identify the timeless principles Jesus taught and then apply them to the time we live in. Many of us struggle with doing that.
A second barrier we face is a lack of personal discipline. We are immersed in a culture that has taught us since our youth that the important thing is feeling good and attaining instant gratification. Godly values such as self-discipline, patience and prayer have all been traded in for flashier, more self-pleasing behaviors. The notion that one should give a significant portion of his/her money for the building of God’s Kingdom is thought absurd, even by many Christians. And the idea of giving several hours a week to volunteer service is usually passed up in favor of additional leisure activities or a few more hours of overtime at work.
This is part and parcel of a third barrier we face: our own innate selfishness. Many of us are happy to serve God, so long as the job is as an adviser. It’s been my observation over the years that many of us are definitely not comfortable following Jesus according to his guidelines. I mean, it’s one thing to bring Jesus into our churches, dress him up and tone him down, get some good advice on parenting or improving relationships… but if we were to encounter the real Jesus of the Gospels we might be quite shocked.
Let me give you an example from Luke 9, where Jesus is telling his followers they need to count the cost before hastily committing to follow him: “As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, ‘I will follow you no matter where you go.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head.’ He said to another person, ‘Come, be my disciple.’ The man agreed, but he said, ‘Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.’ Jesus replied, ‘Let those who are dead care for their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God”‘ (Luke 9:57-62).
Do we really want to follow Jesus if it means changing our lifestyle? What if it means changing the way we look at people from other cultures and races? What if it means changing the way we view money? And ultimately, what if it means that we have to die to our own selfish desires?
